Hoover, Alabama, United States, 2 August 2018: Alabama Power’s Smart Neighbourhood at Reynolds Landing in Birmingham is nearing completion, the company said in a Press communiqué. The neighbourhood features homes with energy-efficient systems and appliances, such as Carrier Infinity heat pumps with Greenspeed intelligence, as well as other connected devices and operates on a community-wide microgrid power station, the communiqué said. According to Alabama Power, the Smart Neighbourhood will be a future-focused, energy-efficient community with homes that are rated 35% more efficient than standard Alabama homes being built today.

Commenting on the development, Casey Yates, Director, Strategic Accounts, Carrier Residential, said, “This neighbourhood represents the future of residential home construction and how a smart home comfort system can integrate into a larger ecosystem of connected products to deliver more precise comfort and profound energy savings.”

Speaking about the partnership, Richard Fletcher, Director Sales, Carrier Residential, said, “The innovative collaboration between Carrier, Signature Homes and Alabama Power signals what the standard for residential construction may look like in 5-10 years.”

The microgrid, located near the Smart Neighbourhood is made up of solar panels, battery storage and a backup natural gas generator, the communiqué said. It is the first in the Southeast United States to support an entire residential community, the communiqué further said. The neighbourhood is linked to Alabama Power’s electric grid and its intelligent technology also communicates with the homes’ heating, air conditioning and water-heating systems to determine the best way to provide energy, the communiqué added.

John Hudson, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Alabama Power, said, “Smart Neighbourhood systems can analyse and predict the entire community’s future energy needs and ensure customers are served in the most efficient ways possible.”

Dwight Sandlin, CEO, Signature Homes, said: “Reynolds Landing has been a success with outstanding market acceptance – we sold all of the 62 homes within six months of opening our model. We feel Smart Neighbourhood is a game changer and will have a strong impact on the housing market for years to come. We are changing the conversation from cost to value and innovation.”