Innovative Plans by Major Arizona-Based Developer Sparks Landmark Energy Conservation Legislation

March 3, 2009 2:52 PM EST

Follows Agreement with Microsoft to Improve, Automate Health Care in Master-Planned Communities

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 3 /PRNewswire/ — His company owns tens of thousands of acres across the West but it’s his company’s ideas that are sparking legislation in multiple states that would radically alter the use of energy grids. And now Aperion Communities CEO David Maniatis will bring that message this week to The Wall Street Journal’s Second Annual ECO:nomics Conference in Santa Barbara.

Maniatis’ plans for next generation master planned communities, anchored by pioneering new energy conservation policies, have sparked state legislative efforts in New Mexico (HB572), Arizona, (HB2335) and the State of Washington.

Aperion’s Inspiration communities in Albuquerque and Fort Worth provide for weatherization of homes and businesses through an innovative tax districting system that avoids the prohibitive up-front costs associated with most energy conservation measures.

“It is an achievable, practical way to solve the riddle of energy conservation that can bring direct benefits to consumers and the environment now. And we are turning these ideas into reality at our master-planned communities in Texas and New Mexico,” Maniatis said.

Under the recommended structure a lender — be it a city, utility, bank, master-planned community or special districts, homeowners or businesses within designated neighborhoods can easily access low-interest loans to complete efficiency or renewable energy projects. Through an addition to their utility or property tax bills, borrowers in turn repay the loans over 20 or 30 years. This is typically done with the money earned through energy savings or sales back to the electric grid. The debt typically stays with the property, rather than the individual, so homeowners who will be selling their homes inside of a 30-year repayment period aren’t dissuaded from participating or concerned about imposing further burdens on their property.

Indeed, Maniatis believes they will be a key selling point for homeowners in his communities.

All of this creates massive savings and energy efficiencies for residents of Inspiration communities. And it serves nearly everyone’s goal of greater energy independence for America.

“With all due respect to President Obama’s energy conservation plans, they are more incrementalism. Practical radicalism is not an oxymoron. And it is what we need at the ECO:nomics Conference this weekend in Santa Barbara and what governments at all levels need to insist upon to achieve an American energy revolution,” Maniatis said.

Last year, Aperion signed an agreement with Microsoft to create a one-stop shop for residents of Inspiration communities to track, monitor and research each individual’s health care.

Inspiration communities are being planned or built in Fort Worth and Albuquerque.

For more information on Aperion Communities please go to http://www.aperioncommunities.com, http://www.aperionsmarthome.com, http://www.davidmaniatis.com, and http://www.weatherize.com.