ORLANDO, FL, Feb. 3, 2016 -- Meritage Homes (NYSE: MTH) recently announced it will install high efficiency SunPower solar panels on new homes purchased from the builder in the Orlando metro area during 2016.
"Thanks to a partnership with SunPower, homes purchased from Meritage Homes during 2016 that are to be built in the Orlando area will harness the same sunshine that has made our state such an appealing place to live," said Orlando Division President Brian Kittle. "We are proud to make this commitment not only to our homebuyers, but also to the future of our environment."
Each 2-kilowatt solar electric system -- valued at more than $10,000 per home -- will be provided standard to homebuyers of to-be-constructed homes and may also qualify purchasers for up to a 30 percent tax credit, as well as providing reliable, clean electricity and energy bill savings. Homeowners can easily track their solar production and estimate their savings at any time through a computer or mobile device.
"Meritage Homes is helping lead the way to a clean energy future for their customers and communities by making solar power a standard feature in Orlando this year," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, business units. "SunPower's innovative solar solutions deliver the highest efficiency available on the market today, and are designed and tested to withstand harsh environmental conditions, including extreme heat and humidity, which make them ideal for Florida rooftops. As a result, we expect our solar panels to have a useful life of more than 40 years -- allowing Meritage homeowners to reap the rewards of their systems for decades to come."
According to Wenger, "SunPower's Maxeon® solar cells feature a copper backing and provide a strong foundation for the company's solar panels, making them unmatched in reliability. Compared to conventional solar panels, SunPower solar panels can produce 70 percent more energy from the same space over the first 25 years, and are backed by the industry's best combined product and power warranty during that time."
Meritage Homes is one of the largest homebuilders in Orlando. SunPower solar panels will be offered as a standard feature for new homes purchased and constructed in 2016. For more information, visit MeritageHomes.com.
About Meritage Homes Corporation
Meritage Homes is the seventh-largest public homebuilder in the United States, based on homes closed in 2014. Meritage builds and sells single-family homes for first-time, move-up, luxury and active adult buyers across the Western, Southern and Southeastern United States. Meritage builds in markets including Sacramento, San Francisco Bay area, southern coastal and Inland Empire markets in California; Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Phoenix/Scottsdale, Green Valley and Tucson, Arizona; Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina; Greenville-Spartanburg and York County, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia.
Meritage has designed and built more than 90,000 homes in its 30-year history, and has a reputation for its distinctive style, quality construction, and positive customer experience. Meritage is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence Award in 2013, 2014 and 2015, for innovation and industry leadership in energy efficient homebuilding.
For more information, visit www.meritagehomes.com.
About SunPower
As one of the world's most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower's more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.
SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER logo and MAXEON are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries as well.