In a landmark survey by Cahners Residential Group in 2004, ninety-one percent of homebuyers said that energy-efficient features in a home were extremely or very important to them. The demand for old and new homes that use less energy continues to grow from a niche market into an emerging segment of the mainstream residential building and remodeling industry.
Now traditional contractors and builders can apply scientific techniques to create more energy efficient homes that provide greater comfort, durability, health and safety. Best of all, they can do it in a practical and affordable way using building performance technologies and techniques. This means looking at how all the components of the house work together including the thermal shell, heating and cooling equipment, ventilation, windows and doors, and appliances.
For those contractors who have already embraced the building science philosophy, there's always more to learn. The industry is constantly evolving with more technologies and best practices shared among building science professionals. Thanks to ACI's national and regional conferences and an expanding range of training and education initiatives, contractors and builders across the country are being trained to employ a "whole-house" systems approach to new construction and home improvement. That means more customers are getting a better overall home environment when builders and contractors incorporate comprehensive measures to address comfort, health and safety, durability, and energy efficiency.
Improving the performance of existing homes
Contractors nationwide are being trained and accredited in building performance, the systematic approach to improving the indoor environment by applying improvements to the whole house, not just a part of it. These contractors use performance diagnostics to evaluate the condition of a home and verify the impact of improvements. Blower door tests for building shell leakage, combustion safety tests, duct leakage diagnostics, and infrared thermal imaging are examples of diagnostic tests provided by building performance contractors to help ensure the health, safety, comfort, and durability of a home before and after improvements. Once the initial assessment is complete, the contractor will recommend how to remedy any problems they found, and can complete the recommended work for the homeowner. The end result for customers is lower energy bills and improved comfort and safety.
Building performance techniques benefit contractors as well by differentiating themselves in the marketplace. Contractors who use these comprehensive testing and installation techniques to treat the house as a system can distinguish their businesses from traditional contractors by providing their customers better, more informed solutions to common house problems, including high energy costs, uneven temperatures from room to room, moisture and air quality issues, as well as maintenance and durability. Some contractors may have access to energy efficiency programs, including Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes sponsored by local utilities and state agencies that offer technical training, certification assistance, marketing support and even financial incentives including low-interest financing, cash back, and tax credits for customers investing in recommended, eligible energy efficiency improvements.
Exceeding minimum building standards
For new construction, builders can achieve substantial energy savings through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and ENERGY STAR Qualified Home standards.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
Newly built homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high performance windows and doors, well-sealed and insulated duct systems, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances. These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.
In addition to offering a high quality product to consumers, builders of energy efficient homes are eligible for a $2,000 federal tax credit under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. A new energy efficient home must achieve 50 percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). At least one-fifth of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements.
A bright future
As the demand for high quality, efficient homes gains momentum, more contractors and builders will look to building performance to add value to conventional homes, setting a new standard in the residential new construction and home improvement industries and empowering their customers to make better choices for themselves, the economy and the environment.
Visit www.affordablecomfort.org or call 1-800-344-4866 x 26 to register for an upcoming webcast series or conference:
"Duct Camp" Webcast - September 12-December 19, 2006
ACI New England - Westford, MA - October 4-5, 2006
New Jersey Home Performance Conference - Atlantic City, NJ - January 24-25, 2007
ACI Northwest - Portland, OR - February 21-22, 2007
ACI Home Performance Conference 2007 - Cleveland, OH - April 23-27, 2007
ACI, a nonprofit organization supported by utility companies, state agencies and building science leaders and trade organizations, has 20 years experience elevating the building science industry, to affect change and building practices to address and improve performance issues of comfort, efficiency, and affordability in new and existing housing.
Helen Perrine is the executive director of ACI, Inc. and has worked in the field of energy and environmental education since 1978.
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