With the growing popularity of green/sustainable/renewable products and services, many offerings come up a bit short.  But for a small new urbanist community in Alberta Canada, the promise of free energy from the sun is coming true in a big way.  The Drake Landing Solar Community shares what amounts to a giant heat pump.  The first project of it’s kind in North America, the system, called borehole thermal energy storage, banks solar thermal energy underground throughout the summer and distributes it during the winter.  The system is so efficient that it’s on track to provide over 90% of the communities winter home heating needs!  While to my eyes, the development suffers from the design malaise that plagues most suburban subdivisions, the green building principles embodied in the homes have nearly doubled their market value in less than 3 years. From this Globe and Mail article (the full text is available here),

“I don’t pretend to understand all of the technology,” Ms. Willings said. “But I know it works.” She’s not the only believer. Drake Landing sold out soon after construction was announced in 2005, with buyers coming from as far away as Seattle and Quebec. The homes were originally slated to sell for less than $300,000, but with the Okotoks real-estate market booming, the new homes are being resold for closer to half a million dollars. ”

Thanks to GreenBuildingElements.com for the tip on the story.

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