Pardee converts to all-Energy Star homes

Pardee Homes is officially the first multi-regional home builder to incorporate Energy Star technology in all of its new homes, according to Klif Andrews, the builder's vice president of community development in Southern Nevada.

"As part of our corporate commitment to the environment and to building earth-friendly homes, Pardee is proud to become the first large builder in the country to make all of its new homes comply with the Energy Star program," Andrews said.

"We are also proud to report that the Las Vegas area market was the first to be completed. It is fitting that our conversion to all-Energy Star homes coincides with Pardee's 50th anniversary in Southern Nevada."

The energy-efficiency program was designed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy to reduce pollution and create energy savings that exceed national standards by at least 30 percent.

"With rising energy costs that threaten to go even higher, we believe the time is right to give our buyers what they want -- to conserve power while improving their comfort -- at no additional cost to them," Andrews said.

The energy-efficiency package is now included in the sales price.

In addition to enjoying homes that are cooler in summer and warmer in winter, the average family can save thousands of dollars in energy costs over the life of their home, according to Sam Rashkin, national director of the EPA's Energy Star for Homes.

"Residents of the typical American home are literally throwing money out the windows because windows account for the majority of the energy efficiency in a home," Rashkin said, adding that the high-performance windows used in the Energy Star program are more efficient than dual-pane windows. Without visible tinting or solar screens, spectrally selective windows let in light and filter out solar heat and ultraviolet rays that can damage furniture, carpeting and woodwork.

Ray Landry, assistant vice president of sales for Pardee, agreed. He cited a DOE report stating that the percentage of glass area in a typical house has increased by 25 percent in the past 20 years.

"Our buyers want the sunny, open feeling that is unique to living in the Southwest," Landry said. "When you walk into a room with spectrally selective glass windows, you won't know the difference until you put your hand up against the window and realize that you don't feel the heat."

The Energy Star program requires random testing by an independent third party such as ConSol energy consultants. ConSol created the ComfortWise program to help builders construct more energy-efficient homes, according to Rebecca Oscarson, regional sales manager for ConSol.

"Because this program exceeds the requirements of Energy Star, we inspect every single home during construction, which is the most critical time to identify and correct problems," Oscarson said. "Improperly installed insulation or windows, kinks or leaks in the air ducts, improperly sealed joints or seams in the heating and cooling system -- any of these could keep a house from meeting the certification requirements."

The EPA's Rashkin said more than 20 percent of air pollution is created by household uses due to the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity, and that the average house produces twice the greenhouse gas emissions of the average car.

"By working with builders like Pardee, the Energy Star program by 2010 will have achieved the pollution prevention benefit equivalent to removing 3 million cars from U.S. roads," Rashkin said. "Added benefits from home energy efficiency include a profound impact on the satisfaction from the biggest investment of a lifetime. It offers families more comfort, more quiet, improved durability, greater assurance of indoor air quality and peace of mind that their homes maintain their value."

Andrews said Pardee plans to take energy efficiency to a new level in the near future.

"Many ideas are on the drawing board and others are being implemented, such as tankless water heaters, reversible electric meters, photo cells and patio covers with solar screens," he said.

Pardee has built more than 25,000 homes in Southern Nevada since 1952. The builder has constructed more than 65,000 homes in nearly 200 neighborhoods since 1921 in Southern California and Southern Nevada.

The builder offers Energy Star homes at the Eldorado community in North Las Vegas; Rancho Las Palmas in the southeastern valley; Renaissance in Henderson; and at Nevada Trails, Big Sky Ranches and Shadow Mountain Ranch in the southwestern valley.

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