Change Maker
Awarded to the builder who demonstrates a successful strategy to transform the market (locally, regionally, or nationally) through innovative market interactions.
Addison Homes in Greer, South Carolina, has been a leader in their market since 2015 and leverages the message of the ZERH program company wide. From YouTube, LinkedIn, their website, and company publicity efforts, Addison educates the public on the benefits of the ZERH home. Addison also educates contractors and code officials on innovative technologies and high-performance homes. Showing their commitment to innovation and market transformation, Addison teamed with manufacturers to pilot new products such as a compact duct system in their 2024 award-winning home.
“Our offering of homes that focus on health and indoor air quality has at least given that choice to the market. A few other builders have begun exploring some of the standard practices we offer. We have noticed that vendors and suppliers are now sending people our way, which means that word has spread within the builder's market.”- Builder
|
Decarbon Copy
Awarded to the builder whose innovative approach to decarbonization in Zero Energy Ready Homes produces the most replicability and predictability in results.
This year’s Decarbon Copy award goes to the team of Powerhouse Designs and TC Legend Homes from Bellingham, Washington. This project was selected for being both energy-efficient and carbon-conscious. The use of structurally insulated panels (SIPs) for the walls, triple pane windows, and 0.45 ACH50 airtightness, along with technologies such as sensor-controlled heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) make this a super-efficient and resilient home. When paired with 17.01 kW PV array and battery backup, this decreases the operational carbon emissions of this home. This project also focused on embodied carbon, evaluating material choices and how to mitigate the carbon emissions contributed when making and moving these materials. The Material Carbon Index of this home was 23% lower than a standard home by this builder.
“The Lynden Powerhouse project was the first building that Powerhouse Designs focused on embodied carbon during the design and finish selections phases. During the design and budgeting processes, the team worked to inform the homeowners of both cost and emissions implications.”- Builder
|
Off-the-Shelf
Awarded to the builder who best leverages readily available, off-the-shelf materials and systems to achieve advanced building science results.
Howard Building Science from Granite Falls, North Carolina, was selected as the winner of the 2024 Off-the-Shelf award. During construction, this project optimized material and labor resources to deliver high performance at low cost. This included using in-house labor to quickly construct a small-footprint home. A key to this was a unique structural insulated panel system with a simple interlock cam-locks, pre-framed openings, and unique single-piece corners for a stronger and much more energy-efficient structure. This project is one of a series of homes that prove high-performance can be built and sold at a low price point, delivering more attainable housing for local residents – specifically first-time homebuyers.
“These are above-code, all-electric homes with high-efficiency inverter heat pumps for space conditioning, heat pump water heaters, ventless heat pump dryers, and induction ranges. With no wood burning or gas appliances, we have no concerns about carbon monoxide or other byproducts of combustion.”- Builder
|
Total Package
Awarded to the builder with the highest average score across all award categories.
The winner of more HIA awards than any builder in program history is Thrive Home Builders, who earned the 2024 Total Package award for their project that scored the highest across all the award categories listed above. This net-positive, all-electric home includes rooftop solar to reduce operational carbon emissions. The company is working with technology from the University of Denver to quantify and offset the embodied carbon of Thrive-built homes. This home uses off-the-shelf materials such as widely available double-paned windows and blown-in insulation, as well as leveraging innovative technologies with cold climate heat pumps and an aerosolized air sealant approach. In addition, Thrive has long been a leader in the high-performance housing market with their position having built the most ZERH certified homes in Colorado and the third most nationally
“The E-PWR all-electric homes collection combines modern features and energy efficiency with a focus on homeowner comfort and well-being. Thrive is dedicated to integrating its innovative building practice within the community, making these homes affordable and enhancing the overall lifestyle.” - Builder
|
Most Certified Homes
Awarded to the builder with the most certified homes in the calendar year.
After becoming the first national production builder to commit to 100% ZERH-certified homes across all divisions by 2025, it didn’t take long for Beazer Homes to make some noise within the program. With 1,234 certified ZERH homes in the calendar year, Beazer Homes won the 2024 Most Certified Homes award. In late October, Beazer hosted at a ZERH community in Parkville, Maryland, where they demonstrated the behind-the-wall building science and innovation of Zero Energy Ready Homes to media, realtors, and industry stakeholders. Carolyn Snyder, DOE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Buildings and Industry, spoke at the event highlighting Beazer’s commitment and leadership and the importance of partnerships and collaboration between government, builders, and innovators.
“Beazer, in making its commitment to ensuring that by the end of 2025, every home we build will meet the requirements of the Zero Energy Ready Home program, changed our course of business. Beazer homes are quickly approaching the most efficient levels of construction possible utilizing conventional building materials and practices.”- Builder
|
Updated Program Documents
DOE releases updated program documents annually for the Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program that incorporate changes and clarifications to program requirements, many of which result from dialogue with the program's builders and raters. The updated program Versions/Revisions will be required for projects with permit dates on or after January 1, 2025. The ZERH program has also released Policy Record documents for both the Single Family and Multifamily programs, which detail the major updates included in these revised documents and the rationale behind the changes. A webinar highlighting these changes and their impact on program compliance is available here.
ZERH and ENERGY STAR NextGen Builder Trainings
The Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) is hosting two in-person builder trainings in December geared towards builders interested in learning more about the ZERH and ENERGY STAR NextGen programs. The events will be held in Roseville, Minnestoa, December 10-11, and Southborough, Massachusetts, December 16-17.
- Day One: How to Build a Zero Energy Ready Home
- Day Two: Building to the ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification Program
Continuing education credits are available for each day of the training event. For more information, please visit the links below.
Webinar: Learn How Energy Skilled and ENERGY STAR Work Together
Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters are highly efficient products that can help homeowners save energy and money across the country. However, challenges remain in recruiting, training, and upskilling the workforce to sustain and expand the progress in adoption of these products.
ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Skilled program are collaborating to bring together the leading efficiency technologies and the workforce to deliver them.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
11:00 am – 12:00pm EST
|
