Comments on: Does Energy Efficiency Drive Home Builders out of Business?

By: Bill Branham

Bill Branham — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:24:22 +0000

The United States has yielded
The United States has yielded control over the solar market to Germany, Japan and China. These countries outpace the U.S. by seven years with nationally sponsored solar home programs. Distinct paths led these nations-to become global leaders in the production and installation of solar photovoltaic technology. Motivated variously by concerns over security, health, climate change and high energy prices, these nations are now home to robust and growing solar industries and solar panels can be found on hundreds of thousands of rooftops across these nations. We will defend the need to reduce imported oil, diversify the electricity supply, and increase regional security with a grass roots solar market transformation initiative.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:58:55 +0000

I think that energy
I think that energy efficiency should be a given for any builder. You would be suprised at how many builders and home owners have not heard of using Manual J to install a brand new HVAC system. See Sizing your HVAC system. Some builders don't even bring it up and the client ends up wasting money on an undersized or more likely oversized unit. Sealing HVAC joints should be part of every job since it the system leads it's money wasted for the next 20+ years.

In Montgomery County MD there is now a requirement to install fire sprinklers in new homes or those undergoing renovations over a certain size. That's a big ticket item and I think that requirement would limit the number of clients who could afford to do it.

Tom

By: Henry

Henry — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 20:45:33 +0000

Great article, Alison.&
Great article, Alison.

There is obviously a whole lot of education needed. Homeowners should know that there is purchase cost and operating costs associated with a home. A small investment up front can reap big savings for the life of the home.

Builders should know that doing things right during construction is cheaper and easier than fixing things later. It's about providing a better product.

The arguments about freedom from government regulation or "codes gone wild" drive me nuts. How about my freedom from shoddy building practices? Unfortunately, in a "lowest bidder" environment like the building trades, quality suffers.

Any builder that is driven out of buisness by efficiency or other codes shouldn't be in business in the first place. They give the profession a black eye. Good riddance!

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 02:26:14 +0000

A $75 blower door test in New
A $75 blower door test in New York?! There must be a lot of auditors looking for work. I can't roll a truck for $75! Maybe the EPA needs to look at Sun Setting the E* program. It has been squeezed by codes and the ANSI approved NAHB Standard and LEED. I think it has served its purpose and with builders jumping ship over the V3 requirements (actually its the HVAC contractors in my area KC who are pitching a fit). The money saved by the EPA can be used to pay down the deficit and builders who get it can work on other available program certifications.

By: Raymond Pruban

Raymond Pruban — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:41:15 +0000

It is builders like these
It is builders like these that keep builders like me focused on building healthier more energy efficient homes. It is too bad the building industry is so slow to advance. It is good for my business though.

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:48:34 +0000

Allison,

Allison,

Thanks for reply. Eco-Panels has been working with the ZIP system (Huber) for a few years and we would like them to start manufacturing panels larger than 4x10. Eco-Panels has actually worked with 14 different skin options depending on the clients specific needs. We made panels for an Eco resort on St. Johns USVI in which they wanted AC grade plywood as the interior skin and then calked and white washed for a beautiful finished interior surface. As for my prototype, it is performing very well for a very affordable cost, but I did make some mistakes along the way as my builder was not spending the time to stop, think and ask. I appreciate the time you are taking on this site to help us all maybe take some extra time to stop, think and ask.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:08:59 +0000
Craig:
Craig: Great points! Yes, energy efficient new homes can be affordable, too. Nice blog as well, and now I know what Eco-Panels are. It looks like you've done what I asked Huber about when I was at a lunch-and-learn on their Zip-Wall and Zip-Roof OSB products. One of my first questions was about when they would use Zip on structural insulated panels and make ZIP-SIPs. They told me recently that someone was doing this, so I guess it's you guys.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:23:47 +0000

To address the main question
To address the main question that is asked, I guess it depends on what standards are trying to be or needing to be met. As a former HERS rater, in my years of experience, (based on a 2000 sq ft home) the average builder would incur about $1,000 extra in costs plus some additional time to understand the requirments (and yes they have changed over the years) to achieve basic Energy Star Certification. Regardless of who pays for this, (the builder or home owner) having a 3rd party professional inspect and test under the ES program is overall a good idea to provide additional quality assurance. Does an additional $1,000 make it economically impossible for the builder to survive?

Although I am not a licensed GC, I recently completed a prototype home of 1872 sq ft, built using Eco-Panels, that would retail for around $105 sq ft. This home, based on ES modeling, has reduced overall energy demand by about 70%, received the Energy Star Tax Credit, achieved Gold Level Healthy Built Homes and would have made LEED Silver (I didn’t want to pay the extra cost for LEED certification). My last month’s total energy bill was $31.31 Affordable, high quality and high performance homes are definitely achievable for everyone.

Two things I feel would really help us all are 1st: A standardized calculation that appraisers can use to add value based on energy efficiencies and that the lending institutions would accept to allow for higher loan amounts. 2nd: A much higher tax credit to builders who achieve the Energy Star Tax Credit Level.

I am doing a blog on my prototype if anyone is interested in visiting: http://www.affordablegreenhome.blogspot.com 

Best Wishes

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:11:38 +0000
Matthew:
Matthew: That's an interesting - and relevant - perspective on the efficiency increases being asked of builders. It's definitely time for a paradigm shift, and I do believe, as you say, that builders can be creative and pioneering enough to make it happen. Thanks for your comment!

By: Matthew Cooper

Matthew Cooper — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:08:46 +0000
I think there is an
I think there is an unfortunate convergence of the most significant changes in required energy efficiency improvement and a majorly repressed market.

Where the home building industry had previously had to comply with a 17% improvement in efficiency stretched out from 1975 to 2009; they now face three back to back to back cycles of 15% each from IECC 2009 to 2012 to 2015.

It is certainly a paradigm shift for the building industry, but they are an adept industry filled with both creative folks that embrace change as well as pioneers of new means and methods of advancing construction practices in America.

Will mandated change contribute to the demise of some marginalized companies? Absolutely. Should it? I would suggest no. The successful home builder of today must stay ahead of both technique and technology. In addition, they must constantly roll with the changes in consumer demand, and demand today is total cost of ownership.

When confronted with an onslaught of existing homes, with varying degrees of energy efficiency and poorly engineered attempts at effective retrofitting; the ground up, house as a system approach is the successful home builders best tool in their tool belt when it comes to being a viable business.