Smart Neighborhood nearing completion in suburban Birmingham

Marking a first in the Southeast, Alabama Power announced on Monday that its “Smart Neighborhood” featuring a community-wide microgrid, high-performance homes, connected devices and energy-efficient systems is nearing completion in suburban Birmingham.

Homes in the Smart Neighborhood are 35 percent more energy efficient than standard homes being built in the state. Additionally, the microgrid comprised of solar panels, storage batteries, and natural gas backup generators is the first in the Southeast capable of providing energy to an entire community. The neighborhood is located in Reynolds Landing.

“Smart Neighborhood systems can analyze and predict the entire community’s future energy needs and ensure customers are served in the most efficient ways possible,” John Hudson, the senior vice president of marketing and business development for Alabama Power, said.

About half the homes in the neighborhood have been sold to private buyers, and construction of additional homes is slated for completion this spring. Data gathered from the homes and microgrid will inform the development of additional programs and energy-efficient technologies.

“With Alabama Power’s Smart Neighborhood, the future of residential energy has arrived,” Hudson said. “Smart Neighborhood brings together technologies and data in new ways that help families take control of their energy use and live better today.”

Signature Homes constructed houses in the Smart Neighborhood. And Southern Company, Alabama Power’s parent company, partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute, and vendors like Carrier, Vivint, and Rheem on the project.

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