The most efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) panel on the market today is capable of turning about 20 percent of the sun’s energy into electricity. This number is slowly but surely increasing, as technology continually improves. But in an ideal world, solar panels would convert a larger portion of the sun ray’s into useful energy.

On this topic, EchoFirst may be onto something. In addition to using sunlight to generate electrical power, as conventional PV panels do, the company’s energy system captures the sun’s thermal energy, which may then be used for heating water and home air conditioning.

The result, according to the company, is a system that operates at around 50 percent efficiency. Here’s more on how it works:

Basic PV panels draw energy only from a narrow spectrum of the sun’s energy to create electricity. The remaining energy, which is mostly in the form of heat, remains unused. The simple but powerful idea behind Echo is to capture a much wider spectrum of the sun’s energy — to utilize those same PV panels to generate both electricity and heat. Because Echo uses the same PV panel to generate both electrical and thermal (heat) energy, it’s more efficient.

Sounds pretty cool, huh? Cooler still is the fact that Echo’s product may be added to conventional solar PV panels (though I haven’t been able to determine whether retrofits are feasible).

While EchoFirst is still a relatively new company, several U.S. homebuilders — Meritage Homes, Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes and ZETA – are intrigued enough to give the systems a try. It was announced today that the solar technology will be powering several new home communities in California, Arizona and Nevada. Mike Nimon, President of Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes, had the following to say:

A net zero energy home — a home that generates as much energy as it uses —  has long been the dream of homeowners seeking energy independence and financial security. Echo provides the technology to deliver — affordably and efficiently — a zero energy home at a more attractive cost basis than the basic solar electric systems seen in the market.

>> Related: Net-Zero Home to Feature Solar Panels, $0 Electric Bill

Formerly of SunPower Corp., EchoFirst’s CEO, Vikas Desai, offered the following sound bite:

Echo is an affordable, practical solution for homebuilders and homeowners who want a complete solution to their energy problem. With Echo, a net zero energy home is no longer ‘the home of the future’ — it’s a practical available option today. Echo delivers zero energy home performance — and the beautiful roof-integrated aesthetics and curb appeal demanded by builders and homebuyers alike.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that EchoFirst recently changed its name from PVT Solar, which presumably stood for “photovoltaic thermal” solar. I’ll be the first to say that “Echo Solar” has a much nicer ring to it…