At first glance, they look like any other solar panels, the kind you rarely see on a house in Lincoln.

But these photovoltaic panels, built on the south side of an attached garage at 8930 S. 72nd St., are different. They are part of the roof, and according to the builders, they can generate about 85 percent of the home's annual energy requirements.

"The shingles themselves are the solar panels," said Art Robertson, owner of Inland Constructors Inc. in Roca, and general contractor for the project.

Solar energy is just one of the "green" aspects of this modular house built by Champion Home Builders Co. in York. The structure also has thicker walls, more insulation, an energy-efficient heat pump system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, compact fluorescent lighting and Energy Star-rated appliances.

The house is the only one of its kind in the country and part of Champion's new strategy to introduce modular construction into the subdivision market, said Kevin Flaherty, vice president of marketing. It's being billed as the first nationally produced modular home built to green standards.

Modular homes have been around for a long time and are viewed by many, especially rural residents, as a less costly alternative to a house built from the ground up on a lot. Champion wants to broaden its market share by offering a "green" home that appeals to those who want to build in subdivisions, closer to metropolitan areas.

"This is really Champion's first push to what we're calling a 'green' home," said Dave Coltrin, sales manager for Genesis Homes, a member of the Champion family of builders.

Champion chose Lincoln because modular construction has done reasonably well in Nebraska, Flaherty said, and the subdivision market is not overbuilt compared with the rest of the nation. Lincoln is also close to the manufacturing plant in York. Champion operates 27 manufacturing plants in North America and the United Kingdom.

The modular home, built in three boxlike components at an enclosed factory, was transported by trucks to the lot in the new Woodland Hills subdivision in south Lincoln. Workers then placed and assembled the components on the foundation, built the garage and added the extras, like the solar energy panels. The process typically takes about three months.

The home carries a green certification label from the National Association of Home Builders. A person can design a home, including what type of green options they want, on the Internet on the company Web site, http://thegohouse.com/.

A typical home costs about $110,000, according to Flaherty, but that depends on type of foundation, soil type, distance from the factory, labor and building permits.

Flaherty said the home is designed for the entry-level buyer and empty nesters who want to downsize and save money on maintenance and energy bills.

Blain Johnson, owner of Blain's Electric in Lincoln, hooked up the solar panels to the home's electrical system. The photovoltaic solar panels generate DC or direct current. Johnson installed an "inverter" in the garage to change it to AC or alternating current, which is used by all appliances.

Johnson said the solar panels, which cover an area of 24 feet by 19 feet, are durable enough that they can withstand a pounding by orange-size hail.

"They're more aesthetically pleasing to look at. They don't stand out like a sore thumb," he said.

The Michigan company that made the solar panels claims that they can generate enough electricity from the sun to meet about 85 percent of the home's annual energy requirements.

Marc Shkolnick, manager of energy services for LES, said he has no way of verifying the 85 percent estimate. He said to reach that capacity, it helps to have a good tight home, with proper insulation and an energy-efficient heating and cooling system and energy-saving appliances.

Shkolnick said LES's participation was to make sure that there is a safe interconnection with the electrical grid, both for the homeowner and utility employees.

A homeowner could generate enough electricity to sell back to LES in the fall and spring, when there is no air conditioner use and it's a bright sunny day. But don't count on cashing in.

"I think any customer that thinks they are going to make a large sum of money ... isn't correct in their assumption," Shkolnick said. A customer's main goal should be to save energy and lower the electric bill, he said.

Johnson said a homeowner could recover the $15,000 cost of the solar panel system and installation in about 10 years through energy savings. The life span of such a system is about 25 to 30 years.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.

Nebraska's solar power potential

When it comes to renewable energy in Nebraska, most people think wind power and rarely, solar energy. And for good reason.

Nebraska does not get as much sun as Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, the three states that lead the nation in solar power potential, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

In Lincoln, five homes, including the Champion modular home, use solar panels to generate electricity, said Marc Shkolnick, manager of energy services for the Lincoln Electric System.

There are also two small noncommercial applications, one at Hyde Observatory in Holmes Lake Park, and the other at a pump house owned by Novartis.

"It's tough to make an economic justification (for solar panels) but that may be easier in the future," Shkolnick said.

There are federal and state incentives that will help homeowners pay for such installations. But Shkolnick recommends investing in more insulation and an energy-efficient heating and cooling system before adding a solar panel system to your home. Often, he said, these easy steps can significantly reduce your energy costs.