Meritage Homes has signed a national agreement to use the Echo solar system as its exclusive solar solution across all of its solar-powered communities. The Echo solar system delivers more than twice as much energy as a basic solar electric (PV) system, and enables Meritage homes to use 70 to 80 percent less energy than a standard code built home.

"Echo sets the standard for superior value in solar energy production and as an integrated solar system," stated C.R Herro, vice president of Environmental Affairs at Meritage Homes.

"Last year, in a challenging economic environment, Meritage decided to include Echo as a standard feature in 17 extreme energy efficient communities, and it paid off: many of these communities are selling homes over three times faster than our competition. Our homebuyers are looking for a holistic solution to energy efficiency and sustainability, and Echo helps us give it to them. Echo doesn't just generate electricity like a basic PV system, it also helps our homeowners meet their total home heating and cooling needs as well,” Herro adds.

“And when we show homebuyers how Echo's advanced technology lets them use their mobile phone to monitor their home -- and as a remote control for their home thermostat, they don't want to settle for anything else."

"Because Echo delivers more than twice as much energy as a basic solar system, it enables homeowners to generate more of their own energy, and that makes good sense these days," said PVT Solar CEO Vikas Desai. "Additionally, Echo provides fresh air ventilation. Many homebuyers rank healthy indoor air quality as an important consideration in buying a home, and Echo lets builders meet the needs of these buyers.

"Leading builders such as Meritage Homes, Joseph Carl Homes, Shea Homes and others are translating the many added advantages that Echo delivers into higher homebuyer traffic and accelerated home sales. We're proud to see that the Echo solar system has become the standard among builders that want to deliver the best clean energy solution available," added Desai.

PVT Solar manufactures the Echo solar system and is exhibiting at the National Home Builders Association's International Builders Show at the Orlando Convention Center.

By satisfying more energy needs, Echo gives more control of a customer’s costs today and in the future. Regardless of what happens to energy prices five, 10 or 20 years from now, the cost of energy generated by an Echo system remains fixed.