Modern living

To many people, buying a new home in Summerlin means investing in a home with the latest and most energy-efficient construction and appliances available. Although purchasing an older home may appear more cost-effective upfront, some experts say buying new doesn’t just mean modern features, it means long-term cost benefits.

“Energy building codes are stricter today than they were 10 years ago,” said Annette Bubak, president of Nevada Energy Star Partners — Green Alliance and the Nevada builder manager at SolarCity. “So the standard home built today is the equivalent of the original Energy Star rated homes built 10 years ago. Technology has caught up to today’s demand, and with 90 percent of all homebuyers making energy efficiency a high priority, it is evident people are getting the message that buying new is the smart thing to do. Plus, today’s energy efficient homes help create a buffer from utility rate hikes in the future.”

New homes in Summerlin include the state’s first Energy Star certified neighborhood, Villa Trieste, by Pulte Homes. The few remaining new homes in this neighborhood, which is west of the 215 Beltway, opposite of the developing Shops at Summerlin, include solar panel roof tiles and tank-less water heaters. Homeowners there boast of double-digit power bills and even receive refunds for their low energy usage in the winter.

Other new neighborhoods, like Woodside Homes’ Cresta del Sol in The Mesa village and the Andorra neighborhood in The Paseos, come standard with Energy Star certified appliances, treated windows that reduce heat and ultraviolet ray transmission, radiant barrier roof sheathing and energy-saving plumbing. The 10 floor plans offered in these two neighborhoods start in the mid to high $300,000s.

Richmond American Homes’ five Amado Crest floor plans in The Mesa come standard with energy-efficient features including programmable thermostats, radiant roof barriers and high-efficiency water heaters. These homes, which offer as many as six bedrooms, also start in the mid-$300,000s.

“We know that buying a new, energy-efficient home is economically smart now and in the future,” said Danielle Bisterfeldt, director of marketing for Summerlin.

Although homebuilders begin with as many as five floor plans, homebuyers are able to select from a variety of options. Examples include energy-saving upgrades like solar panels offered in neighborhoods developed by Pulte Homes and Woodside Homes, extra rooms and baths and aesthetic upgrades including cabinet front kitchen appliances.

New homes also come with warranties, meet stricter building codes and reduce the need for immediate repairs and remodeling.

For more information, visit www.summerlin.com or download the free new home finding app by searching “Summerlin” in your app store.