Georgia Power and PulteGroup, Inc. announced a new partnership to develop Atlanta's first Smart Neighborhood at Pulte's Altus at the Quarter development. The new, state-of-the art Pulte Homes community is located in Atlanta's Upper West Side, one of the city's most vibrant and popular areas.

Each technology-enhanced home in the Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood will be served by Georgia Power with power supplemented by individual rooftop solar installations and in-home battery energy storage. Homes will also be equipped with the latest energy technologies such as optimal insulation for maximum efficiency, advanced heating and cooling systems and LED lighting, and home automation featuring smart thermostats, smart locks and voice control.

"Building the future of energy in Georgia centers on our continued commitment to offer new, flexible products and services that meet the changing needs of our customers," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "This partnership with PulteGroup provides a unique opportunity for us to demonstrate how energy companies can collaborate with homebuilders and retail partners to better serve customers today while developing new opportunities for tomorrow." 

"As a company, PulteGroup already incorporates many energy-efficient practices and green products in our new home communities across the country. We are always looking for innovative ways to break new ground through sustainable practices, such as with our first Zero Net Home in California last year," said Ryan Marshall, President and Chief Executive Officer for PulteGroup. "Through this partnership with Georgia Power, we continue to be at the forefront of energy efficiency that can shrink our homes' carbon footprint, but also make our homes less expensive to own, translating into lasting savings for homeowners"

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, which emphasizes the importance of robust research and development to better serve customers. The Smart Neighborhood initiative, including separate projects with Georgia Power and its sister operating company Alabama Power, reinforces Southern Company's commitment to R&D to benefit 9 million customers in the United States. The Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood will serve as a real-world study where performance data and energy usage will be analyzed to provide insight into the effectiveness of emerging energy technologies and materials and how homes of the future can be better built and function. Additionally, Georgia Power continues to conduct R&D through programs developed with and approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission such as separate solar energy research projects with the University of Georgia and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

The partnership with Georgia Power is another example of PulteGroup's commitment to sustainability. In 2016, Pulte was the largest homebuilder to participate in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Zero Net Energy Production Builder Demonstration program aimed at building new homes that maximize utility grid load reduction. Completing the construction of its first zero net energy home prototype in Northern California, the home is designed to minimize its environmental impact by generating as much energy as it uses.

The first 46 townhomes developed at Altus at the Quarter will be a part of the Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood and will feature the Hutton floor plan featuring 2,349+ sq. ft. four-story townhome with 3-4 bedrooms and 2-car garage. The community is located at the intersection of Marietta Boulevard and Bolton Drive. Construction is underway with the grand opening scheduled for later this year. Click here to learn more.