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Daybreak, Kennecott Land's planned city in South Jordan, will feature a community of solar-powered residences built by Salt Lake City-based Garbett Homes. Garbett's Solaris Collection at Daybreak consists of solar-powered, energy-efficient homes that consume 25 to 40 percent less electricity than regular dwellings. Garbett's Solaris homes couple Energy Star-certified windows and appliances with PVT Solar's Echo Solar System.
The Echo Solar System uses photovoltaic (PV) passive solar panels that generate electricity and an automated air capture system that draws rooftop air heated by the PV array into the home. Air passes through an air filter and is blown into the home for direct air heating, while a heat exchanger uses sun-warmed air to power the building's water heater--much like a car's radiator working in reverse. During warm weather seasons, the air intake captures cool night air to provide highly energy efficient air conditioning.
PV solar panels are only able to harness 15 percent of the sun's energy for conversion to electricity, while the remaining 85 percent remains heat. By harnessing thermal energy normally lost to entropy, the Echo Solar System is able to operate much more efficiently than a typical roof-top solar panel, an increased value offset by the system's bigger price tag. Garbett Homes has teamed up with Berkeley-based PVT Solar...