Two Virginia Builders Take National Honors For Energy Efficiency

Two Virginia builders received prestigious EnergyValue Housing awards during the recent national convention in Dallas.  Dominion Building Group of Virginia Beach and R.E. Collier Inc. of Richmond each netted a gold award for excellence in energy-efficient residential construction in a moderate climate.

EnergyValue Housing awards recognize builders who integrate energy efficiency into the design, construction and marketing of their homes.  The program is designed to educate the home building community and the public about successful approaches to energy-efficient construction.

Dominion Building Group's award-winning home, which took top honors in the innovative/advanced category, features insulated concrete form walls, a high-efficiency heat pump, sealed ductwork and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery.  Raised-heel roof framing allows for R-40 insulation across the entire ceiling.  Dominion reclaimed some fixtures from the deconstruction of older homes for use in this home.

R.E. Collier Inc.'s entry, which won in the custom home category, features a high-efficiency heat pump with a variable-speed fan for enhanced efficiency, fluorescent lighting, sealed ductwork fully contained in a conditioned space and careful sealing to reduce air infiltration.  The custom home was built in cooperation with Virginia Power and the American Lung Association of Virginia as a :health house" - a cost-effective, energy-efficient home with exceptional indoor air quality.

"Buyers of EnergyValue homes have come to recognize the benefits of an energy-efficient home: reduces cmonthly expenditures for utilities, increased comfort and air quality, increased financing opportunities and higher resale prices," says Liza K. Bowles, president of the NAHB Research Center.

Although winning homes vary widely in design, type, price and location, they typically share several features, including high levels of insulation, sealed ductwork fully contained in a conditioned space, properly sized heating and cooling equipment, building orientation to take advantage of the sun's energy, and participation in energy programs and home energy-rating systems.

Entries are judged on criteria in four major areas: energy value, design, construction, and marketing and customer relations.  Awards are given in custom, production, affordable and innovative/advance categories within hot, moderate and cold climate regions.

The NAHB Research Center conducts the awards program in partnership with the NAHB Energy Subcommittee, Professional Builder magazine, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

CREDIT: Virginia Builder.  April 1998.