A Home is Where the HERS is

When shopping for an automobile or appliance, consumers often compare energy efficiency using MPG (miles per gallon) or EnergyGuide labels. The MPG labels give you information on the car's fuel economy, fuel costs, and greenhouse gas and smog ratings. The Energy Guide labels estimate how much energy the appliance uses, compares energy use of similar products, and list approximate annual operating costs. As purchasing an automobile or large appliance can be a significant investment, this information has become an important factor in the consumer's decision making process. Another significant investment that consumers make is the purchase of a home. However, many consumers are not aware that the real estate market has a similar label they can use to compare the performance of one home to the next. It is called a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index. 

The HERS Index was developed by RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) to create a national standard for home energy ratings and a market for energy efficient mortgages. The HERS index is the standard for how a home's energy efficiency is measured, and for calculating its performance. The index has a score ranging from 0-150. The lower the score, the more efficient the home. The score itself is based on a number of different diagnostic tests that are conducted by a Certified RESNET HERS Rater. These tests determine the amount of air leakage in the building envelope and ducts, the effectiveness of insulation inside walls and ceilings, and a cost/benefit analysis for improvements and expected return on investment. 

Unfortunately, unlike the MPG and EnergyGuide labels that can be found on automobiles and appliances, the HERS index score is not easy to find. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that not all homes have been rated. Second, if the home has been rated, that rating may not be found on the MLS (multiple listing service) database. The MLS database is an important tool used by realtors to list, market, and find information about homes that are for sale. With the second highest cost of home ownership being energy, the real estate industry has begun to take notice. The states of Vermont, Colorado, and Florida have all recently added HERS Index Scores to their MLS databases.

So, are you curious about your score? Would you invest in a home energy audit to improve the comfort of your home, save money on your utility bills, or add potential resale value? As a buyer would you request that a HERS Index Score be a condition of the contract with the seller similar to an inspection? 

Green Home of the Year Award

Studio St.Germain is proud to announce that the Midtown Passive House has been awarded Green Home of the Year at the 2013 Denver MAME Awards. The Marketing and Merchandising Excellence (MAME) Awards honor the top achievers in the new home industry. These awards are presented to those who set the standard of excellence in the Denver homebuilding industry. The Green Home of the Year Award recognizes sustainability with exceptional exterior and interior design. The sustainable features are also third party verified which in this project was Passive House Certification. 

Venice of Appalachia

The city of Pittsburgh will soon have a new mayor in Bill Peduto. A recent article in the Post-Gazette described his proposal to build canals at former LTV Coke Oven Plant in Hazelwood. Pittsburgh does not have an outstanding reputation when it comes to stormwater management so this could be a much-needed banner project for our city. Peduto proposes creating engineered canals at the 178-acre industrial site along the Monongahela River to encourage future development while providing a stormwater management solution to reduce the existing sewage overflow into the three rivers.

The exisitng overflow issue is primarily due to the city's combined sewer and stormwater infrastructure. In dry weather conditions, the domestic sewage and industrial wastewater that enters the system is carried by a network of underground pipes to a treatment facility called Alcosan. During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt, the same pipes that carry the domestic sewage and industrial wastewater also carry all of the stormwater runoff from our roadways and roofs. This volume often exceeds the capacity that the city's system can handle, so the excess is then discharged through the overflows and into the rivers. This sewage excess is a public health risk as it has been found to contain ecoli, toxins, and debris. 

While Peduto's canal idea for Hazelwood is promising, it also faces a few interesting obstacles. The proposed location is a brownfield site which are very costly to remediate. However, the city of Pittsburgh has a significant amount of experience and success dealing with this issue. The Waterfront, Summerset at Frick Park, and Pittsburgh Technology Center are all examples of successful brownfield redevelopment. 

Another challenge would be to connect the proposed canal to the Monongahela River. The elevation of the river to the ground elevation of the site is a difference of over 20 feet in height. This would cause the canal construction to be very deep and require large, unattractive sidewalls. But there are alternatives that would still allow successful stormwater management at the site.  Incorporating a system of wet retention ponds in lieu of canals could be done. These wet retention ponds could also be designed to snake around the site giving the feeling and impression of traditional canals. The downside of this option is that boating or kayaking between these ponds and the Monongahela River would not be possible, but could still provide opportunity for walking paths, bridges and fountains. For more information on the site's development plans, we encourage you to visit the Almono Partners website. 

Power Struggle

Sewickley's Historic Review Commisson recently made the news when it voted to allow installation of solar panels on the roof of a home located within the town's historic district. With the rising costs of electricity, increase in residential energy consumption, and possible tax incentives and utility discounts, solar panels are an attractive solution. What isn't so attractive to some are the panels themselves. This aesthetic issue can be further emphasized when dealing with a historically and architecturally significant building. The purpose of photovoltaic panels is simple: they convert solar radiation from the sun into electricity, reducing electrical energy consumption from the grid. 

For those sensitive to aesthetics, one alternate solution are DOW Powerhouse Solar Shingles. These shingles can be used in either new or existing construction, are made to blend in with the rest of the roof, and come with a sophisticated monitoring system that shows how much energy the system is creating, how much is being used, and the savings that are being generated.

A home with DOW's solar shingles

A home with standard solar panels

There are other energy saving measures that can be taken in lieu of - or in addition to - solar panels. Lighting controls with dimmers or occupancy sensors, Energy Star appliances, better insulation, and high-performance windows can all contribute to increased energy efficiency. 

First Certified Passive House in Colorado

Brookfield Homes recently constructed the first Certified Passive House in Colorado. It is also the first Certified Passive House in the US that was completed by a production home builder. Nathan St.Germain was the CPHC (Certified Passive House Consultant) for this unique and exciting project. A Certified Passive House must meet strict design standards for continuous insulation, thermal bridge free construction, air tightness and thermal comfort. The Passive House concept represents today's highest energy standard with the promise of slashing heating energy consumption of buildings up to an amazing 90%. You can read more about the Midtown Passive House on our project page.