Learn about solar home at open house

A three-bedroom model home in the Highlands Ridge community has 18 solar panels and is fully solar powered.

What may be new for some is that it also comes equipped with an e-monitor, allowing residents to see for themselves how much electricity their appliances are using and much power the home's solar panels are producing.

T.E. James Custom Homes is holding a grand opening of the model home at 4237 North Course Lane in the Highlands Ridge golf community in Avon Park.

The open house will end today, and company representatives will answer questions and demonstrate how the solar operation works, according to a media release.

"A demonstration of a monitoring system allows you to see where your power is used (and often wasted)," the media release adds. "See how much energy is being generated minute by minute, and how much electricity is being used room by room and specific appliances."

Highlands Ridge project general manager J. Brad Millsap said the open house is open to anyone.

The hope is to "educate and motivate" people to build solar homes or install solar panels that generate electricity via the sun, obviating the need to pay a light bill, although the solar homes remain on the electricity company's grid.

"With all American-made products, solar panels use the direct rays of the sun to produce electricity to power your appliances, heat your water and light your home," the media release added.

Frequently asked questions will be answered, including how to install a system with no "out-of-pocket cost," which Millsap said referred to national, state, local and manufacturer rebates.

Door prize drawings will be available. Hours of the open house today will be noon until 5 p.m.

For more information, call 471-1171.