Basic HTML Version
HBApdx.org
|
JANUAry, 2013
|
bUildiNg yOUR bUSiNESS
|
HBA HOME BUILDING NEWS
|
13
HBA
PDX
.
ORG
Sustain
Ability
GREEN & SUSTAINABLE BUILDING, DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION •
JANUARY, 2013
It’s hard to imagine now, but
there was once a time when
saving energy at home simply
meant turning off the lights when
leaving a room. Today, builders
and buyers are fully embracing
the added value of homes built
specifically for superior energy
performance. The steady rise
in popularity of these homes is
boosted by the fact that there are
proven methods for measuring
their level of efficiency. Third-
party certifications and rating
systems such as EPSTM, ENErGy
STAr®, Earth Advantage® and
LEED® provide peace of mind and
confidence to homeowners while
offering tremendous support
to builders who emphasize
efficiency:
Rating home efficiency
While it’s easy to recognize the
benefits of high-performance
homes, quantifying their actual
level of efficiency hasn’t always
been an exact science. rating
systems like EPS from Energy
Trust of Oregon, however, have
changed all of that. EPS is an
energy performance score that
evaluates homes based on their
estimated energy use, monthly
and annual energy costs and
environmental impact. Builders
can use EPS as a way to market
and sell their energy-efficient
homes. Plus, they can earn cash
incentives from Energy Trust for
building qualified homes that
exceed Oregon code. For buyers,
EPS reveals the hidden value of
a home by painting a detailed
picture of energy performance.
To date, nearly 2,800 homes
have received an EPS. Over 1,000
qualified homes were built in
2012 alone, increasing the market
share of new homes with an EPS
to approximately 23 percent for
the year.
Home sweet energy-efficient
home
The comforts of home reveal
themselves in many ways. Some
are obvious, like being able to
keep cool in the summer and
warm in the winter. Energy-
efficient homes certainly help
in that regard. Features such as
proper air sealing, insulation,
high-performance windows and
tightly sealed ductwork eliminate
draftiness, prevent wasted energy
and ensure consistent year-round
temperatures. Using less energy
also helps reduce a home’s
operating costs. Those savings
add up month after month and
can boost resale values. These
factors, along with the many
environmental benefits, establish
energy-ef f icient homes as a
very smart investment for savvy
buyers.
Technically speaking
So what qualif ies a home
as energy ef f icient? Each
certification program has its own
specific requirements but there
are a number of techniques and
processes that are fairly universal
across the board.
ADVANCED FRAMING:
Thi s
efficient framingmethod reduces
material waste and heat loss by
increasing areas of insulation.
INSULATION:
There’s no stronger
method for reducing unwanted
heat loss. High-per formance
homes typically dedicate more
surface area to insulation and
utilize better insulating materials
with a high resistance to heat
flow.
WINDOWS:
In recent years,
the effectiveness of windows
in preventing heat loss has
increased considerably. Double
panes are the current industry
s tandard and t r iple -pane
windows, offering even greater
performance are quickly gaining
popularity.
AIR SEALING:
The benef its of
advanced framing and proper
insulation aren’t fully realized
unless a home is sealed tight.
Air sealing takes care of leaks
in common trouble areas such
as windows, doors and gaps in
framing materials.
HVAC:
Heating and cooling can
account for as much as half of the
energy used in a home. Properly
installed, high-efficiency HVAC
equipment helps to lower energy
bills, enhance comfor t and
improve indoor air quality.
WATER HEATING:
In an average
home, up to 30 percent of the
energy consumption can be
attributed to water heating,
depending on user behavior.
Highly efficient options make
it possible to save significant
amounts of energy while still
having access to hot water on
demand.
LIGHTING:
Today ’s energy-
ef f icient bulbs and f ixtures
reduce lighting costs and offer
far greater lamp life than their
incandescent predecessors.
Building a new standard
The market for energy-efficient
homes that incorporate these
types of features has grown
exponentially in recent years.
Energy Trust of Oregon is proud
to support local builders in
this effort, offering incentives,
training and a host of resources.
For more information, visit
www.
energytrust.org/nhresources
or
call Energy Trust ’s trade ally
coordinator at 1-877-283-0698,
option 1.
Energy-efficient homebuilding hits its stride
The only Business to Business in-
dustry trade show opportunity in the
Portland Metro area is coming to the
Holiday Inn Airport on April 18th 2013.
Trade booths are available for as low
as $500. your business can’t afford to
miss this opportunity to be in front of up to 250 active builders
and remodelers from the Northwest.
High Performance
conference & Expo
Email Shaina Sullivan for more information, shainas@hbapdx.org.
4th Annual HPC
Holiday Pub Tour
A)
Almost 50 members enjoyed an evening together at the 4th
Annual Pub Tour
B)
Luke Morley, Phil Damiano, Dale Bell and Sonja Bell bond on
the bus!
c)
Cheers! Ryan Shanahan and Scott Leonard raising their glasses.
D)
Brent Olson, Travis Smith, Dale Bell and Daniel McCulloch
E)
Gary Phillips, Dale Bell (again peeking from behind!), Nicole
Bailey, Tim Doolittle and Kevin Oxley have fun at Migration Brewing
F)
Everyone toasts the newly engaged couple, Kimberly Wheeler
and Ed Becker – Congratulations!
A
D
E
F
c
B