1.4 Florida Home Energy Rating Organization Technical Assistance

• All America Homes

Figure 31. This All America Home contains solar water heating, pool heating, and photovoltaic systems.

This BA partner was honored at the 2003 SEBC (Southeast Building Conference) with the Grand Aurora Award for their home which features a PV system, batch type solar water heater, solar pool heating, and a host of features which resulted in this 3,800 square foot home receiving a maximum monthly summer bill of less than $150. This bill included electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash pickup! (Please see Figure 31.)

In 2002, Florida HERO provided technical assistance with this partner's National Association of Home Builder's Energy Value Awards application. All America received a silver award in the "hot climate custom home" category.

• AMJ Construction

Florida Home Energy Rating Organization (Florida HERO) provided an engineered duct system for 26 models in the Regents Park Townhouse development.  The construction of this downtown urban infill project is progressing well, with completion expected in late 2003 or early 2004.  Building America features include: ductwork in the conditioned space, outside air for all central system units, ICF walls, low-E windows, combination hydronic heat and 13 SEER cooling systems, and programable thermostats.  Each of these 26 units will be individually performance tested.

• Atlantic Design and Construction

Atlantic Design & Construction (AD&C) is a production builder located in Gainesville, Florida, who builds about 50 to 60 homes a year.  Though initially producing homes better than the Florida Energy Code minimum, Florida HERO worked with AD&C to ratchet up their efficiency to Energy Star and then to Building America standards.  The new upgrades resulted in homes achieving an average HERS score of 89. (Please see Table 9.)

Savings from increasing the cooling system efficiency more than offset the additional $250 to $375 needed for improved duct sealing and insulation and air sealing protocol adjustments. (Please see Figures 32 and 33.)  This savings, while sufficient to offset those costs, were not enough to pay for all implemented measures.  But, increasing the price of the home by $1,250 was sufficient to cover the additional costs and derive an excellent profit margin. Despite adding $1,250 to $2,500 to home buyer costs up-front, AD&Cs award-winning development, Mentone, has been the best-selling subdivision in Alachua County for four years running.

Table 9.  Energy efficient feature changessince stepping up to Building America standards.

Figure 32. Damp spray cellulose covers walls of sealed mechanical closet and water heater cabinet.	Figure 33. Completion of HVAC rough-in with return plenum on the upper left, supply plenum on the upper right, sealed combustion pipes on the bottom, and refrigerant line between pipes.