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KB Home Unveils Zero Energy Lancaster House

KB Home opened on Wednesday a new home in Lancaster that produces as much energy as it uses and significantly reduces water usage – what the company is billing as the first of its kind. The ZeroHouse 2.0 model home from the Los Angeles builder was built in the Dawn Creek community of the Antelope Valley city where homes have a starting price of $244,490. This home includes a water recycling system treating “gray water” from bathroom showers, tubs, sinks, and washing machines and using it on the landscaping; solar technology to produce power used by the home; enhanced insulation and sealants that reduce energy consumption; and real-time water and energy monitoring systems. The technology adds about $44,000 to the cost of the home, but the company said it is working to reduce that cost by more than $20,000 as it continues work on the project. Lancaster has been aggressively encouraging home builders to develop homes with low energy and water usage. Last year, the city became the first in the nation to pass an ordinance requiring all new homes to be equipped with solar panels. “With drought conditions currently affecting every corner of California, KB Home recognizes the importance of embracing innovations like the advanced (gray-water) recycling system that leverage the technology of the future to address the problems of today,” said Tom DiPrima, executive vice president of the Southern California division of KB Home, who oversaw the development of the home. The model home’s unveiling on Wednesday included a tour for students studying solar technology at the University of the Antelope Valley and presentations from representatives of the city, KB Home and its suppliers.

Mark Madler
Mark Madler
Mark R. Madler covers aviation & aerospace, manufacturing, technology, automotive & transportation, media & entertainment and the Antelope Valley. He joined the company in February 2006. Madler previously worked as a reporter for the Burbank Leader. Before that, he was a reporter for the City News Bureau of Chicago and several daily newspapers in the suburban Chicago area. He has a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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