EnergyValue Housing Awards Honor Builders & Remodelers Who Focus on Energy-Efficient Construction, Customer Satisfaction
Orlando, FL – January 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — With the current state of the national economy, consumers are looking for ways to reduce costs wherever they can – operation of their homes is certainly no exception. In direct response to their customers’ needs, and their own desire to “do the right thing,” many home builders and remodelers have taken strides to incorporate features that make homes more energy efficient, comfortable, cost-effective to operate and maintain, and generally more friendly to the natural environment. Tuesday night, at a dinner celebration just prior to the start of the 2011 International Builders’ Show, an elite group of these conscientious residential professionals received EnergyValue Housing Awards (EVHA) for new and existing homes.
As energy codes become more stringent, many new solutions for building more efficient building envelopes are being developed. This includes wall systems. But, as new wall systems are developed and conventional wall configurations are optimized to improve energy and moisture performance, this presents a new challenge — making sure these systems, including cladding and attachments, are not only energy efficient, but cost-effective and durable as well, especially in the face of high wind events. The NAHB Research Center can now help manufacturers, builders, and code officials address this challenge with greater detail and accuracy than ever before.
Now in its 16th year, the EVHA challenges builders to elevate standards for energy-efficient new construction and remodeling; provides educational opportunities for building professionals; and fosters the adoption of energy efficiency principles. Winners are selected from projects in three climate regions (Cold, Moderate, Hot) and five categories (Affordable, Custom/Demonstration, Multifamily, Production, and Existing Homes).
This year 12 builders and remodelers from nine states were selected to receive a 2011 EVHA. From among all the gold award winners, Wathen-Castanos Hybrid Homes, Inc. (gold award in New Homes, Moderate Climate, Production Homes category) of Fresno, Calif. , was selected as this year’s Builder of the Year, and Clifton View Homes (gold awards in both Cold Climate, Existing Home and Moderate Climate, Custom Home categories) of Coupeville, Wash., was selected as Remodeler of the Year. Meritage Homes of Scottsdale, Ariz., captured the People’s Choice award by garnering the most online votes prior to the award ceremony, and also received a silver award in the Hot Climate, Production Home category.
This year’s other gold and silver award winners are:
* Baldwin Homes, Inc. , Arnold, Md. — Silver, Moderate Climate, Production Home
* Cobblestone Homes , Saginaw, Mich. — Gold, Cold Climate, Custom Home
* DOE Building America Team of Building Media, Inc., & Green Builder Media, LLC (ReVISION House ), Las Vegas, Nev. – Silver, Hot Climate, Existing Home
* Ferrier Custom Homes , Fort Worth, Texas – Gold, Hot Climate, Custom Home
* GreenCraft Builders, LLC , Lewisville, Texas – Gold, Hot Climate, Custom Home
* Imagine Homes , San Antonio, Texas – Silver, Hot Climate, Production Home
* Near Zero Maine , Vassalboro, Maine –Silver, Cold Climate, Custom Home
* Scott Homes , Olympia, Wash. – Silver, Moderate Climate, Custom Home
* Treasure Homes, Inc., Wheatfield, Ind. – Silver, Cold Climate, Custom Home
“The quality of this year’s slate of award-winning builders and remodelers is outstanding,” said NAHB Research Center president, Michael Luzier. “With innovative industry leaders like this as examples, the mission of the EVHA program and the efforts of its partners to expand the focus on environmental consciousness and energy efficiency among builders and remodelers will continue to flourish.”
The EVHA program is managed by the NAHB Research Center, and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy through its Building America program, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This year’s award sponsors include BASF – The Chemical Company, Platinum Sponsor and Existing Homes Division Featured Sponsor; WaterFurnace International, Inc., Winners’ Dessert Reception Sponsor; Silver Sponsors: Andersen Corporation; DOW Building Solutions; and SEISCO International Limited; and Preferred Sponsors: BuildingGreen, Inc.; DuPont; The Vinyl Siding Institute; and Whirlpool Corporation.
For information on each winning company’s home, visit www.nahbrc.org/evha. For more information on the EVHA program, contact Debra Sagan, program manager, at (800) 638-8556, ext. 6210. or use the online contact form.
ABOUT THE NAHB RESEARCH CENTER: The NAHB Research Center, located in Upper Marlboro, Md., promotes innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of homes and home building products. Created more than 40 years ago as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the NAHB Research Center has established itself as the source for reliable, objective information and research on housing construction and development issues. Through its various testing and certification services, the Research Center seal is internationally-recognized as a mark of product quality and an assurance of product performance.
Contact:
Anne Holtz
