Page 17 - Green Builder September-October 2018 Issue

Annual Building Science Report 2019

EFFICIENCY

MATTERS

CONTENT BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, EDITED BY GREEN BUILDER STAFF

This year’s housing innovations from the

U.S. Department of Energy preserve the

art of sustainable living.
A to Energy Star Certiˆed Homes Version ˜.“, the U.S.

FEW YEARS AGO, as the number of
Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor airPLUS,
subdivisions in a Northern California
community began to explode, a long-
the insulation mandates of the ’“”’ International En-
ergy Conservation Code, and the hot water distribu-
time homeowner snidely remarked
that he didn’t see why everyone was
so eager to move into a new home. “After all,” he grum- tion totals set by EPA’s WaterSense program.
The homes must also have solar electric panels in-
bled, “they’re just another pile of wood and nails.” stalled or have the conduit and electrical panel space
The U.S. Department of Energy would disagree. in place for future installation of solar panels. And,
The cutting-edge housing brought forth this year every home is performance tested by a third-party
by DOE is all about saving—as in saving energy, home energy rater to verify that the requirements
resources, time, money and lifestyles. One home is have been met.
designed to withstand a forest ˆre. Another comes Such homes, according to DOE Building Technol-
through the e‰orts of military veterans who are ogies Oœce Chief Architect Sam Rashkin, are “de-
trained in green building. A third’s airtight nature signed to provide a whole new level of homeowner
is guaranteed to help cut a homeowner’s electric experience” through lower living and maintenance
costs. And so on. costs, healthier environments and greater durability.
That’s a lot to accomplish with “just another pile
In addition, all projects showcased here are winners of wood and nails.” But then—as you’ll see on the
CREDIT: BESTGREENSCREENISTOCK ’“”• Housing Innovation Awards. The ZERH pro- following pages—a lot has happened to that pile,
of DOE’s annual Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH)

and a lot has taken place because of it. There’s even
gram requires builders to meet a host of high-per-
more to come.
formance requirements. These include certiˆcation

www.greenbuildermedia.com September/October 2018 GREEN BUILDER 15

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