Artistic Homes Builds to LEED Certification Standards
Artistic Homes is a family-owned and operated business in New Mexico that
currently builds 100 percent of its homes to Silver or Gold certification as
administered by the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) new
homes program. Energy efficiency and sustainability have evolved from a concept
to a fundamental strategy for this home builder. Ten years ago, the company
began working with the Building Science team at the Department of Energy and the
Building America program. At that time, energy savings was considered a
by-product of building better homes.
In 2006, Artistic Homes began the process of revamping its business plan by
designing and building LEED-certified homes. The first step was to address
energy; all homes were built to a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 60
or below. Then other sustainable measures were addressed by incorporating
recycled building materials, site and resource conservation, improved indoor air
quality, and other environmental measures in their home designs and construction
practices. By October 2007, Artistic Homes pledged to build all their homes in
Albuquerque, Hobbs, Roswell, Lovington and Artesia to LEED standards.
Home Features
- Mechanical System: High efficiency infiltration, integrated
heating and hot water system, all ducts in conditioned space and sealed with
mastic.
- Building Envelope: Foundation slab on grade, R-5 perimeter
insulation, walls are built with advanced framing techniques, R-38 blown
insulation in attic/roof, windows are vinyl framed, double-glazed,
argon-filled with low-E coating.
- Materials: Low VOC cabinetry and paint.
- Measured Air Leakage Results: Total envelope air exchange at 50
pascals: 598 cfm; 0.12 CFM/square foot of surface area; 2.23 ACH50.
- Energy Results: All homes built to HERS score of 60 or below, and
a heating and cooling cost guarantee is provided to homeowners.
R-10 full perimeter slab insulation
Photo credit: Artistic
Homes |
LEED-certified home in Los Lunas, NM
Photo credit: Artistic
Homes |
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