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AUSTIN (KXAN) – Just 15 miles northeast of downtown Austin is a new community that is redefining sustainable living. Whisper Valley is a community made up of zero energy capable homes, or homes built and designed to produce much (if not all) of their own energy.
As? By using geothermal energy, solar energy and smart home technology.
Whisper Valley homes are equipped with solar panels and geothermal energy to offset energy consumption.
David Currie, Community Relations Manager at Whisper Valley, has been in the development since the first homeowner moved in in 2017.
Currie describes the community as “very much like a human body with this network going through the entire neighborhood and then this centralized hub house where we can do all of our monitoring and maintenance.”
With more than 300 houses already built in a master plan of 7,500, the community uses a network of underground wells to use geothermal energy to heat and cool the houses. This renewable energy can save up to 70% of energy consumption. The houses also have the option of drawing from the region’s energy network if required.
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Green energy goes beyond consumption. Whisper Valley homes are also built with solar panels to produce energy.
Sustainable living
The houses are equipped with sensors that “listen” to where energy is being used in the house. The consumption values are then displayed on a monitor, which shows the homeowner how much the oven, kettle, dishwasher and washing machine are consuming. This enables users to tailor their lifestyle for a more environmentally friendly solution.
Residents can monitor their energy consumption with smart home devices.
Whisper Valley residents Kirra and Katie Paskins spoke to KXAN about their lifestyle changes. “We used to do laundry at night because we were busy during the day or not at home, we worked from home. So we’re not going to do the laundry on a cloudy day, but rather postpone it until a sunny day and make sure everything comes from solar energy and is not pulled from the grid, ”says Paskins.
The benefit is not limited to the earth, but also benefits your wallet. “Overall, the change in our energy bill is pretty drastic. We haven’t spent more than $ 50 in a month this summer, ”says Paskins.
Whisper Valley hopes to lead by example in the housing industry … by building neighborhoods with a focus on green energy, green solutions … and of course the future of Austin.
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https://www.kxan.com/weather-traffic-qas/new-austin-housing-development-built-for-sustainable-living-net-zero-energy/
