As mentioned in our December newsletter, the Carriage House on the Day Property received its official Energy Star assessment. Black Canyon Builders built the timber frame home last year for La Plata Development, as part of the Day House renovation. Not only did the timber frame carriage house earn an Energy Star rating, but it also earned an efficiency score the assessor deemed “exceptional.”
The timber frame home received a HERS Index score of 59. To put that in perspective, 100 is the standard reference point for most newly built homes. According to the Residential Energy Services Network of energy auditors, each point “corresponds to a one-percent reduction in energy consumption.” Therefore, the timber frame carriage house has been deemed 41-percent more efficient than what HERS considers standard new construction.
Accordingly, the home earned the highest star rating of “5 Stars Plus.”
EPA Energy Star assessments are comprehensive evaluations of an entire structure. They include, among other things (with the Carriage House numbers in parenthesis when applicable):
- Assessment of mechanical features (such as heating, water heating and ventilation);
- R-Values for the walls, roof and slab (26, 40 and 10, respectfully); ratings for the windows (U: 0.34 and SHGC: 0.30); and a blower door test to gauge infiltration (Htg: 414 and Clg: 414 CFM50);
- Efficiency ratings for lights and appliances;
- Envelope loads;
- Normalized, modified end-use loads (These ratios gauge the efficiency of heating/cooling systems and fuel type as a ratio of the efficiency a building demonstrates versus the minimum efficiency specified by HERS guidelines); and
- Estimated annual energy costs ($179 estimated annual cost for heating, and just $1079 annually for heat, water, lights/appliances and service charges).
The good news doesn’t end with the energy efficiency, the long-term savings in utilities, or the environmental benefits. This HERS Index Score also qualifies the owners for a $2000 federal tax credit.
I’m proud of this home. To me, a true quality home transcends fine finishes and contributes to a better future.
Thanks!
Jared
