In Flagstaff and elsewhere, the conversation around affordable housing often focuses on one number, the cost to buy a home. But for working families, that’s only part of the equation.
Another question lingers. What does it cost to live in that home every month?
Here’s where energy and solar become part of the solution.
A New Model for Affordable Housing
Through its innovative starter home program, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona is creating a pathway to homeownership for local workforce families.
These thoughtfully designed homes are:
- ~500 square feet
- Highly energy-efficient
- Built to maximize livability while minimizing cost
More importantly, they’re part of a deed-restricted homeownership model that allows families to build equity, stabilize financially, and eventually transition into long-term housing.
It’s a system designed to help people establish equity, not just provide housing.
The original Butler Avenue pilot homes marked the beginning of Rooftop Solar’s partnership with Habitat Northern Arizona.
From Pilot Project to Growing Community
Rooftop Solar has been proud to support this mission from the beginning.
Our partnership with Habitat Northern Arizona started with the pilot homes on Butler Avenue, where we installed the first solar systems on these compact, high-efficiency homes.
And today, that collaboration continues at Timber Sky.
We’ve recently completed solar installations on the first 10 homes in Phase 1, helping bring this vision of affordable, sustainable housing to life at scale.
Right-Sized Solar for High-Efficiency Living
Each home at Timber Sky is equipped with a 2.4 kW rooftop solar system, consisting of a streamlined six-panel array using high-efficiency modules.
These systems are intentionally designed to match the needs of the home:
- Smaller footprint → lower energy demand
- All-electric design → clean, efficient load profile
- High-performance panels → strong production even in winter conditions
Rather than oversizing the system, we engineered these arrays to be precisely aligned with real-world usage.
High-efficiency starter homes at Timber Sky feature compact rooftop solar systems designed to match energy usage.
What Does That Mean for the Homeowner?
In Northern Arizona’s strong solar climate, a 2.4 kW system typically produces:
- ~10–13 kWh per day on average over the year
For a well-built, energy-efficient 500 sq ft home, that production can cover a substantial portion of total electricity use.
Real-world impact:
- Many months: very low or near-zero electric bills
- Higher-demand periods (like winter heating): small remaining utility costs
- Year-round: significantly reduced energy expenses
This truly matters because lowering utility bills doesn’t just save money, it reduces financial pressure and increases long-term housing stability.
Why Solar Is Essential to This Model
Affordable housing is about the total cost of living.
By integrating solar into every home, this program helps:
Reduce Monthly Expenses
Lower utility bills mean more predictable, manageable budgets.
Protect Against Rising Energy Rates
With utility costs from providers like Arizona Public Service continuing to evolve, producing your own power provides long-term stability.
Support Long-Term Success
When homeowners spend less on energy, they’re more likely to successfully complete the program and move forward into their next home.
Solar helps make the entire housing model more successful.
Rooftop Solar installs right-sized solar systems on Habitat for Humanity starter homes at Timber Sky in Flagstaff.
A Partnership Built on Community
Our team at Rooftop Solar sees projects like Timber Sky as more than installations. They’re material investments in the future of our community.
From the Butler Avenue pilot to a growing neighborhood on the west side of Flagstaff, we’re proud to continue working alongside Habitat Northern Arizona to expand access to affordable, energy-efficient homeownership.
The goal is quite simple. It’s to help build a community where people can afford to stay.
Get Involved
Explore Solar for Your Home
Curious what solar could do for your home or business? Our team is here to help you understand your options and design a system that fits your needs.
See what solar (and battery backup) can do for you.
https://rooftopsolar.us/free-solar-quote
Support Habitat for Humanity Northern Arizona
Want to be part of making projects like this possible?
You can learn more, volunteer, or donate here:
https://www.habitatflagstaff.org/
