Pardee committed to building energy-efficient homes

Pardee is building homes in 13 neighborhoods in Southern Nevada that exceed national energy-efficiency standards, according to Klif Andrews, vice president of community development for Pardee Homes in Southern Nevada.

"Long before the energy crisis, Pardee began incorporating the complete Energy Star energy-saving package into new neighborhoods," Andrews said.

Energy-saving features are now standard in all Pardee communities, making the builder among the first to complete its conversion to all-Energy Star homes. Windows, heating and cooling systems, and sealed air ducts have been designed to increase a home's energy efficiency by at least 30 percent, which is necessary to earn the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label.

"Our commitment to Energy Star coincides with Pardee's 50th anniversary of building homes in Southern Nevada. As we are all becoming more aware now of the importance of conserving energy, we are seeing a heightened interest from our home buyers. You wouldn't think of buying a new car without finding out what kind of gas mileage it's going to get. You can now comparison shop to find out how energy-efficient a new home is going to be," Andrews said.

Independent companies such as ConSol, an energy consulting firm that works with utilities and the building industry, provide random testing required by the Energy Star program. In addition, ConSol, which inspects each home during construction, has established a ComfortWise program exceeding Energy Star requirements.

"Improperly installed insulation or windows, kinks or leaks in the air ducts, improperly sealed joints or seams in the HVAC system -- any of these could keep a house from meeting the ComfortWise Energy Star certification requirements," Andrews said.

"The EPA estimates that a typical Energy Star home would average hundreds of dollars a year savings over the same home built to the National Energy Standards," he added.

As energy efficiency moves higher on a home buyer's list of priorities, the voluntary Energy Star program is becoming better known.

"Residents of the typical American home are literally throwing money out the window, since windows account for the majority of the energy efficiency in a home. Windows required in the ComfortWise program are much more efficient than dual-pane clear windows that are standard in many other communities. Without visible tinting or solar screens, spectrally selective windows let in light and filter out the solar heat and ultraviolet rays which will damage furniture, carpeting and woodwork," Andrews said.

"When you walk into a room with spectrally selective glass windows, you might not notice a difference at first. But if you put your hand up against the window, you do realize the intense radiant heat and glare you get from typical windows is gone," he said.

There are other benefits to having an Energy Star home, Andrews said.

"Because of the stringent construction requirements of the ComfortWise program, these homes have superior air sealing which keep out more airborne dust, allergens and other pollutants -- including noise," he said.

Pardee communities in the Las Vegas Valley include Eldorado, Fiesta, Renaissance in Seven Hills, Nevada Trails, Big Sky Ranches, Rancho Las Palmas, and Shadow Mountain Ranch.

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