Local Builder Wins National Energy Efficiency Award

January 15, 2000-Dominion Building Group, Inc. of Virginia Beach, VA has been recognized by the NAHB Research Center as a leader in energy and resource efficiency in construction. As a 2000 Gold Winner of the EnergyValue Housing Award, Dominion Building Group, Inc. has demonstrated a commitment to building energy efficient, Custom homes in the Moderate climate region.

The EnergyValue Housing Award honors builders who integrate energy efficiency into the design, construction, and marketing of their new homes. The program educates the home building community and the public about successful approaches to energy-efficient construction. 

Dominion Building Group's award-winning home features insulating concrete form (ICF) walls in which concrete is poured between insulating, stay-in-place forms, an unvented crawlspace with ICF walls, and R-38 attic insulation. All ductwork is contained in conditioned space and sealed with mastic to prevent energy loss. Mechanical equipment and ductwork are carefully sized according to the industry standards. That practice takes a little extra work upfront but often reduces initial costs if equipment can be downsized. Because the home is so tightly sealed, a Carrier heat recovery ventilator was installed to bring fresh air indoors while recovering heat from exhaust air. A front-loading washer was installed both to reduce energy and water use and to reduce the load on the septic system. Dominion Building Group participates in Virginia Power's Energy Saver Home Plus, an E Seal certified new homes program.

"These winning builders set an example for the rest of the building community. EnergyValue Housing Award winners are committed to building customer satisfaction through high-quality new home construction that doesn't cost a lot to operate. The builders take the extra steps necessary to keep today's savvy homebuyers happy," says Liza Bowles, president of the NAHB Research Center.

The Research Center, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders, conducts the award program in partnership with the NAHB Energy Subcommittee, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Professional Builder Magazine, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Sponsors of the 2000 EnergyValue Housing Awards include Andersen Windows, Inc., Edison Electric Institute, GreenStone Industries, Huber Engineered Woods, Icynene, Inc., TechShield by L-P, and United Technologies-Carrier Corporation.

For more information about the EnergyValue Housing Awards program, or to receive an application, contact the EVHA Coordinator at (301) 430-6289.

Dominion Building Group also won the 1998 EnergyValue  Housing Award for this 3200 sq. ft. innovative advanced moderate climate design on a freshwater lake in Virginia Beach, VA.