Energy Efficiency
Energy consumption is of paramount concern to today’s homebuyers due to financial and farreaching environmental impacts. In addition, each home consumes energy year after year, meaning that the environmental impacts associated with that use accrue over time. Therefore, energy conservation is an integral part of all Green Built North Texas homes. Green Built North Texas homes are certified to meet the EPA’s ENERGY STAR performance standard. With the help of independent Home Energy Raters, Green Built North Texas builders choose the most appropriate energy-saving features for their homes in order to obtain ENERGY STAR certification. Raters conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation and air tightness. Upon completion of the verficiation process, the home obtains ENERGY STAR certification and is scored on the HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) Index.
The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to basic code specifications scores a HERS Index of 100. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the Reference Home. Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index roughly corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the Reference Home.
Indoor Air Quality
Following energy efficiency, consumers often cite the home’s indoor air quality as the most important feature of their home. Sensitivities to chemicals that can be emitted from construction and home furnishing materials are becoming more common and Green Built North Texas homes aim to mitigate the effects of potential contaminants. Through proper design, ventilation and filtering the source of contaminates can be controlled, diluted and/or captured. This aspect is particularly important in North Central Texas, where high levels of allergens and pollen are often reported.
Homeowner Education
A builder can do only so much when it comes to how the home will perform. Homeowners play a big role in a home’s performance and, therefore, should take the utmost care to operate their Green Built North Texas home as it was intended. Ongoing and timely preventative maintenance helps ensure a healthy, resource-efficient home for years to come.
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