MODUS brings zero energy to Buckeye
MODUS Companies — a real estate developer that specializes in multifamily projects — is bringing three Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) communities to Buckeye in the coming year.
“We’ve been here in the Valley for 20 years and we have built some of the most high performance homes in the country,” Ed Gorman, president of MODUS Companies, said.
“We’ve been building Net Zero Energy (NZE) or Zero Energy Ready Homes for the last 15 years.”
The first development — Buckeye Village Centre — will be a 78-unit community of rental homes located within the city’s downtown redevelopment. It will be made up off 1- and 2-bedroom floor plans that will have private back yards.
“Those are designed to be more for the workforce,” Gorman said. “For the people that live and work in a downtown area.”
The second is a master-planned community called Sundance Village, which will feature 154 rental homes that include one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. These will also consist of private backyards, a recreational trail, dog park, pool and spa, pickleball court and some with direct-access garages.
The third is the second phase of Sundance Village and is named Sundance Station Apartments. Sundance Station will be the first new apartment project in the past 20 years in Buckeye that will provide entry-level housing. The complex will have 272 Class A apartment units and will be 3- and 4-story buildings with elevators leading to the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. It will have premium amenities such as a pool, spa, lounge and fitness center.
All of the units within these developments will be NZE and will be built with ZERH standards.
“Net zero by the Department of Energy’s definition is a building that produces as much power in a year as it comes in a year on an annual basis,” Gorman said.
“What it means to the consumer though is that these buildings will have energy bills that are 50 to 70% lower than buildings that are built to current building codes.”
Gorman added that the NZE units not only save tenants money, but are healthier for them, as well as are sustainable and better for the environment.
The other benefits of the developments, according to Gorman, are their unique floor plans, a modern aesthetic and sustainable technology.
“It certainly is a departure from the tradition, same old same old that most people in the industry build,” Gorman said. “It’s been desirable to multiple demographics, certainly to the younger demographic that wants something a little more modern and high tech but it also appeals to people that want something a little more progressive. … All of our stuff is very technologically advanced with home automation, things to control from the doorbells to light switches to thermostats to leak detection, so we try to incorporate that, as well as very high-speed internet.”
The homes are also sustainable in terms of water consumption, as they are designed to use 50% less using WaterSense — a program from the Department of Energy.
Gorman is excited to see the population and job growth happening out in Buckeye and how it is attracting younger people.
“I think currently they’re not really well equipped to attract those people from a residential perspective so we feel great that we can provide that differentiated product,” Gorman said.
He noted that the importance of the developments being zero energy is that it is the right way to build moving forward.
“Using less energy is a concern because we have git capacity issues in the grid and so as the valley grows, that’s certainly going to be a concern,” Gorman said.
“But we also see this as the future because now we’re seeing government incentives for going to zero energy ready. And building codes are becoming more rigorous in regard to sustainability so it’s coming … we’re just ahead of that curve right now.”
Gorman added that nationally, and specifically in Arizona, there is a “huge” housing shortage — particularly with units that are reasonably priced.
“So many new homebuyers are priced out either by interest rates or high costs,” Gorman said. “People — by necessity or by choice — are able to afford something very nice to live in, these are built as single-family homes with yards, yet they have a community amenity that rivals a classic apartment complex. So, it’s got the best of both worlds at a price point that most people can afford.”
Gorman wants to convey to the community that these developments have three differentiators that MODUS focuses on location, design and the use of the amenity spaces.
“So, we feel that it hits all those things that are going to be great for our community, be a place that people will desire to live in and attract people to Buckeye,” Gorman said.