An Affordable, Sustainable Community Opens in Urban Renewal North Portland, Oregon 'Alberta Arts' Neighborhood

July 27, 2010

PORTLAND, Ore., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Winner of the Street of Dreams Award, the Most Innovative New Home Product Award, and the Realtors Choice Award for best curb appeal and best kitchen, Andre Koshuba is out to prove that design and luxury do not mean sacrificing sustainability or affordability. His latest project, which opens this Thursday, July 29 at 5110 NE 17th Avenue is the first completed home of five new Earth Advantage Gold developments. The home features mahogany and slate in a contemporary craftsman exterior. Interior features include: floor-to-ceiling windows, three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a den, and is only steps away from the restaurants and shops in the Alberta Arts community. Some additional features are: energy efficient appliances, slate accents, quartz countertops, bamboo floors, and a gas fireplace. The floor plan was designed to accommodate different lifestyles with a minimum of maintenance required, including those looking for a high walkability score (this home has a City of Portland score of 82). The 1,836 square foot Alberta Arts home is listed at $419,000, and homebuyers are eligible for a Federal Tax Credit for the 2.4-kilowatt solar system included in the home. A Bluetooth monitoring device is installed to measure solar power performance, providing homeowners with a clear understanding of how much electricity is being generated and the credit received when the meter runs "backwards." This occurs when the solar system contributes energy to the grid providing the homeowner with energy credits on their electric bill and saving them a minimum of 30 percent on their utility bills. To ensure not only sustainability but reliability, Beaverton-based solar installer LiveLight Energy (www.livelightenergy.com), and its partner Solar World of Hillsboro, offer the following warranties on the system: Solar World panels have a 25-year performance warranty; inverters have a 10-year warranty; LiveLight provides a 2 year installation warranty. Additionally, the panels are designed to withstand a snow-load and wind sheer per code for the area, and hail stones up to golf-ball size (approximately 2.5").

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