HBAL
Lexington, KY - Lexington homebuilders are putting themselves on the national map by joining forces to improve the energy efficiency of future residential structures in Fayette County.
The Home Builders Association of Lexington (HBAL) announced a commitment to the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index. HERS was developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).
RESNET is a leading trade organization that promotes home energy saving. The HERS Index rating system is the nationally-recognized energy standard by which a home's energy efficiency is measured and its energy performance is calculated.
"We're proud that HBAL is the first Home Builders Association in the nation to support the HERS rating system by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to encourage 100 percent of its builder members to participate in the Energy Smart Builder Program," said Todd Johnson, HBAL's CEO.
The goal is to encourage individual local builders to sign their own MOUs with RESNET. "We are facilitating these MOUs with our member builders," Johnson said.
Such MOUs would allow all of the new homes they build to be independently rated for energy efficiency and performance. Johnson noted that such a practice "is an excellent marketing tool to help builders sell their homes."
Johnson said that "the process of building an energy efficient house starts at the planning stage of the house. That's when the HERS rater should get involved."
"A home rated on the HERS Index will be given a score based upon its energy performance as determined by a certified RESNET Home Energy Rater," Johnson said. "The LOWER the score, the more energy efficient the home."
The RESNET HERS Index makes the concept instantly clear for home buyers. It shows a vertical thermometer-like scale (http://www.resnet.us/hers-index) with orange at the top shading down through yellow to chartreuse to green at the bottom.
The numbers at the top, in the orange range, drop downward from 150. They are the scores that would be accurate for existing, older homes that were built when saving energy wasn't the concern that it is today. The standard number for a new home--in the yellow or middle range--is 100.
The lowest section of numbers, in the yellow-into-green range are for homes that incorporate energy saving features. The greenest, in both color and protection of the environment, use the least energy. A zero energy home appropriately would rate a zero on the HERS Index.
These labels also include estimates for a house's annual use of electricity, natural gas, CO2 emissions, and energy savings. The name of the rating agency or individual plus contact information must also appear on the HERS Index label.
Johnson expects that consumers "will value this label as the standard for energy efficiency and performance." He likened it to "the window sticker on a car that shows its MPG."
He said that consumers are interested in buying new homes because "the energy efficiency of new homes far outstrips older homes." The main reason for that is "big changes in technology."
Members of the public can see the HERS standards for themselves at the two Homes of Excellence featured in this year's Grand Tour of Homes (http://www.hbalexington.com/2012homesofexcellence.html.) The Grand Tour will be held July 14-15 and July 21-22.
The Chestnut Springs home is at 3012 Blackford Parkway, off Man 'o War Boulevard. The Magnolia is at 3004 Blackford Parkway. Plans for the homes, by Frank Betz Associates, may be ordered online through the HBAL website.
Both the Chestnut Springs and the Magnolia feature super efficient cooling and heating systems.
"It's mainly heating and cooling that make up a house's energy load and cost to the consumer," Johnson said.
Other energy saving features in the Homes of Excellence include Grade 1 insulation which was inspected pre-drywalling and energy-efficient appliances. Both homes have energy-efficient Anderson windows.
The HERS Index Certificate/label for the Chestnut Springs Home shows that the independent, RESNET-Certified rater gave the Home of Excellence an overall energy efficiency score of 39. That number falls within the green--energy saving--range.
Johnson said that the score of 39 "means that this home is 61 percent more efficient than a new home that is not an Energy Smart Home." It's also "91 percent more energy efficient that the average existing home in the U.S."
Unlike the other new homes on the tour, the two Homes of Excellence were a collaborative effort. A team of HBAL builder members worked together to build each of these homes.
Builder Jimmy Nash served as overall manager. Drew Bresler and James Monroe were on site supervisors, each responsible for daily work on a different house.
"We want to show how committed HBAL members are to promoting energy efficiency," Johnson explained. "It's a wonderful benefit for home owners and it's a great way to show HBAL is leading the way."
HBAL members who are already certified as RESNET Energy Smart Builders include Jimmy Nash Homes, Mike Kerwin Homes, HM Homes, Captiva Luxury Homes, James Monroe Homes, Kelley & Beasley/K & B Homes, Hodges and Heathman, Gale-Davis Properties, and Ball Homes.
For more information on the Grand Tour of Homes or the HERS Index see www.hbalexington.com.