NEWS

Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and PR
Special to Naples Daily News

BABCOCK RANCH — Pulte Homes is taking a lead from America’s first solar-powered town with an innovative, first-of-its-kind solar home in Babcock Ranch. 

Pulte Homes’ new Summerwood home design is now complete and available for viewing in the Lake Babcock neighborhood. The new home, available for purchase, includes 21 Panasonic HIT 330 watt solar panels with embedded Enphase Microinverters, and a Tesla Powerwall stored energy system that the homeowner can control and monitor with an app.

“Our Lake Babcock Summerwood solar home combines cutting edge solar technology with a sustainable, solar-powered town,” said Richard McCormick, president of PulteGroup’s Southwest Florida Division. “Offering energy-conscious options to our homebuyers complements our consumer-inspired, Life Tested Home Designs and our commitment to quality.”

Rick Vaske, director of operations for Advance Solar & Energy in Fort Myers, said the homeowner-friendly system combines the power of solar energy with a Tesla stored energy solution.

 “The system’s app makes it truly user friendly. You can see your solar production, how much is stored, how much you’re consuming from the grid. The energy storage battery will power essential loads in your home within a half of a second if the grid goes down. It’s completely programmable,” said Vaske.

The system’s stored energy can be used to power critical power loads in a home, such as lights, the refrigerator and the home’s security system during a power outage.

Vaske added that in addition to a 26% Federal tax credit on the solar system and Tesla Powerwall, homes with solar will save homeowners close to $200 per month on their electric bill.

There are also advantages to installing solar during the home’s construction.

“We can work hand-in-hand with the roofer and electrician to ensure all seals are tight and the wiring is properly connected to the system’s electrical components,” he said. “We worked with the professionals at Edmonson Electric & Security and Gulf Western Roofing on this Pulte home.”

Featuring a flexible floor plan, the versatile Summerwood home design also offers flexible living spaces, including up to five bedrooms and three baths that can be tailored for families of all sizes. The three-bedroom, two-bath Lake Babcock Summerwood model greets friends and family with a welcoming covered front porch. The open home design uses tile to unify main living areas throughout the model. A sleek, gourmet-ready kitchen boasts quartz countertops, premium maple cabinetry in white, stainless steel appliances and an enlarged island with additional casual seating.

A den provides the ideal space to use as a home office or media room. An oversized gathering room, ideal for both entertaining and everyday living, opens to an outdoor living space and a breezy lanai.

Additional upgrades add sophistication to the Summerwood, including 8-foot doors and 5¼ -inch baseboards. A three-car garage with extra space for storage features a durable epoxy-finished floor to keep things neat.

In addition to Lake Babcock, Pulte also offers homes in the Parkside and Edgewater neighborhoods in Babcock Ranch. In Edgewater, a new gated lakefront neighborhood of 166 single-family homes, homebuyers can select from 11 exclusive all-new one- and two-story single-family Pulte home designs with flexible, open concept floor plans, customized kitchens, versatile outdoor living spaces and smart home technology. Offering 1,400 to 3,600 square feet of living space, Edgewater homes start from $220,990.

While prospective homebuyers practice social distancing, Pulte Homes has made shopping for a new home in Babcock Ranch even easier with a variety of virtual tools. High-definition, 360-degree 3D tours of nearly all home designs are available, while an interactive community map offers real time homesite availability updates. Online floor plans allow homebuyers to customize options to suit their needs and even plan furniture placement. Digital community flipbooks are also available upon request.

Homebuyers can also visit the Pulte Homes sales office located at 17528 Silverspur Drive, Babcock Ranch, FL 33982. Appointments are encouraged; walk-ins also accepted. Sales associates are available seven days a week to coordinate discovery appointments, answer questions, or host a private virtual tour or in-person visit. Appointments can be scheduled by calling or texting 941-307-7348.

Babcock Ranch is located just northeast of Fort Myers off of Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31.

For more information about Pulte Homes in Babcock Ranch, visit www.Pulte.com/BabcockRanch or www.Pulte.com/Edgewater.