We are thrilled to have our first Certified EPA Energy Star Home. Although Luke has a bunch of experience with Energy Star certifications in the great white north, it’s the first one under our belt here at Blue Sky Building Company. I will not lie to you…this was a very tough one. The experience of grabbing a tiger by the tail comes to mind.
We made the decision to go the Energy Star route at the rough-in stage…actually after it was all roughed-in. Our homeowners, Bill & Lori Bonnington, were gracious enough to go along for the ride. Ultimately it benefits them with greater comfort and lower energy bills. This over 3,600 square foot house was not only large, but complex in its design. Take those two intimidating factors, throw in being that far along and a fire suppression system (sprinklers, but that’s another story) to boot and the tiger starts growling. But we held on for the ride and it paid off in the end.
We received a 5-STAR rating, actually just one point shy of 5-STAR PLUS, the highest rating possible. It means a bunch of geeky stuff. This home will produce 28.2% less carbon dioxide, 31.7% less sulfur dioxide and 28.7% less nitrogen oxide than the normal home. For you extreme geeks that’s 4 tons of carbon dioxide, 46.6 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 11.5 pounds of nitrogen oxide. The annual energy savings on this home is projected to be around $714. Pretty cool huh?
We also did a few green things as well. We installed a vent in the garage that comes on with the garage door opener and shuts off after 15 minutes. This helps to expel dangerous and obnoxious fumes after the door has closed and you’re drawing water for your bath. Of course you’ll never run out of hot water with the two instant propane water heaters.
