Photo Credit: www.homeimprovementhelper.com
It’s hard to keep up with all the green and energy efficient lingo going around these days. There’s Energy Star Qualified Homes, ecomagination Homes, Energy Plus Homes and all the products, materials and building techniques that go along with making homes save energy.
We’ve talked about Energy Star Qualified Homes, Energy Star Qualified Products and the GE ecomagination Home Builder Program in the past, today’s goal is to figure out what an Energy Plus Home is and what it means to you i.e. what you save in energy and money.
I first learned about Energy Plus Homes the other day while visiting American West Homes’ blog. As far as I can tell, it’s a program only available in Nevada and was put together by NVEnergy in 2009. The program awards incentives to home builders that exceed Nevada’s energy efficiency standards; new homes built to these standards are more efficient than Energy Star qualified new homes.
Energy Plus Homes Program Details
- Homes are 30% more efficient than Nevada’s state building code (IECC 2006)
- Energy Plus Homes meet a 70 score on the Department of Energy EnergySmart Home Scale, Energy Star Qualified Homes must be an 85; the scale is out of 100 and the lower the score, the better
- Gas savings can be used to achieve the first 15 points of energy savings, which would take the home’s score to an 85
- Electric savings must be used to achieve the final 15 points of energy savings, which would bring the home to a score of 70
- Energy Plus Homes must use a third-party Home Energy Rating System (HERS) to verify energy performance and features
Benefits for Homeowners
- Your home has a smaller carbon footprint because it uses less energy meaning less energy is produced and less greenhouse gases are emitted.
- Your home costs less to own because some products last longer and the home uses 30% less energy – thousands of dollars in savings over the life of the home.
- Energy Plus home builders make “energy efficiency upgrades, such as sealing your air ducts, controlling air flow in and out of your home, maximizing the efficiency of air conditioning units, and properly insulated walls.” What is an Energy Plus Home? www.nvenergy.com
Here’s a list of Energy Plus Home Builders in Nevada
American West Homes | Astoria Homes | Blue Heron | Centex Homes | Del Webb | Desert Wind Homes
KB Homes | Pulte Homes | Richmond American Homes | Ryland Homes | StoryBook Homes
The Energy Plus Homes program asks builders to build new homes to efficiency standards that are higher than those required under the Energy Star Qualified Homes program, 15% more. Builders across the nation are embracing green home programs; it’s a trend warmly welcomed from energy conscious home buyers and a trend that is helping home builders decrease inventories. Hopefully, similar programs are adopted in other states, and efficiency standards and innovation in green building continues.
Sources:
Energy Plus Homes Handbook
What is an Energy Plus Home?
Subscribe to our New Homes Blog!
I wonder if we have these builders here in Northern, Utah. You just gave me a great idea to attract some new buyers.
Pulte homes have had this program already, it just wasn’t official. They have advertised their homes being 30% more energy efficient then the Energy Star standards for the last couple of years. Nice to see other builders getting on the bandwagon.
Chas@Las Vegas Real Estate´s last blog ..Time Running Out for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
Yes yes, everyone and their auntie, uncle, cousin, dog and ferret are going on about “being more green”. For very good reason of course. I like the concept of actual energy efficient homes. We don’t really seem to do the kit based home concept really but we do use energy efficient materials of course.
I’ve noticed a change with my own company where not so long ago, customers main concerns when buying their conservatory blinds were “will they go with the rattan furniture”. Nowadays though there is a real shift where people are asking much more about reflective proporties and UV protection. Personally I think that’s great. However it happens being green has got to be good in the end.
Interesting information. “Green” technology ideas usually emerge from the west coast and work their way east. It will be interesting to monitor this trend as it spreads across the country.
Augusta Real Estate´s last blog ..All Brick 4 BR 2 BA In Columbia County
What I have heard is that these homes offer the owners a great comfort besides whatever it does on the energy part. Its a welcome sign that builders across the globe are encouraging the green home methodology and getting more energy conscious. If not done now then it will be totally obsolete.
Mack@Las Vegas Homes´s last blog ..Commercial Real Estate Bubble
Anything we can do to conserve energy is a good thing and it’s great that so many builders are doing their part.
conserving energy is a great first step too. The second is making sure your house is built with GREEN in mind. A lot of the renovations will pay for itself in the long run.
Thanks for pointing it out!
joe@energy conservation´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at