The Energy Difference

If you have been looking for a new home, you no doubt have been bombarded with claims regarding energy efficiency. There is ENERGY STAR®, Environments For Living®, HERS Index, HERS rating, and many others. What does it all mean and who are these people? Why do you care that New Generation Home Builders, Inc. is an Environments for Living® Diamond Class Builder.

The drive toward energy efficiency started years ago but perhaps the biggest boost to the movement came in 1992 with the US Environmental Protection Agency started its ENERGY STAR program. While it began as a labeling program to recognize energy efficient products such as appliances and computers, it soon established guidelines for qualifying a home as energy efficient. ENERGY STAR homes can include a variety of features to create a home that meets ENERGY STAR's reduced energy consumption requirement but all ENERGY STAR®homes must have 1) effective insulation; 2) high-performance windows; 3) tight construction and ducts; and 4) efficient heating and cooling equipment.

New Generation Home Builders has been building certified ENERGY STAR Homes for years and we are now an official ENERGY STAR Partner. All homes now built by New Generation Home Builders are ENERGY STAR qualified. Want to know more about ENERGY STAR and what it means to you? Visit the official ENERGY STAR website at www.energystar.gov.

Initially, homes were evaluated by the HERS score. The Home Energy Rating score, developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET—a national standards making entity for energy rating systems), compared homes to a standard home built to the 1993 Model Energy Code. A score of 80 was assigned the reference home and every 5% increase in efficiency raised the HERS score 1 point. Homes had to have a HERS score of 86 (which meant they were 30% more energy efficient) in order to qualify for ENERGY STAR. With the old HERS score, the higher the number the better.

Since July of 2006, the HERS score has been changing to the HERS index. With the HERS index the reference home is the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the reference home is assigned an index of 100. With every 1% increase in energy efficiency, the HERS index decreases 1 point. With the new HERS index, the lower the number the better. New Generation Home Builders, Inc. standard sized homes now come with a HERS index between 65-70. That means our homes are 30-35% more efficient that a home built to the 2006 IECC standards.

Environments for Living® is a performance based program that certifies not only energy efficiency but indoor air quality as well. All EFL homes meet ENERGY STAR requirements and more plus come with a comfort and a limited utility usage guarantee not offered by any other program. EFL offers different standards of performance. New Generation Home Builders, Inc. now offers homes at their highest level of performance—the Diamond Class Homes. These homes must not only meet ENERGY STAR guidelines but must also pass various tests to insure air quality and moisture control. There are seven main areas addressed by EFL Diamond Class homes:

Tight construction—reduces leaks and drafts
Fresh air ventilation—efficient delivery and air filtration system to reduce dust, odors, and indoor contaminants
Improved thermal system—efficient insulation which minimizes voids and gaps plus low E glass in windows and doors for increased energy efficiency
Right-sized HVAC—high SEER system with multiple ducts and return air grills to stimulate fresh air ventilation, decrease moisture and decrease energy usage
Pressure balance—right-sized duct system helps balance pressures enabling air to circulate more readily thereby maximizing comfort
Interior moisture management—right-sized HVAC system helps dry moisture that naturally passes through home
Combustion safety—combustion appliances are sealed or power vented to avoid carbon monoxide

We recognize that the Diamond level energy advantages do raise the price of a home. Since many people choose patio homes for their affordability, we offer the Diamond level energy package as an option on our patio homes. The standard for patio homes is the Gold Level. You can expect a HERS index in the low 80s on our standard Gold level patio homes. Your choice! You can still get a stylish, energy efficient home at a very affordable price or you can opt for the same super energy package as our larger homes for a slightly higher price.

The EFL program helps your family enjoy a higher level comfort throughout your new home and creates an environment that contains less dust, fewer odors, and more consistent temperatures. Combined with moisture and carbon monoxide control, the EFL program should help reduce potential environmental health risks for you and your family.

Enjoy the Difference!