Working together: Builders unite for Energy Star

Seventeen builders have put the competitive nature of home building aside and come together for one common goal -- constructing energy-efficient homes that meet the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star standards.

The Nevada Energy Star Partners has kicked off a public awareness campaign to inform home buyers of the benefits of Energy Star-certified homes in May, which has been proclaimed Energy Star Month by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn and local officials.

New homes can earn the EPA's Energy Star seal if they use at least 30 percent less energy for heating, cooling and water heating than a standard home based on the Model Energy Code. The efficiency is verified through testing done by a third-party certified rater.

The EPA provides guidelines, but not a standard blueprint, for what constitutes an Energy Star home. Common features include tightly sealed air ducts, high-performance windows, and efficient heating and cooling equipment.

"There's been an increase in the number of builders participating in the Energy Star program and involved in our campaign. We went from nine builders last year to 17 builders (in the campaign) this year," said Christy Stratton of Pulte Homes, who is the chairwoman of the partnership's advertising committee.

The partnership's roster consists of American Premiere Homes, Astoria Homes, Beazer Homes, Carina Corp., Concordia Homes, Del Webb Corp., Desert Wind Homes, Distinctive Homes, Greystone Homes/Lennar, Hearthstone Homebuilders, John Laing Homes (now part of Richmond American Homes), Pardee Homes, Perma-Bilt Homes, Pulte Homes, RS Development, Royal Construction/Spinnaker, and Signature Homes. A few other local builders construct Energy Star homes, but elected not to join the partnership.

"I think that we've had an increased participation in Energy Star because there has been an increased need for energy-efficient features. Energy efficiency has become more important to buyers with the rolling blackouts that we've had and the threats for rolling blackouts," Stratton said. "We, as a group of builders, see this as an eminent concern for both buyers and builders. We have to do something to conserve energy, and we can through Energy Star homes."

The program has gained momentum nationwide. According to an EPA spokesperson, 26,668 Energy Star homes were constructed nationwide in 2001, compared to the 501 homes built pre-1997. Last year, 2,077 such homes were built in Southern Nevada, garnering roughly 10 percent of the market share, which lags behind Phoenix's 17 percent market share, the 13 percent share in Tuscon, Ariz., and the 11 percent in Indianapolis. Because of Nevada Energy Star Partners' growth, the EPA expects Southern Nevada's tally to increase in 2002.

Kathy Hilty of Pardee Homes said energy efficiency has become a requirement for some home buyers.

"I think more builders are participating in Energy Star because ... buyers are asking about it. It has become a necessity to do it. If you want to be a top builder you have to offer this to your customers. It is the rage now," Hilty, chairman of the partnership's public relations committee, said. "The consumers drive this market now and they are telling us that this is important. It's like how Cat. 5 wiring was a few years ago.

"Besides saving energy and being comfortable, there are technical benefits to Energy Star, like the efficient windows help reduce carpet fade, and there are reduced allergens in the house because of the tight ducts."

Recognition for constructing efficient designs influenced Del Webb Corp.'s decision to join the program this year, according to Del Webb executive Steve O'Connor.

"We wanted the market to recognize that we are an energy-conscious builder and that we build our homes to save our customers energy and money. All of the new homes that we started building effective March 1 and beyond are under the Energy Star certification, but prior to that all of the homes were not officially enrolled," O'Connor said.

"At Anthem Country Club, all we needed to do was get the inspection. At Sun City Anthem, we made a few changes such as making low-e windows standard instead of an option, and we got the inspections also. Our homes use programmable thermostats, low-e glass which is ultraviolet sensitive glass ... and added insulation in the walls and ceilings. We do an inspection of the caulking around the windows and make sure that the windows are airtight," he said. "... It (Energy Star) gives us kind of a third-party seal of approval that we've been committed to in the past. It kind of gives us a marketplace of approval."

The cost to convert an existing design to Energy Star standards was not very expensive for Astoria Homes, which became active in the program in 2000, according to company executive Sia Howe.

"We had been searching for a designation that would certify the quality of our construction, and the Energy Star program gave us that and more. ... We just needed to add the spectrally-selective glass and some adjusting of our HVAC engineering with certain plans. ... The cost to do this varies by home size, and ranges anywhere from $300 to $1,500," Howe said.

Education is the partnership's focus for Energy Star Month. In addition to holding informational workshops at several of the builders' neighborhoods, the partnership has unveiled an updated consumer-oriented Web site at www.nevadaenergystarhomes.com.

"Our Web site complements the current EPA's `Change' campaign. ... It is a campaign to educate the public on how just a little action such as a butterfly flapping its wings in the atmosphere can change the weather ... Everybody making one little effort, like building an Energy Star home, can create a very big chain reaction," said Howe, chairman of the partnership's Web site committee.

Nonbuilders have also joined the effort, including Builders Choice, Consol/Comfortwise, Countrywide Home Loans, Faiss Foley Merica, Fannie Mae, Milgard Windows, Motivational Systems Inc., Nevada Power Co., PIE Design, Southern Nevada Homes Magazine, The Home Show, Wausau Mortgage, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and WREDCO Inc.

Receiving support from a variety of local businesses strengthens the partnership's message, according to Howe.

"There's power in numbers. If the Energy Star message coming from so many is consistent, it becomes more credible and is heard ...," she said. "The partnership has been refreshingly very enjoyable, and we've all really gained a lot of new friends in our own industry and amongst our peers. We are all subtly competitive, but we are also very concerned in not being too prima donnish and in being fair ... It has been very rewarding."

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