LifeStyle Homes has finished its 100^th solar home!

Located on Hiawatha Way in Melbourne Beach, this solar home represents the completion of a longtime goal for LifeStyle, as well as a significant achievement for Space Coast residents embracing clean energy.

This milestone home is a LifeStyle custom home that sits at 3,205 living square feet. And on top of the standard LifeStyle SunSmart energy-saving building package, the home’s rooftop includes an 8.75 KW solar system.

“Installing the solar panels on our home helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessens our dependence on fossil fuel. Solar power will help us be less dependent on utility providers,” says Kathy McKinley, owner of LifeStyle’s 100^th solar home. “We look forward to seeing our cost savings over the years.”

LifeStyle Homes began building solar homes in 2010. In fact, LifeStyle built Florida East Coast’s first solar home in August 2010 in Capron Ridge, Rockledge. The completion of this solar home marked a turning point for the local builder, who has been in business in Brevard since 1984.

“It was at that time that LifeStyle understood the significance of solar homes,” says Karen Kicinski, marketing director at LifeStyle. “Our first solar home achieved a zero-energy performance, meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes over a year’s time. In other words, its owners should experience $0 in electricity expenses over a year’s time.” (Weather and lifestyle factors can play a role in energy expenditures.)

Of the 100 solar homes built in Brevard and Indian River, 58 of them have been rated as zero-energy.

“LifeStyle has found that the Space Coast is the ideal place for solar homes. Not only does the area receive an abundance of sunny days, the Space Coast is filled with engineers, scientists, and others who gravitate toward the technology and want to do their part for the environment,” says Kicinski.

The builder will continue its push for the deployment of more solar homes on the Space Coast, as well as other energy-saving home technologies. Currently, LifeStyle uses a Tesla Model X to demonstrate how homeowners can use energy produced by their solar home to charge an electric vehicle.