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Less Energy

From "Best Built Home"
episode DBBH-104F

During construction, there are many things a builder can do to make a house more efficient. One way to do this is to follow the government's Energy Star® program. This segment will explain what it means to have a house that is "Energy Star Rated" and some of the things a builder needs to do or concentrate on to get that rating. From new construction techniques to better designed heating and cooling systems, host Lynda Lyday will explore some of the best ways to get a more efficient house.

Eric and Marne Fetzer and their two daughters in their energy-efficient, moisture-free and air-tight basement.

These days homeowners are becoming increasingly more concerned about saving money on their utility bills and conserving natural resources, and Eric and Marne Fetzer, who you first met in Episode DBBH-103 of Best Built Home workshop, are a prime example. "The builder [McStain Neighborhoods] is actually known for its natural and holistic attitude toward the earth and trying to preserve as much energy and things like that as they possibly can," Marne said.

"I think it's important that we save you [homeowners] money on your bills," Justin Wilson, environmental manager for McStain Neighborhoods, said. "And I think it's important to realize that it's partly responsible for you to do the right thing, and use less."

By wasting less and keeping energy efficiency in mind, homebuilders are able to construct better homes -- and houses that the government has labeled "Energy Star." This means each home goes through an independent, third-party inspection to meet rigorous criteria for energy performance.

Energy Star is a voluntary governmental program that encourages builders to construct energy-efficient homes.

Figure A

Figure B

What Is Energy Star?

Energy Star is a voluntary program managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They've created a rating system focusing on a home's energy efficiency, both in appliances and building practices.

"The builder had this house tested for an Energy Star rating, and out of a 100 this house scored an 87, which puts it at a 5-star home," Eric said. The EPA gives the homeowner an estimate of how much this rating will save in utility bills each year.

To receive an Energy Star certification on a home, a builder must use the following:

High-performance installation systems.
High-performance Low-e windows (figure A).
Advanced air-sealing strategies.
Energy Star rated heating and cooling equipment.
Tight -- or sealed -- engineered ductwork (figure B).

For more information on the Energy Star program, be sure to check out our Web extra content, "Solutions for Your Home's Energy Crisis," for this episode.

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Building energy-efficient homes is something builders can get down to a science. For example, Justin explains that first a floor system is built and then a wall system is attached on top, and his company has discovered there is air leakage at the connection. To solve this problem McStain Neighborhoods utilizes a caulking sealant throughout the house on the exterior walls and on the corners (figure C).

Another common area for energy loss are electrical and plumbing penetrations that have been drilled through the floors, and the solution for this leakage problem is to use expandable sealant foam (figure D) to make sure that air doesn't leak back into the outside or inside of the house.

Air sealing is just part of better building practices. Insulation also plays an important role in securing an energy-efficient home and reducing the use of heating and cooling. "In the past what would be used is a 2 x 4 construction," Justin said. "Two x 4 construction will only give you 3-1/2" for insulation -- a R-11 or R-13 wall system."

Note: The R-value refers to the resistance of heat transfer. The higher the R-value the higher the insulation quality a structure has.

It's recommended that builders now use 2 x 6 (figure E) lumber to create a deeper cavity in order to apply more insulation -- to approximately an R-21 value.

Tip: Heat rises so all the areas of the attic space where the roof meets the exterior need to be insulated as well.

Even if the walls are insulated and sealed, infiltration can still create energy loss due to the windows. For maximum efficiency your home builder needs to install what's called Low-e windows -- or also known as low-emission glass. These windows have a film inside that keeps the light from heating the house in the summer and heat from escaping in the winter.

Note: It's possible to reduce your heating and cooling bills up to 50-percent using Low-e windows.

The Energy Star rating on a home is dependent upon the "proper" size heating-and-cooling equipment. Most homeowners think bigger is better, but this isn't true. Heating, venting and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment (figure F) is designed to run steadily at peak efficiency. When the unit turns itself on and off trying to maintain the home's temperature, it often uses more energy than one that runs continuously. This equipment also receives an Energy Star rating just like the other appliances in your home.

Energy Star homes are great for your pocketbook, but they are also great for the environment. With diminishing amount of resources, we all should do our part with conversation. With this in mind check out the next segment when Lynda travels to Southern California to see how a builder there is installing solar-power systems.