Solar Power Shines at Home Show

By Eve MitchellSAN FRANCISCO, BUSINESS WRITER

THE BIGGEST trade show for West Coast home builders convened Wednesday, and the spotlight shined on solar-powered, energy- efficient homes.

The PCBC show (formerly known as Pacific Coast Builders Conference) at Moscone Center has more than 600 exhibitors and is expected to draw a record attendance of 30,000 industry professionals. There are displays of fancy faucets, the newest kitchen appliances, motorized window and door screens, and floors warmed with radiant heating.

Several exhibits and a forum focused on the latest models of electricity-producing solar panels.

The newest solar photovoltaic panels are different from the older types of panels that perch on a rack at an angle to the roof. The latest ones, which are starting to show up on new homes, interlock into the roof, so they will look more attractive.

“Photovoltaic is the conversion of light into electricity. For the homeowner … it reduces the electric bill,” said Arthur Rudin, director of engineering at Sharp Electronics Corp, which makes solar electric systems and photovoltaic roof tiles.

Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular in the region.

Palo Alto builder Clarum Homes has made green homes its standard since 2003 with its Enviro-Home developments — Zero Energy Homes with features such as solar electric power, on-demand water heaters and radiant roof barriers. Clarum plans to build about