What's in a High Performance Home?
High Performance Homes
Using proven building science technology and an approach known as systems engineering, all aspects of a house are viewed as a part of the whole, and not just an assemblage of parts.
In this manner, the performance characteristics of the walls and roof, the heating and air conditioning, the windows and doors, the insulation, and the finishes, can be optimized and balanced to create the best combination for strength, durability, energy efficiency and comfort.
High Performance Energy Efficient Low-E Windows
Low-E windows (low emissivity) work by reducing the solar heat gain in the house by blocking a portion of the sun's energy, while at the same time, letting the light in. This has the benefit of reducing the amount of energy required to keep the house cool, and saving the homeowner money on their electric bill.
Optimized Spray Foam Insulation
By placing a continuous layer of high R-value foam insulation on the interior surface of 2 x 6 exterior walls, the optimum level of insulation is achieved while insuring there are no or gaps in the insulation layer. All wiring, electrical boxes, or plumbing that is allowed to penetrate the insulation surface are sealed insuring that the rated R-value of the insulation is achieved, and that the walls remain tight and free of unwanted air leaks.
Inside-the-Envelope Air Handler and Tight Ducts
Rather than place the heating and air conditioning in an area where it is subject to the heat and cold of the exterior (and the accompanying heat loss and gain), Norwich Homes High Performance Homes are built with the air-handler in the living space, ensuring maximum operating efficiency. The mastic-sealed tight duct installation further ensures that the cooled or heated air gets to the room it is intended, without wasteful air leaks.
Right Sized Heating and Air Conditioning
All air conditioning and heating systems must be sized so that they will keep a house comfortable under the hottest or coldest situations. This is known as the peak load. By following the four previous strategies outlined above, the Norwich Homes High Performance homes have a dramatically lower peak load, and therefore can use a smaller air conditioning and heating system to meet that peak load and stay comfortable. Not only does this contribute to the improved energy efficiency of the house, but because a right sized system is less over sized than a traditional system during non-peak heating and cooling seasons, it will provide an even higher level of comfort by being better able to dehumidify without over cooling.
Indoor Air Quality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Sisco
817-354-7700
NORWICH HOMES Partners with U.S. EPA's Indoor airPLUS Program
Keller, Texas - NORWICH HOMES is proud to announce its partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor airPLUS Program. Through this partnership, NORWICH HOMES has committed to promoting Indoor airPLUS qualified homes that provide homeowners with improved indoor air quality.
The Indoor airPLUS Program is a partnership between EPA, builders and other program allies to improve indoor air quality in new homes. Indoor airPLUS construction specifications are designed to help improve indoor air quality in new homes compared with homes built to minimum code. Indoor airPLUS labeled homes include more than 30 additional home design and construction features to help protect homeowners from a host of health problems associated with poor indoor air quality, including eye irritation, allergies, headaches and respiratory problems such as asthma.
"Norwich Homes specializes in Building High Performance Energy Efficient Custom Homes" says John Sisco President of Norwich Homes. "Indoor air quality is a major component of the Norwich High Performance Home!"
Indoor airPLUS qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus moisture control, radon control, pest barriers, improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, combustion pollutant control, low emission materials and third party verification. All Indoor airPLUS qualified homes also meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by ENERGY STAR® , the nationally recognized symbol for energy efficiency.
"Builders who construct Indoor airPLUS qualified homes are making a demonstrated commitment to prioritizing the health of their homeowners and are taking critical steps towards comprehensive green building," said Eric Werling, EPA's Indoor airPLUS Coordinator. "This important voluntary EPA program could not be successful without the help of partner organizations. Together we're improving indoor air quality in new homes around the country."
After purchasing a home with the Indoor airPLUS label, owners receive a checklist of verified indoor air quality features, and instructions for operating and maintaining equipment to continue minimizing risks of indoor air quality problems.
For more information about Indoor airPLUS
Contact NORWICH HOMES
817-354-7700
or visit www.epa.gov/indoorairplus
DOE Issues High-Performance Home Challenge
Source: CUSTOM HOME Magazine
Publication date: February 21, 2008
By Stephani L. Miller
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the Builders Challenge, a voluntary national energy savings program that charges home builders in the United States to build 220,000 high-performance, energy-efficient homes by 2012. According to the DOE, a high-performance home uses at least 30 percent less energy than a typical new home built to meet the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code's criteria.
To meet the requirements of the Builders Challenge, a home must score a 70 or lower on DOE's EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale), which rates a home's performance based on how much energy it consumes, how it compares to a code-compliant home, and how closely it ranks to a net zero-energy home (a zero on the E-Scale).
A typical new home averages a score of 100 on the E-Scale. Builders participating in the initiative will post an E-Scale label on each home's electrical panel, providing the home's E-Scale rating and identifying it as a Builders Challenge home. Homes must also meet the comfort, quality, durability, and healthy indoor environment criteria of the DOE's Building America performance guidelines.
Currently, 38 home builders have agreed to build approximately 6,000 high-performance homes as part of the initiative. "The Challenge expands public-private sector cooperation to propel the market toward building and selling homes that produce at least as much energy as they consume, and furthers the president's call to change how we power our homes and businesses by utilizing cutting-edge technologies that increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions," said DOE secretary Samuel W. Bodman in a press release announcing the program.
Norwich Homes participates in The Builders for more details, contact us or visit www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/
