DELAND -- A national homebuilder has come to Florida, and is trying to make a splash with an interesting offer.
Shea Homes will throw in a solar electricity system with each new home it sells in DeLand's Victoria Park community.
The giveaway is on top of energy-efficient extras that already come standard.
The program, which was launched last week, attracted its first sale over the weekend.
"It can generate up to 60 percent of the electrical energy usage of the house, and I guess the better question isn't why do we offer it, as much as, why don't other people offer it?" said Jeff Gersh, the area vice president for Shea Homes.
In Holly Hill, Bill Gallagher with Solar-Fit said he's seen about a 30 percent increase in solar energy system orders over the past 1.5 years.
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