In recent years, people have begun to look more closely at how we affect our environment. The idea of green building and green products has become extremely popular. At its core, green building is the concept of using existing materials in resource-efficient ways. This includes everything from using sustainable products, to managing waste more efficiently, to recycling products when possible.
At Sterling Brook Custom Homes, LLC, we take a whole house approach of Green Building to create a High Performance Home.
Design:
A High Performance Home starts with a good design and the proper construction techniques. It is extremely difficult to make a poorly designed home energy efficient. Energy efficiency is not only a key element to being “Green”; it is the core of a Sterling Brook High Performance Home. By designing an energy efficient home from the beginning, we can help provide benefits through out the life of your home. Energy efficient homes typically have lower utility usage which means lower monthly bills, fewer green house emissions, and an overall more comfortable home.
Construction:
We use advanced framing techniques in all Sterling Brook Custom Homes. Our advanced framing techniques include engineered structural members and 2’x6’ exterior walls framed at 24” on center. This allows up to 50% more insulation than conventional framing. More insulation means a quieter, more comfortable home and larger savings in utility bills. Termimesh termite barrier is used in all of our homes. Termimesh is a non-chemical, physical barrier, that prevents termites from entering a home through slab penetrations. Since Termimesh is a non-chemical barrier, the result is better
indoor air quality for your family.
Insulation:
We offer a Platinum Insulation Package which includes attic encapsulation with spray foam. This encapsulation provides several benefits. Spray foam provides an air seal that will reduce air infiltration and help improve indoor air quality. Attic encapsulation will also keep the attic temperature within a few degrees of the inside of your home. As a result, your AC will operate in 75-80 degree temperature rather than the normal summertime attic temperatures of 130-150 degrees. Less work for the AC unit equals lower electric bills and longer equipment life.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems:
Since heating and AC comprise 48-50% of a typical home’s utility bill, all Sterling Brook Custom Homes use high efficiency air condition systems. Our HVAC equipment includes 90% efficient variable speed furnaces and high SEER multi-stage air conditioning units and programmable thermostats. All of our homes are built with a WHOLE house ventilation package that includes ultra quiet exhaust fans, a fresh air intake system, and a whole house dehumidifier. These elements are critical to both energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
Water Efficiency:
Sterling Brook Custom Homes installs tankless water heaters on each end of your home in order to keep the hot water runs as short as possible. This reduces the wait for hot water at the faucets. Our water efficiency program also includes the use of low flow fixtures and high performing toilets that meet or exceed the EPA’s Water Wise program. All of our homes also include zoned lawn sprinkler systems with rain and freeze sensors.
Recycling:
In an effort to help our environment, we have established a jobsite recycling program to reduce the amount of material that goes into the landfills. Wood waste is used to make mulch. All brick and stone waste is recycled and used as base for other projects.
Testing:
In addition to standard building inspections, Sterling Brook Custom Homes are tested at various stages of construction by an independent third party testing service. An air leakage test is performed on the AC ducts when they are installed. The entire home is tested at completion for tightness. This additional testing insures that your High Performance Home will perform as designed.
Home Energy Rating System (HERS):
Today, homes are rated based on their efficiency. They are given a HERS score. The lower the HERS score the more efficient a home should be. Homes built to code standards five years ago have a typical HERS score of around 130. Homes built to code standards today have HERS score of 100, while homes built to Energy Star Standards have a minimum HERS score of 85.
There is more to building a High Performance Home than simply selecting the correct components. A home is built of hundreds of components that must work together as one system in order to achieve the best performance results. While any builder can build a beautiful home at Sterling Brook Customs Homes, LLC, we are experts in creating Custom Homes that not only look beautiful but are high performing as well.
With our Platinum Energy Package, Sterling Brook Custom Homes will have a HERS score of 65 or less. This means that a Sterling Brook Home will be up to 20% more efficient than a typical Energy Star Home up to 50% more efficient than a home built to code just a few years ago. It is difficult and expensive to correct a home that wastes energy, Sterling Brook Custom Homes, LLC would love to build you and your family a High Performance luxury home that you will be proud of for years to come.
Affiliations:
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Green Built Texas
- Energy Start for Homes
- The US Department of Energy’s Builder’s Challenge Program
