Largest U.S. homebuilder partners with solar streetlight startup

Developments and housing communities nationwide could soon feature a Tampa-based startup’s innovative, solar-powered streetlights.

Streetleaf announced Tuesday that it inked a deal with D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder. The vendor agreement streamlines and formalizes a budding partnership that began in 2020.

Streetleaf installed its first lights, built to withstand hurricanes, in 2019. Liam Ryan, CEO, called the partnership “massive” for the local startup.

“It’s just a great proof-of-concept for solar streetlights becoming more accepted in the mainstream,” Ryan told the Catalyst. “Partnering with somebody like D.R. Horton in this agreement shows that this is actually the future standard of solar street lighting, not just a nice add-on for a high-end neighborhood.”

The startup can install its streetlights in roughly 15 minutes. Solar panels fully charge batteries in a few hours, and Streetleaf designed the system to operate for three to five days without additional sunlight.

The sustainable streetlights can light up a community without connecting to the electric grid. Ryan explained how that autonomy benefits builders and fostered Streetleaf’s launch.

Streetleaf was first deployed in the Epperson Ranch and Lagoon development in Wesley Chapel after construction issues required an off-grid solution. However, Ryan soon realized the market lacked suitable solar-powered streetlight products. “I saw the opportunity for this one project, and other home builders and developers reached out to us from there. That was kind of the birth of Streetleaf,” he said.

“A lot of our original projects were just conflicts that happened in construction,” Ryan added. “It was easier for us to go in versus digging a hole and trenching wire.”

Streetleaf builds its lighting systems to withstand 160 mph winds.

Streetleaf has since worked dozens of developments across the region and over 100 nationwide. The startup estimates more than 7,300 installed streetlights have prevented roughly 2.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Ryan said Streetleaf’s utility-grade products have withstood six named storms. While he felt confident in the engineering, Hurricane Ian provided the “first real test” in 2022.

“We had lights in North Fort Myers during the storm,” Ryan said. “Not only did the lights live up to their design specifications, but they stayed on throughout the storm and the days and weeks after – even when the entire community didn’t have any power.”

Texas-based D.R. Horton incorporates smart home technology into every project. The company built over a million homes between its launch in 1978 and 2023.

Ryan said Streetleaf began working directly with D.R. Horton’s local division in 2020. The burgeoning relationship expanded throughout the state and highlighted the need for a more formal partnership.

The home-building behemoth operates 110 divisions nationwide, and Ryan said the new agreement “makes it easier for everybody, across the board.” Brad Conlon, senior vice president of business development for D.R. Horton, credited Streetleaf’s “proven experience, reliability and dedication to providing top-quality service” in a prepared statement.

“Sustainable infrastructure is highly attractive to homeowners,” Conlon said. “And the added peace of mind that comes with knowing the lights are designed to remain operational, even during many extreme weather events, like hurricanes, is equally important.”

Ryan said his products are more cost-effective than traditional streetlights as the systems do not require additional infrastructure. Streetleaf also provides maintenance, remote management and records operational performance data.

Despite an “under the radar footprint” in Tampa Bay, Ryan said the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) has installed thousands of Streetleaf lights over the past two years. The startup has also partnered with Manatee County on an initiative.

Ryan hopes to establish relationships with local municipalities and has held some introductory conversations. However, he noted that governments operate “at their own speed,” and private partnerships provide more opportunities to scale.

“There’s unlimited use cases,” Ryan said.