From financing to floor plans and school districts to security systems, the list of considerations when buying or building a new home is seemingly endless. But one thing that should be near the top of every potential builder or buyer’s list is energy efficiency.
Clark Public Utilities wants its customers to live in homes that are more sustainable to build while also being as efficient, healthy and comfortable as possible, which is why it has partnered with nearly a dozen local homebuilders to create the New Homes Performance program.
The utility offers incentives to developers who build new high-performance homes that are at least 10 percent more energy efficiency than the Washington State Energy Code standards. Homes built under the program have their performances verified by a third party and certified to ensure all the program requirements are satisfied.
“It’s really an accomplishment to build such an efficient home,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham. “The Washington State Energy Code sets some of the highest home efficiency base standards in the nation. Having the ability to exceed that reflects how sophisticated our local builders are.”
Rather than following a checklist of requirements, the utility’s New Homes Performance program focuses on the final outcome. That approach gives builders the agency to combine different technologies and building techniques to meet their customers’ needs while still building an efficient home.
The exact approach might vary between builders, but high-performance homes typically have a few things in common. They use advanced framing techniques, sometimes called optimum value engineering, to reduce the amount of lumber used and waste generated in wood-frame home construction. By using less lumber in the walls, which acts as a thermal bridge between outdoor air and indoor conditioned spaces, builders can use more insulation in the walls without compromising a home’s structural integrity.
Then the entire home is sealed much tighter than one of typical construction. Because every home needs to breathe, these homes are built with a ventilation system. Some of those systems blend fresh outdoor air with conditioned indoor air before it hits the furnace. That technique requires the furnace to use less energy when warming the new air.
Healthier environment
High-performance homes also use highly efficient appliances, LED lighting and more efficient water heating and climate control systems.
These homes are also more comfortable and create a heathier living environment.
When people think of poor air quality, their home is likely the last place they consider. But, according to the National Environmental Education Foundation, it’s actually a prime source for many of the pollutants that exacerbate allergies and respiratory and other illnesses. The problem is only made worse by the fact that Americans spend the majority of their time indoors.
The foundation reported that homes that received quality weatherization and education saw 12 percent fewer emergency room visits for asthma. They also found that homes that received energy services and repairs saw a 23 percent decline in the number of children with poorly controlled asthma.
An older home can almost always be renovated to be more energy efficient, but the New Homes Performance Program is designed specifically for new construction homes.
A high-performance home will be slightly more expensive upfront than a similar home of standard design, but not out of reach for the typical homebuyer. As an added benefit, owners should expect to recoup their investments fairly quickly through lower energy bills, higher resale values and less time on the market.
“We’re approaching 400 high-performance homes built in Clark County since we offered this program in October 2017,” Dunham said. “The participating builders aren’t in it for the incentive the utility offers. They’re doing it because they want to build a better home and they care about the environment, the community and the families who will live in their homes.”
If you’re in the market for a new home, consider one that is built to the energy efficiency standards of the New Homes Performance Program. To find out more, or to see a list of participating builders, visit the program page on the Clark Public Utilities website at www.clarkpublicutilities.com/performancehome.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
