“I think I understand how to build an EnergyStar home. Our HERS ratings are consistently between 65 and 70, which is a testament to the products we use and how we’re putting them together,” Deklewa says. “But from living in an EnergyStar home, I’ve learned a ton that I wouldn’t have otherwise known.” Deklewa feels there is a total lack of practical education about how to operate the systems in an EnergyStar home, especially the heating and cooling systems. Ignorance of the proper operation keeps owners from getting the intended benefits that were designed in the home, a shortcoming that could ultimately hurt the reputation of the homebuilders and the sustainable effort in the long run. “We really need to convince our customers that humidifying and de-humidifying the HVAC are critical to performance,” he explains. “In the summer you need to run the air-conditioning colder than you think to get the moisture out. It will actually save energy. It’s also really important to have multiple zones in the house. There’s an upfront cost but it’s well worth it to save on energy bills.” Efficient HVAC systems use thermal convection – hot air rises and cold air sinks – to optimize the performance of the system. New systems use controls to close dampers on lower floors in the summer so that the cooling is upstairs while the fans run full time on the lower floors. Keeping the temperature colder in summer accelerates the comfort of the home, sometimes bringing the house to the desired temperature in a few minutes. The systems have to be maintained more thoroughly and there are seasonal adjustments needed that go well beyond what a homeowner who has never lived in an EneregyStar home is accustomed to. “You have to be an active participant as a homeowner to get the benefits of a well-built home,” says Deklewa. The lessons learned from the first halfdecade of green homes are actually
pretty simple ones. Energy efficiency and water conservation are much easier to achieve than all of the sexier green features combined. Insulation and prevention of air-flow infiltration are more important than more expensive measures to lowering your home’s carbon footprint. Replacing windows and doors have long paybacks. Understanding how to use your energy efficient home is essential to taking advantage of the benefits. And sustainable thinking is important even if the return on investment isn’t so apparent. Most important may be the understanding that the best green homes are designed to function as a system. “Builders who wonder what we buy to get to our ratings are missing the point,” says Kevin Oakley. “The way Liam has engineered the house so the whole system works together is why the home is so efficient. The efficiency has to be in the basic home. We see more demand and we do continue to offer upgrades to buyers that they don’t choose anyway. We’ve learned that you can’t option your way to a green home.” NH
F E AT U R E
Townships for about five years, and is also one of the builders in Newbury. Founder John R. Deklewa also built a new home for himself in Newbury. The experience has been eye-opening and has convinced him that consumers need to know a lot more than just buzz words about energy efficient homes.
SCAN & LEARN.
energy efficient. eco-friendly. S&A Homes has combined cutting edge technology and building practices to offer you a high performance home that is energy efficient, eco-friendly and healthier, which protects your investment, your family & the environment. North Allegheny County • 412-364-2626 West Allegheny County • 412-264-9200 Butler County • 724-538-4900 Westmoreland County • 724-837-6124
SAhomebuilder.com
www.greaterpittsburghnewhome.com
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