Building Illinois’ First Smart Community

In the heart of Aurora, Illinois, these modern, one-story homes are designed with a high efficiency building envelope that integrates solar panels and energy storage for resiliency. Smart, energy efficient appliances and advanced smart home automation will improve homeowners’ quality of life, while helping manage monthly energy costs.

 

  1. 1

    Solar panels
    These panels collect energy from the sun that can be stored in the home battery and then used if the power goes out.

  2. 2

    Energy efficient windows
    These windows are high efficiency and reduce drafts.

  3. 3

    Insulating concrete form (ICF) walls
    Utilizing ICFs means less energy is required to heat and cool your home and can offer savings of up to 40%.*

  4. 4

    Smart, energy efficient appliances
    Energy efficient appliances offer cost savings and energy savings without sacrificing features or performance. Smart appliances offer added control from your phone or tablet.

  5. 5

    Spray foam insulation
    Concrete slabs and attics are sprayed for added thermal layering to prevent air leaks.

  6. 6

    Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV)
    HRV systems manage the temperature of air coming inside your home to reduce overall energy use, while keeping the home well-ventilated and comfortable.

  7. 7

    Backup power
    Homes will have either a natural gas generator or battery storage system to power the home during an outage.

  1. 8

    Smart thermostat
    Homeowners can program this thermostat from a smartphone based on their day-to-day schedule, saving them money on their energy bill.

  2. 9

    Tankless water heater
    This kind of water heater can be up to 36%* more energy efficient because it only heats up water when you need it.

  3. 10

    Heating & cooling
    Homes will feature one of two heating and cooling technology combinations, each managed by a smart thermostat, to study real-world performance.

  4. 11

    Smart electrical panel
    Homeowners will be able to control and monitor the home’s circuits from their smartphones or tablet and understand how their home is sourcing, storing and using energy.

  5. 12

    Electric vehicle (EV) charger
    The homes will come with a Level 2 EV charger in the garage, allowing for fast, dynamic charging. With an app, homeowners can track and schedule charging.

*Stats provided by the manufacturers.