by Sarah Lozanova

Installed solar energy capacity in the U.S. is growing dramatically, with numerous record-shattering years in a row. There is now enough installed solar energy to power over 4.6 million U.S. homes and a new solar project is installed every two minutes. Meanwhile, the cost of solar has fallen significantly, helping to fuel this unprecedented growth.

Solar energy (r)evolution
Since 1998, the cost of residential and commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has fallen every year by an average of 6 to 8 percent, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Since 2006, the installed cost of solar energy has dropped more than 73%. Once a market dominated by environmental motives, many people are now installing solar PV to save money.
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This 36-unit community may be the nation's first planned development built around Passive House green building standards.

By Sarah Lozanova

Even from the layout of the homes, visitors can tell something is unique about Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage. “Where are the driveways?” one guest asks. “How strange, these houses don’t have any driveways!”

Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage (BCE) is a 36-unit intentional community on 42 acres in Midcoast Maine. Members designed the community from 2008 to 2011, before breaking ground in 2011; GO Logic, a Belfast-based design-build firm that specializes in sustainable building, designed the units and site plan and served as general contractor.

The homes are clustered, and a pedestrian path, not a road, runs through the six-and-a-half-acre built area. Despite being a rural property, all the homes are located in two- to four-unit buildings and range from 500 to 1,800 square feet with one to three bedrooms. The community layout encourages social interaction, offers safety for children, and provides open space for food production, wildlife and recreation. With PV solar systems, these highly efficient homes are near net zero.

PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGNS
When one enters the homes, it becomes obvious that the lack of driveways is only one of many differences between these houses and the average code-built home. Despite being located in Midcoast Maine, the houses have no furnaces.

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Until several years ago, most residential photovoltaic (PV) systems were purchased. Because of the upfront cost (and because solar systems were more expensive back then), there was a very limited pool of potential solar system owners.

Around 2008, solar leases or power purchase agreements started growing in popularity. This was a game changer in the solar world, because it helped remove financial obstacles. Suddenly people could have solar on their homes for as little as no money down, and often pay less each month for their electricity.

In the last couple years, solar loans became available with more appealing terms. Suddenly people could get a relatively low interest loan with a 20-year term. This again can be a game changer for the industry because the loan payments are in many cases less than the reduction in the electric bill.
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So you may wonder, is it better to lease or own. Of course the answer is: it depends.

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