Arizona's Solar Powered Community: Sizing and Cost Estimate of a 24-Home Prototype

Abstract

Introduction: On January 12, 1987, Governor Mecham stated that he intended to build a solar powered community. A solar powered community would produce as much power from the sun as it would consume. Thus, it would be self sustaining as far as energy is concerned. One of the most cost-effective ways of powering a community appears to be the combination of using a hybrid thermal/photovoltaic collector. with seasonal storage of water in an insulated pit providing thermal energy to the homes in the community using district heating and cooling. In order to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of this system in the desert areas of southern Arizona, a project was designed and a cost was estimated for a 24-home subdivision in the Phoenix area.