Located off of Granite Reef Road in Scottsdale, Caliber’s Eclipse Townhomes are ahead of their time in regards to eco-efficient housing.
Equipped with a multitude of innovative features like LED lighting, hybrid water heaters, Icynene spray foam, PEX plumbing, High SEER heat pumps, Energy Star Appliances, and cool roof technology, the townhomes were constructed with sustainability in mind.
The units are also regarded as the first net-zero development in SRP territory in over eight years, meaning that the homes total energy use is equivalent to the amount of renewable energy generated. Despite the solar energy possibilities created by Arizona’s hot sun, very few valley buildings qualify as net-zero developments.
In order to make zero energy housing possible, a system was implemented that reduces the fees applied to an energy bill depending on the rate at which energy is consumed, otherwise known as demand charges.
This system was created by Naya Energy, a Phoenix-based software company who’s main goal is to make energy data more visible to consumers.
Ketan Patel, the CEO and founder of Naya Energy, said that by shutting off appliances for five minutes at a time continuously throughout the day, homeowners can lessen demand charges and conserve energy. Each townhome comes installed with software that automatically turns off appliances when they are needlessly running.
“It’s not just about how much energy you use, it’s the rate at which you use it. If you think about how a water heater works, it’s holding hot water. We’re looking at 30 minute windows to make sure they don’t spike energy use. And the best way to do that is while there’s hot water in the water heater, turn it off for 5 or 6 minutes at a time,” said Patel.
In addition to energy efficiency, the condos were designed to be convenient for everyday living. They host an array of smart technology including security cameras, locks, lighting, outdoor sprinklers, and smoke detectors—all of which can be controlled via smartphone.
Residents can also control and monitor energy usage through a mobile app. This is important because it allows consumers to view data usage with full transparency while saving as much as possible on their energy bill.
“Our mission is to make energy data accessible, understandable, and actionable,” said Patel.
The gated community features 20 different two- to three-bedroom units ranging from 1,800 to 2,000 square feet in size.
Caliber began construction on the townhomes in 2016 while partnered with MODUS Development, a leading net-zero energy developer. The townhomes were completed in 2018.