Donate Join Our Mailing List Home
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Description of High Performance Homes and Communities

Arizona

Colorado

Nevada

  • Concordia Homes, developer of first solar-powered community near Las Vegas.
  • Pinnacle Homes, Las Vegas green homebuilder of a zero-energy home.
  • Pulte Homes, Las Vegas homebuilder of 100% ENERGY STAR homes.

New Mexico

Utah

  • Daybreak, master-planned, energy-efficient community in South Jordan.
  • Needham Homes, Cedar City homebuilder of solar energy-efficient homes.

California

  • Premier Homes, first zero energy community in Sacramento.
  • Shea Homes, San Diego homebuilder of zero energy communities.

Arizona

Armory Park Del Sol is a zero-energy community located near the historic downtown area of Tucson. Developed by John Wesley Miller Companies, nearly 90 homes incorporate thermal mass solid concrete block walls, energy-saving appliances and mechanical equipment, high-performance windows, and solar water heating systems. The standard construction methods in Armory Park del Sol already exceed the Model Energy Code by 50%.

In 2007, John Wesley Miller Companies received the AARP/NAHB Livable Communities Award for “a user-friendly home designed with state-of-the-art energy efficient technology, including solar panels and solar water heating systems, to reduce energy usage by 56%.” Governor Janet Napolitano also presented an “Arizona Innovation Award” to John Wesley Miller Companies for the “zero energy homes” in the community.

For more information, visit: www.armoryparkdelsol.com.

Back to Top

Civano, a community of 2,600 planned homes in southeast Tucson, adopted the 1998 Sustainable Energy Standard (SES) and updated the code in 2005 for the design and construction of all buildings. The SES identifies beneficial use of solar energy and a maximum use for hot water, cooling, and heating energy as 50% of the local standard as paramount to attaining a high performance level of energy use.

In the 2007 Energy and Water Use in Tucson report, Civano analyzed the energy performance of buildings and homes in meeting codes. Results showed that homes built to the SES are performing better by reducing the heating and cooling consumption by 59% and overall energy consumption by 44% when compared to home built before these codes were adopted. Newer homes, built in Civano by Pulte Homes, are showing 61% savings in heating and cooling and 47% overall energy savings.

For more information, visit: www.civanoneighbors.com/civano/environment.htm.

Back to Top

Modus Development, a Phoenix-based homebuilder, has built their latest residences, The Galleries at Turney, as the first LEED-H green homes as certified by the US Green Building Council. Benefits of this LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The LEED home is estimated to have 50% energy savings over a standard home, and have a higher resale value.

For more information, click here.

Back to Top

The Passive Solar Residence, located in the Community of Civano, is a model for how to design, build, and operate the sustainable desert home. With objectives that include affordability, low energy and water use, indigenous materials, and "smart" operation, the home is demonstrating the key elements of sustainable architecture and community design. The project is led by Rich Michal as part of the Master's program at the University of Arizona Graduate School of Architecture. Features include integration of vented sunspace into south elevation, 128 ft2 of solar collection through two glass overhead doors, and sunspace thermal mass provided by 4” concrete slab and 24” rammed earth wall. As designed, the home should only cost $133 annually to heat and cool or $0.08/square foot which is 67% less than Sustainable Energy Standard (SES).

Back to Top

The City of Scottsdale, Arizona manages a Green Building Program that encourages a whole-house systems approach through design and building techniques to minimize environmental impacts and reduce the energy consumption of buildings while contributing to the health of its occupants. The program rates building projects based on six environmental areas: (1) site use, (2) energy, (3) indoor air quality, (4) building materials, (5) solid waste, and (6) water. This voluntary program is open to builders in the Scottsdale area and uses a point rating system to qualify projects into the program. Highlighted projects include:

  • Hydrogen House is the highest scoring project in the program. Owner Bryan Beaulieu, a mechanical engineer, worked with the American Hydrogen Association and architect Bob Bacon to design the most sustainable desert home possible. The home has unique building systems to naturally cool the house and produce its own energy. Hydrogen is produced to heat water, for cooking, run electric generators and fuel vehicles. For more information, click here.
  • Loloma 5 LLC is a condominium building with five 3-story 1550 ft2 units. The building is designed with minimal impact on site topography and oriented on the lot so the longest side faces south. Features include radiant barrier installed at roof or ceiling, rainwater collection system, zoned HVAC system with individual room temperature control, ductwork insulation, and recycled materials. For more information, click here.

For more information on Scottsdale's Green Building Program, visit: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding.asp. 

Back to Top

Colorado

Aspen Homes has been building homes to a high level of energy efficiency since 2002. They build about 160 homes a year in the Loveland area north of Denver, all of which exceed minimum code-based energy efficiency requirements. The company built an affordable, near-zero energy home in Loveland, CO and the energy performance is available in a Department of Energy report - Performance Evaluations of Prototype House: 50-60% Total Energy Savings. In 2008, they received the EnergyValue Housing Gold Award for the home. The construction costs were listed at $85 per square feet and a HERS rating of 10 (with a 5.85 kW solar electric system).

Other environmental programs offered by Aspen Homes include purchasing wind-power for homeowners in Loveland for one year, guaranteeing homeowners' heating bills won't exceed a certain amount or they pay the difference, and a recycling program that has reduced our landfill contributions by 70 percent.

For more information on Aspen Homes, visit: www.aspenhomesco.com.

Back to Top

The Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) is a nonprofit organization that promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency and green building techniques in western Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley. CORE recently developed two homes in Carbondale that are designed and built to be as energy-efficient as possible and still be affordable as defined by the County. The homes were designed by architect Steve Novy and built by Fenton Construction of Aspen in conjunction with the US Department of Energy's Building America program.

One home has photovoltaic cells and solar water heating coils on the roof, extra tight construction, and a variety of other energy saving and conserving devices and technologies. One is a “heat recovery process” that uses heat from the stale, warm air exhausted to the outside, to warm the cleaner, fresher air being sucked into the home.

The other has none of the high-tech solar equipment, but is oriented to gain energy from the sun, and is built super-tight to avoid heat loss. NREL is monitoring the energy performance of each home.

For more information, click here. 

Back to Top

Habitat for Humanity in the Denver metro area partnered with NREL to build an affordable Zero Energy Home - a highly efficient home that produces as much energy as it consumes. The design of the 1200 square foot, 3-bedroom Denver zero energy home carefully combines envelope efficiency, efficient equipment, appliances and lighting, passive solar features along with a 4 kW solar electric system to reach the zero energy goal.

NREL has been monitoring the energy performance and released 12 months of data from October 2005 - September 2006. The home was a net producer with the PV system producing 2,347 kWh more electricity than it used. This data confirms this home is the first zero-energy home in the US.

For more information, click here. 

Back to Top

Harvard Communities is a homebuilder of green built homes in the Lowry and Stapleton, located near Denver. All Harvard built homes are at least 40% more energy efficient than typical new homes built to code.

With their Near-Zero Energy Homes, the homebuilder is achieving even higher levels of efficiency with 70% in energy savings over conventional homes. Features include enhanced building envelope construction with more insulation and air sealing, including additional high-efficient mechanical equipment, efficient lighting, and expanded solar electric and solar hot water systems.

For more information, visit: www.harvardcommunities.com.

Back to Top

McStain Neighborhoods builds homes in the Denver metro area that are in compliance with ENERGY STAR and Colorado's Built Green program guidelines. The homes have advanced energy efficiency features such as 92% AFUE sealed combustion furnaces and water heaters, wet-blown cellulose insulation, and efficient windows. The homebuilder ensures improved indoor air quality, conservation of natural materials, and water-efficient appliances and water-wise landscaping strategies. In 2007, McStain Neighborhoods began construction of the largest solar neighborhood in the state with 42 solar-powered homes at Bradburn Village in Westminster. Homeowners will see their overall utility costs reduced by 50%.

For more information, visit: www.mcstain.com.

Back to Top

Solar Village is a developer of mixed use green built villages in Boulder and Fort Collins that feature solar energy. They also offer consulting services for custom-designed solar and green built homes. Common features include passive solar designs, solar-assisted radiant floor heating, quality insulation, efficient lighting and appliances, and improved indoor air quality by using low toxic materials.

For more information, visit: www.solarvillagelife.com

Back to Top

Three Springs in Durango, CO is designed with the mindset of traditional neighborhoods with porches, parks and trails combined with energy efficiency. Homebuilder, Tierra Vision Homes, LLC has partnered with Three Springs to produce BUILT GREEN Homes in the community. Features include optimum insulation, low-E windows, advanced irrigation system, and low-toxic adhesives for improved indoor air quality.

For more information, visit: www.threespringsdurango.com.

Back to Top

Nevada

Concordia Homes has launched the first solar-powered community called Sommerset, which consists of 48 homes located near Las Vegas.

Each home meets the standards of the GE Ecomagination homebuilder program. This program is designed to save money, preserve natural resources and provide a blueprint to build homes that are better for the environment. Every home is built with energy efficient measures, ENERGY STAR GE appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

The homes also include a roof-integrated GE Energy Brilliance solar electric system designed for maintenance-free operation and seamlessly blended into the roof tile. Each system will generate 4,400 kilowatt-hours per year. Homeowners could realize an energy savings with the solar PV system up to 60%.

For more information, visit: www.concordiahomes.com.

Back to Top

Pinnacle Homes is a homebuilder in Southern Nevada, serving the Las Vegas area. They recently built two model homes in The Vinings community near Las Vegas.

Although both look similar, one home was built using conventional methods built to code. The other utilizes a range of innovative energy saving technologies, including a 5 kW PV and solar hot water systems, that created the first Zero Energy Home (ZEH) in the Las Vegas Valley. The ZEH is designed to use 90% less energy than the conventional home. University of Las Vegas engineering students are monitoring the energy performance of both homes to evaluate energy consumption and cost savings.

For more information about Pinnacle Homes, visit: www.pinnaclelv.com.

Back to Top

Pulte Homes is a homebuilder of 100% ENERGY STAR homes in the Las Vegas Valley since 1999. Energy efficient features include vinyl framed Low-E Milgrad windows, cocoon insulation, high efficiency forced air units, and sealing of ducts. Each certified home offers a 3-year heating and cooling energy use guarantee. Pulte Homes has partnered with DOE's Building America program on case studies of energy efficient homes in Nevada and California.

For more information on Pulte Homes, visit: www.pulte.com.

Back to Top

New Mexico

Artistic Homes has been a high performance homebuilder in New Mexico since 1999. It builds homes that meet or exceed the USGBC LEED-H rating that qualifies for the New Mexico Sustainable Building Tax Credit passed in 2007. The average energy savings are 40-50% versus standard construction.

In 2001, Artistic Homes began guaranteeing the energy performance of their homes. They analyze every new home to determine the amount the homeowner can expect to pay in heating and cooling bill. If the bills are more than the estimates, then the company will refund the difference after 12 months.

For more information, visit: www.artistichomes.com. 

Back to Top

Daniel Buck Construction is owned by Daniel Buck, who has been doing quality solar passive homes for over 25 years. A notable project is a craftsman style home, which is located within the sustainable community of Oshara Village. The company was honored for using off the shelf technology as well as super insulation to achieve substantial energy savings without significantly increasing the cost of the home. It has solar panels for domestic hot water and wired for a future photovoltaic system.

The home achieved the gold level in the Build Green New Mexico program, resulting in a tax rebate of $4.50 per square foot saving over $8,000. Additionally, the home has been third party certified to operate with an annual heating and cooling bill at least 50% below a standard reference home, qualifying it for the federal $2,000 EPACT energy efficient home tax credit.

Back to Top

Durano Construction develops custom homes that are energy efficient in Albuquerque, Bernalillo and Rio Rancho. As a partner to DOE's Building America program and trade organization Green Build New Mexico, Durano Construction implements energy efficiency techniques with high standards of construction. Features include low-e glazed thermal windows, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, building materials with low VOC, continuous built-in mechanical air exchanger, low-flow plumbing fixtures and use of recycled or reclaimed materials.

For more information, visit: www.duranoconstruction.com.

Back to Top

Hale and Sun Construction, established in 1985, builds 100% energy efficient homes certified to the Green Build New Mexico standards in the Albuquerque metro area. The builder specializes in “infill” area where homes are constructed on homeowner's lot. Energy efficiency features include advanced framing, properly sized and sealed HVAC systems, properly insulated slab, a tight and well insulated building envelope and ENERGY STAR low-e windows and appliances.

For more information, visit: www.halesun.com.

Back to Top

Keystone Homes is a green homebuilder in the Albuquerque region. They build homes with proper orientation to southern sun, energy and water efficiency, improved indoor air quality, and resource efficiency. Specific features include 60% of lighting will use CFLs, ENERGY STAR appliance, windows and HVAC system, quality sealing of ductwork, low flow showerheads and faucets, low VOC paints and carpeting, and recycling of construction waste.

For more information, visit: www.keystonecustom.com.

Back to Top

Kreger Design/Build LLC is a homebuilder of ENERGY STAR homes in the Santa Fe metro region. Their approach is to create aesthetically pleasing design, while maximizing views with energy-efficient standards. Energy-efficient features include air-tight construction, effective insulation, high-efficiency heating and high- performance windows.

For more information, visit: www.kregerdesignbuild.com.

Back to Top

Oshara Village is a sustainable community in Santa Fe, NM. Local homebuilders are utilized to construct energy efficient homes with consideration to the surrounding environment.

The homebuilders must adhere to the “Oshara Pledge” that requires certain features in each home, including

  • recycled insulation with R-21 in walls and R-50 in ceiling,
  • install 6% of floor space as south-facing glass,
  • use ENERGY STAR appliances and water-saving fixtures,
  • utilize reclaimed water for irrigation,
  • use only programmable thermostats, and
  • use compact fluorescent lighting.

The New Village Institute conducted a study on Energy Savings Possible for American Families Making Sustainable Choices. The study concluded that “an Oshara homeowner choosing normal cost-effective energy conservation features and the required standards would use 51.8% less energy in the home than a typical homeowner.”

For more information, visit: www.osharavillage.com.

Back to Top

For additional builders, see the Build Green New Mexico Web site, at: www.buildgreennm.org.

Utah

Daybreak is a master-planned community of over 4,000 acres and being built by land development company Kennecott Land in South Jordan, Utah. One-third of the land is being kept as open space and a main feature is Oquirrh Lake, providing many recreational opportunities.

All homes built to the ENERGY STAR standards that will save $200 - $400 in utility bills every year. Features include improved indoor air quality, enhanced sealing package, high-performance insulation, high-efficiency furnaces, programmable thermostats, compact fluorescent lightbulbs and ENERGY STAR appliances.

Kennecott Land is also embracing the USGBC's LEED rating system and working with the USGBC as they develop the first national standard for neighborhood design. Daybreak features the first LEED certified elementary school in Utah.

For more information, visit: www.daybreakutah.com.

Back to Top

Needham Homes, owned by Aaron Needham, has been developing homes and subdivisions in the Utah for nearly 20 years. Recently, the company built 30 five-star rated solar energy efficient homes in the Cedar City area.

The company uses the term “Hybrid Energy Homes” to describe their innovative design that incorporates passive solar design, low-energy lighting fixtures and appliances, a tankless water heater and solar panels to achieve low energy consumption. Specialized sealant is also used for the foundation and polyurethane foam is applied to walls to seal holes and cracks as part of the insulation system. Every home has to go through a rigorous third-party inspection by a certified energy efficiency inspector. Once it has passed inspection it can also qualify the owner to participate in over 10 rebate and energy efficient credit programs. These homes are estimated to save their owners 40-70% annually on their utility bills.

For more information, visit: www.needhamhomesinc.com.

Back to Top

For additional builders and projects, visit the Build Green Utah website at: www.buildgreenutah.org.

California

Premier Homes developed the first standard “zero energy” community of its kind in the Sacramento region—Premier Gardens. By partnering Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), ConSol and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Premier Gardens consists exclusively of “Zero Energy Homes” (ZEH) that are designed to save homebuyers up to 60 percent on utility costs.

Each home qualifies for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy's (DOE) ENERGY STAR® Homes national program. Specific energy-efficiency features include: a 2 kW AC solar electric home power system, a tankless water heater that produces 6.5 gallons of hotwater per minute, a mechanically designed heating and air conditioning system, spectrally selective glass windows, and tightly sealed air ducts. For detailed case studies, click here. For details on peak demand analysis by the SMUD utility, click here.

For more information on Premier Homes, visit: www.builtbypremier.com.

Back to Top

Shea Homes, a large production homebuilder in San Diego, has developed 306 homes in two communities with zero energy homes features. It partnered with ConSol, Inc. to design homes  that are more energy efficient than ENERGY STAR Homes, with Sun Systems, Inc. to provide solar water preheating for the homes, and with AstroPower, Inc. to provide solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for on-site electricity to the homes tied to the utility grid. Energy efficiency features include solar radiant barriers, windows with spectrally selective glass, tight sealed ducts and pipes, thermal expansion valves, and inspections with diagnostic blower door tests. For detailed case study and research information, download the NREL publications: Large-Production Home Builder Experience with Zero Energy Homes, and A New Market Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes: The Comparative San Diego Case Study.

For more information on Shea Homes, visit: www.sheahomes.com.

Back to Top

High Performance Home Examples