Developers tout 3D-printed houses in Coachella Valley as “zero net energy”

Developers are building what they call “the world’s first community of 3D-printed zero net energy homes” in Rancho Mirage.

Palari Group and Mighty Buildings plan to construct 15 homes on five acres in the Coachella Valley, according to CNN. Construction has begun, with work expected to be completed by spring 2022. Beverly Hills-based Palari and Oakland-based Mighty Buildings both build 3D-homes.

The 1,450-square-foot homes will be constructed of stone composite panels “printed” by Mighty Buildings and assembled on-site, “kind of like Lego blocks,” Palari Group CEO Basil Starr said, according to the report. The material is fire resistant, water resistant, and termite-proof. Anything that can’t be printed, like bathrooms and cabinets, are made of sustainably sourced materials, he said.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes start at just under $600,000, which is about $225,000 below the average home value in Rancho Mirage. Each home is solar-powered and includes a swimming pool; a two-bedroom unit can also be added to each property for an extra $255,000.

Buyers can also add a Tesla-powered home battery and other amenities.

The construction method differs from some other 3D-printed housing projects that have been or are being created over the last few years.

A developer in Austin, Texas, is building six homes with what is essentially a giant concrete 3D-printer. A Long Island, N.Y., developer recently listed a home that was built using that same method.

[CNN] — Dennis Lynch