I wanted to do an interview with a builder of energy efficient homes to give you a view from a different perspective. I chose a local builder/developer with almost 40 years of experience. I interviewed Tom White who works for Indian River Land Company and Moore Grant Construction of Millsboro, Delaware. Tom is both a realtor and a sales manager for 2 of their developments. He helps people build new homes from start to finish.
I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Chris Moore Lind, who is the General Manager of Moore Grant Construction. He is a very impressive third generation Moore, who was raised in this business! It is very obvious that he knows the business and takes care of his customers. You can find more information about Indian River Land Company and Moore Grant Construction on their web site at: Indian River Land Company.
As always, these are Tom’s opinions and people building energy efficient homes must make their own decisions based on their own due diligence. With that in mind here is the interview:
Bob:
According to the Department of Energy any home with a HERS rating below 70 is considered “High Performance”. I heard that less than 5% of new homes qualify. One local builder claims to have a 56 and even a 34 with the Solar option installed. What do your homes rate, and how important is this number to a new home buyer?
Tom:
There are several levels of Energy Star ratings. We have chosen to go a different route then the HERS rating. It is very expensive to get the rating done and there are much less expensive ways to measure your home for energy efficient results. We feel that in some ways the energy rating over rides curb appeal. As you have found most energy builders have very few plans to select from. We feel that that takes away from the custom home approach.
Bob:
I know that you have “conditioned” crawlspaces. Just how does this affect the energy efficiency, and should new home buyers building energy efficient homes request this if it is not already there?
Tom:
We do recommend conditioned crawl spaces. We do so for several reasons. A) It does not add much to the overall cost of the home, less then $2,000 .B) You do not need to insulate the underside of the first floor. C) It eliminates the possibility of ever having mold or mildew in the crawl space. D) It makes the first floor cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Bob:
Insulation is obviously a big consideration. Could you tell me the code required amount and what should a new home buyer be looking for (Walls, ceiling, floors and crawlspace) and would six inch outside walls be worth the extra costs?
Tom:
It is not where the insulation is, but more where it is not. Wherever there is wood and not insulation is a weak spot. Therefore every stud for example is less insulated then the remainder of the wall regardless of it being 2 x 4 or 2 x 6. Spray insulation is inch for inch the best R rating but also the most expensive. Companies are realizing this and are offering a thin coat of spray below bat insulation. Going from an R-30 to R-38 in ceiling adds a lot of energy savings with out much cost, $300 per home. The code is not where you need to be. This is a minimum standard. We like R- 38 in ceiling and R-19 in the walls. The spray insulation of ½ inch adds to that.
Bob:
All windows, doors, and other openings are usually foam sealed to seal leaks. Should the builder have a third party perform a blower test to test for leakage?
Tom:
A blow test shows the air leakage in the house. It again is not very expensive, $300, but well worth it. We have our homes air sealed along with the required fire stop. Again not much cost but a necessary step to stop air leakage.
Bob:
I know that there are a lot of variables when it comes to selecting a heating and cooling system. Could you give a brief overview of the most cost effective systems with the quickest payback?
Tom:
HVAC is always a disputed subject. Everyone says that their system is the best. For this area a heat pump is the best choice. In order to have central AC you need duct work and the duct work is also what is needed for a heat pump. There are two variables when it comes to a heat pump. When it is being used to heat your home down to outside temperatures of 40 degrees the electric heat pump is most efficient. The SEER rating is the gauge to measure efficiency. The higher the SEER the more efficient. Therefore an 18 SEER is more efficient then 14 SEER. However an 18 SEER is more expensive. We think a 16 SEER is not that much more in cost while very efficient. Something else that helps keep the operating cost down is a variable speed motor. This means that the speed of the motor in the air handler only runs at the required speed to maintain the selected air temperature. The second owner selected option is the fuel selection for the heat pump when the outside temperature drops below say 40 degrees. Many in this area select gas. Since most now have a gas fireplace along with a gas water heater it just natural to have gas for the backup fuel.
Bob:
Would a builder normally install CFL lighting when building energy efficient homes or does the buyer have to request it?
Tom:
CFL is a customer selection. In most cases it is merely a bulb change.
Bob:
When building energy efficient homes, should the new home buyer be considering the new tankless hot water heaters?
Tom:
Moving right in to the tankless water heater. They are $1,500 to purchase vs. $800 for a electric or gas tanked water heater. You should see the savings within 18 months. It never runs out of hot water. You need to size it according to the number of gallons that you may need at any given time. In most cases 7.5 gallons/minute is fine.
Bob:
When selecting a floor plan for their new home are there any things that a new home buyer should look for to make their new home more energy efficient?
Tom:
Site planning is probably the most important. Window walls on a south facing wall help heat a house. North facing window walls are very hard on the heating bill. Trees blocking the hot sun in the summer keep the south side of the home cooler. Shrubs all around the house also help insulate the home. Windows in general are not good insulators. Therefore it is smart to select the best window you can afford to allow for great curb appeal and minimal heat loss.
Bob:
When building energy efficient homes, are there any other questions that a new home buyer should be asking their builder to insure that they are getting the most energy efficient “bang for their buck”?
Tom:
Every question a home builder is asked is a good question. The more you ask the more I need to know. We do not have all the answers. We do have sub-contractors that have access to the experts.
Bob:
What advice do you have for people building energy efficient homes in today’s world and what should they look for when selecting a builder?
Tom:
Full disclosure. An open contractor that shares all that he or she knows without having to be asked. Open and honest. We also feel that a stick built home is a better home than one made of pre-structured parts. Example, roof rafters, our homes are built one stick at a time. It takes longer but it offers attic space that can be floored and used for storage. The cost of a new home is very high. Probably the single biggest investment most people make. You need to use every square foot to your advantage.
Bob:
I appreciate you taking the time to help my readers make more informed decisions when building energy efficient homes and selecting a builder. Hopefully they will save some money and help save the planet!