Why Innovate?
In recent years energy consumption has been one of our nation's leading concerns. Acting as a catalyst for change in the home-building industry, our goals are to build homes that use significantly less energy, save you money, and help protect our environment.
Skobel Development is very involved in the ongoing energy efficiency studies at federal, state, and local levels. As a member of the Building America program under the U.S. Department of Energy, Skobel Development has made a commitment to building energy efficient homes and developing energy solutions for the future of the home-building industry. We also utilize valuable information acquired through programs such as EnergyStar® that concentrate on energy efficient ways to design, build and operate homes.
We are committed to building your home in the most energy efficient way possible, which will result in serious savings to your annual energy costs and add additional value to your home. One way to measure your home's energy efficiency is with the Home Energy Rating System or HERS Index. The lower the index number, the more energy efficient the home. The average rating for a new home is 100, Energy Star homes have a rating of 85 or less, and our homes are rated at 70 or less, which will result in significant savings on your energy bills.
As you explore this section, you will discover all of the different energy efficient products and processes that are standard in all of our homes. We have taken extra care in developing these standard energy efficiency features, and look forward to seeing the benefits that they provide for you and the environment.
Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater
25% of every American household's energy dollars are spent producing hot water. One way that we minimize this expense for you is by installing tankless natural gas water heaters in all of our homes. Tankless natural gas water heaters are a great alternative to traditional electric tanked water heaters because they are not only the most energy efficient way to heat water, they have the additional benefit of never having the hot water in your home run out again. Another added bonus is a $300 federal tax credit, which will be removed directly from the homeowner's tax bill after purchase of a home with this product.
Air Conditioner
Air conditioning and heating are responsible for over 50% of your home's energy consumption. As a result we have put together a system that provides great comfort while still providing you a great value with energy efficient products and techniques. First, we take special care to size the air conditioning unit correctly in order for it to operate properly and provide the occupants with the appropriate level of humidity and accurate air temperature. Most home builders do not size their units correctly and install systems that are too large, which results in higher levels of humidity in the home and higher energy bills. Next, we install a 15 SEER Heat Pump, which when used in warmer climates can be more efficient than a gas furnace. The energy efficiency of the heat pump is measured in SEER, with a 13 SEER being standard for new construction, our homes have been upgraded to a 15 SEER. In addition, we tightly seal all of our air supply ducts with mastic to ensure a minimal level of air leakage into the attic. Furthermore, an exterior fresh air vent supply is provided, which leads to better indoor air quality than typical homes by providing fresh air and reducing negative pressures that can result in radon and pesticide ingress.
Vinyl Low-E Windows
Windows are an extremely critical factor in keeping your energy costs down. Since windows cause a majority of a home's heat gains and losses, when inefficient windows are installed, you could be throwing up to 30% of your heating and cooling dollars out the window, literally. As a result, we install Vinyl Low-E windows, which are the most energy efficient windows available for your new home, and they also help protect your carpet and furniture from fading.
Three critical factors are important when deciding what type of windows to install in your new home; the window frame, the type of glass, and if the windows are insulated or not. The Vinyl Low-E windows that we install in all of our homes have the best of all three of these features. Vinyl Low-E windows are made from a vinyl frame, which is the most energy efficient frame, and they are insulated with two panes of low emission glass, which lowers the heat flow through the window.
Roof Radiant Barrier
Radiant barrier is a product used when building a roof to block and reflect heat hitting the roof by using a thin sheet of highly reflective material. This product has been proven to lower your attic temperature by up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a cooler attic which allows less heat to transfer through your ceiling and allows the air conditioning ducts to be surrounded by cooler air. This causes cooler air to be circulated throughout the house, and has been proven effective in reducing heating and cooling energy bills significantly, especially in warm climates where a large amount of air-conditioning is used.
Insulation
We install the R-15 Spider™ Custom Insulation System, which sprays in to fill all gaps and voids where energy can escape, including hard-to-reach spaces. With superior thermal performance, it will lower heating and cooling expenses year after year, providing better indoor air quality, moisture control, superior sound insulation, and being produced from recycled content. This product has been proven superior when compared to wall batt and cellulose insulation techniques. We also use R-30 blown insulation in addition to the radiant barrier described above in all attic spaces.
Advanced Framing Techniques
Our homes are framed using a sophisticated technique that allows insulation to be installed in all areas of the exterior walls, including hard-to-reach spaces. With more insulation, there will be less energy used for heating and cooling of the home.
Lighting
Compact florescent light bulbs are installed everywhere possible throughout all of our homes. Compact florescent light bulbs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They also save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime and produce about 75 percent less heat, so they are safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
Appliances
All appliances provided are Energy Star certified, which means that they use less energy, save money in energy costs, and help protect the environment.
