Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

Comparing Apples to Apples with Energy-Efficiency

The description “energy-efficient” is not a government regulated term.  It may be used by any home builder who incorporates even the least energy-efficient products on the market into their homes.  So how does a consumer compare one home to another in the area of energy-efficiency?  How does he or she know that one home’s energy-efficiency is equivalent to that of another home?  There are many factors that contribute to a home’s energy-efficiency.  It is in looking at the home as a whole, a combination of its individual, energy-saving components, that one determines the true comparative-worthy value of the home.

HERS, or Home Energy Rating System, is a numerical index which represents the energy-efficiency of a home as a number.  (See Figure A.) 

HERS is based on whole house energy use. This rating system is consistent throughout the country and is similar in application to the miles per gallon rating system for cars.  It allows consumers to compare a product based on an evaluation standard (like comparing apples to apples).  On the HERS index, the lower the number is on the chart, the more energy-efficient the home.   

As you can see on Figure A, a standard home meeting building codes for minimum energy-efficiency achieves a rating of 100. An ENERGY STAR®-qualified home, built to exceed the minimum building codes and improve energy- efficiency by certain minimum standards, achieves a rating of 85.  Homes which incorporate additional energy-efficient designs and improvements achieve a rating of lower than 85.  Each point on the HERS index represents 1% of energy.  Therefore, ENERGY STAR®-qualified homes offer a 15% decrease in energy costs over the standard home with a 100 rating.  Our homes here at On Top of the World offer an energy cost savings of 15% – 35%...and we are improving upon this amount each year.

Visiting other communities? Ask them what their HERS rating is.

Excellence in ENERGY STAR® Promotion Award

On Top of the World Communities has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the 2010 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award for its energy-efficient homes and consumer-education programs. Moreover, On Top of the World Communities was the only Florida builder and one of just six home builders across the country to be so honored at recent ceremonies in Washington, D.C. Winners were selected from more than 17,000 companies and organizations nationwide.

According to the EPA, On Top of the World Communities was selected “for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by educating new home buyers about the value of choosing an ENERGY STAR-qualified home.” All On Top of the World homes are steel-reinforced concrete block construction, and every home meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR guidelines ... verified by independent inspectors. And On Top of the World is Florida’s first active-adult community to receive 100 percent ENERGY STAR qualification on all new homes.

One example of On Top of the World’s continued commitment to this effort was last year’s decision by company officials to offer a solar-power option on every new home it builds. In fact, one home in the community's new model-home center – the 2,324-square-foot Huntley II – features solar panels as a secondary source of energy that saves as much as 75 percent on monthly energy bills. An average ENERGY STAR qualified home receives a Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) score of 85 or below. The Huntley II model received a remarkably low HERS of 18. That’s a lot of energy savings! In addition to introducing the solar model, the company hosted an “It’s So Easy Being Green” consumer expo last fall where home buyers could speak directly with building industry vendors about how their products and services support the ENERGY STAR program.

In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of our homes, building energy-efficient homes also makes for happy homeowners:

"For years we have been ENERGY STAR® advocates. Once we decided to retire, we searched for the perfect place that would afford us beautiful weather, friendly neighbors and the perfect energy efficient home. We went online to www.energystar.gov and clicked on our state of choice, and found On Top of the World Communities. We wanted a well constructed home with low carrying costs and a home that was certified energy efficient. At On Top of the World Communities, we found all that and more." - Joseph and Linda Patanella

The EPA reports that last year alone, Americans ... with the help of ENERGY STAR ... saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to what is produced by 30 million vehicles.

Commitment to Building ENERGY STAR® Qualified Homes

The Area's Most Energy Efficient Builder

On Top of the World Communities, Inc. has always been environmentally-minded over the years. From our commitment to ENERGY STAR® qualification of all new homes starting in 2000 to the relocation of animals displaced during land development to using water-saving techniques in landscaping, we have sought to be good stewards of the world’s resources. The building products and techniques used in the construction of a home as well as the decorative elements we offer that make

a home personally yours, are all a part of On Top of the World’s increasing support of environmental sustainability.

Building a Eco-friendly Home – Building Now and for the Future

The homes we build are of the highest quality. We continually strive for excellence in building the most energy efficient homes. By incorporating the following products in our homes, we also provide energy efficiency. To date our lowest HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score on new home construction has been a 62, which is exceptional. We surpass ENERGY STAR guidelines with our homes scoring an average of 70. This compares to a typical existing home receiving a score of 130 and a standard ENERGY STAR qualified home at a score of 85. The lower the score, the higher the energy savings. But we’re not satisfied with 62. We will continue to improve our homes and the products we use to better this score for our homeowners and for the environment.

• Low-E Double Pane Windows

• Tile Flooring

• 14 and 15 SEER HVAC Systems by Goodman

• Reflective Radiant Barrier on Roof Sheathing

• Recessed Can Lighting in Kitchen (IC-rated with sealed cans and CFL bulbs)

• ¾” Cellulose Foam Board Wall Insulation

Planting a Water Saver Yard

On Top of the World Communities is committed to using water-wise, Florida-friendly landscape practices and conservative irrigation design principles in its commercial and residential areas. Each neighborhood’s common areas are uniquely landscaped to create individual character, but all designs use drought tolerant sod and native plants/grasses which require minimal irrigation. In addition, we install drip irrigation systems with pressure regulated irrigation heads to promote water conservation. This commitment has earned On Top of the World recognition as a Florida Friendly Landscape Community.

Choosing Eco-friendly Vendors and Products

We want the products we use in our homes to be of the highest quality, to be beautiful to the homeowner and to support our commitment to sustainability. Because of this dedication On Top of the World chooses to partner with eco-friendly manufacturers who share our commitment to being “green.” These manufacturers use environmentally-friendly practices such as using recycled materials for packaging, using energy-saving methods during production, reducing fuel costs for shipping product, reducing production waste, and/or they offer products that provide energy or water savings to the end user:

• Amarr Garage Doors

• Centurion Stone

• Cambia Quartz Countertops

• Anderson Hardwood Floors

• Color Wheel Paint

• Quick Step Flooring

• Mohawk EverStrand Carpet

• Delta Faucets

• Wellborn Cabinets

But we don’t stop here…

Encouraging Eco-friendly Practices

Curbside recycling programs are offered to our residents to encourage everyone to be eco-friendly. Waste Management provides this convenient service, known as single stream recycling. No separation of recyclables is required.

Building Envelope - Crucial to a ENERGY STAR® Qualified Home

It’s blustery cold outside. The temperature is low; the wind is whipping. You go inside your home, but the cold follows you, seeping in through various leaks in the building envelope of the house. The heater runs continually trying to fight the intruding cold air. You are not warm; your heating bill grows larger. Will this ever improve?

The answer is YES when you live at On Top of the World Communities.

For years, On Top of the World has been building the highest quality home, actually surpassing ENERGY STAR® minimum guidelines. What makes our homes so much more energy efficient than the homes of other builders? What is it about a home that makes it seamless, without drafts, without air loss? The answer to both questions is the building envelope.

The Building Envelope

The building envelope is just what it sounds like, the outer layer of the home. It encompasses components such as insulation, windows and doors, roof, wall and penetrations in the walls, their fit and interaction and the entire efficiency of the final product. Each of these elements can leak air into or out of the home. Collectively, if they are leaking, there can be a lot of conditioned air seeping out or a lot of outside air coming in…not to mention moisture. Builders may focus on one area or another, but if they are not guaranteeing all of them, then you are at risk. For example, a high R-value in a ceiling may seem like a good selling point but can be completely offset and negated by exterior leakage around windows, doors or ductwork. At On Top of the World, we are committed to a tight building envelope.

Low-E, Double Pane Windows

Heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer through a home’s windows can account for up to 50% of that home’s heating and cooling expenses. A window’s energy performance is measured by the heat loss through the window on a cold day (U-value), heat gain through the window on a hot day (solar heat gain coefficient), and air leakage around the window’s edge. The lower the rating in each of these areas, the better the window’s energy performance. The use of low-E, double pane windows at On Top of the World combined with the installation practice of tightly sealing the windows’ edges guarantees high energy performance in this area.

R-30 Attic & R-13 Wall Insulation

The primary purpose of insulation in the home is to reduce the exchange of heat between the inside and outside of the home. The effectiveness of the insulation can be drastically reduced if it is not installed properly. A high R-value is important, but it can be undermined by gaps, voids and compression in the insulation. That is why our homes are inspected during the construction process by a third party inspector to insure that what is going on behind the walls is done to the highest standards. At On Top of the World, insulation R-30 in the attic and R-13 in the walls is installed without any gaps, compressions, or misalignments. This continuous boundary of insulation between the inside and outside maintains temperature efficiently and keeps the home comfortable and quiet.

Duct Sealing & Insulation

The duct system is the equipment by which conditioned air is distributed throughout the home. The potential for energy loss through this system is very high if the ducts are not installed, sealed and insulated properly. Proper sealing of the ducts prevents dust, pollen, pests, moisture and fumes from entering the home. This, in turn, improves air quality. On Top of the World seals air ducts with an advanced sealant that significantly reduces leakage in the duct system, improving the comfort and air quality of your home, while reducing utility bills. Ducts that are tightly sealed can increase your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by as much as 20%.

Tight Construction, Positive Pressure & Air Quality

Sealing all exterior penetrations is one of the most critical features of a tight building envelope. Caulking, foaming, and gasketing of windows, doors and wall penetrations in the home helps reduce energy losses, which lowers utility bills for heating and cooling. In an On Top of the World home, a tight building envelope creates positive air pressure within the home. As a result, infiltration of moisture and outside contaminates is reduced. Fresh outside air is introduced into the home via the return side of the Air Handler unit. The outside air is circulated over the coils of the air handler allowing it to be conditioned before entering the home.

Seal of Approval

In days gone by, the envelope of a letter was marked with the seal of the sender…signifying the credibility of the message. The credibility of our homes’ building envelope is determined by a third party inspector both during the construction of the home and then again at its completion. Upon inspection, the home is then marked with the “seal of approval” from ENERGY STAR. Each home displays this “seal” (or label) on its breaker box.

Interested in becoming a homeowner is Florida’s most energy efficient community? Schedule a visit today to learn how. For information about our Guest Visitation Program, call 800-421-4162.

Local Solar Home Heats Up National Headlines

CONTACT: John Heagney | Holiday, Fla. | (727) 942-2718

JANUARY 8, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Solar Home Heats Up National Headlines

OCALA, FLA. – Green Builder magazine has placed the national spotlight on a new line of solar-optional homes being built at On Top of the World Communities, the 12,972-acre master-planned community offering sustainable, high-performance homes and state-of-the-art amenities for 21st century active adults at 8445 SW 80th St.

According to Kenneth D. Colen, President, On Top of the World Communities, Green Builder featured a story about the 2,188-square-foot Huntley II that features optional solar panels as a secondary source of energy. And the remaining six homes in the community’s newly opened model home center ... as well as all homes built by the company ... also offer solar power as an option.

Colen says solar power on these homes can save home buyers as much as 75 percent on their monthly power bills. And even if they don’t select the solar option, owners will be purchasing some of the most energy- efficient homes found anywhere.

On Top of the World Communities’ commitment to energy-efficient homes began when the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy introduced the ENERGY STAR program, which integrates energy-efficient products and building techniques in its homes to ensure long-term energy savings for its home buyers.

Now, as a result of its early investment in the program, On Top of the World Communities became the state’s first active-adult community to receive 100 percent ENERGY STAR qualification on all new homes and has built more ENERGY STAR homes than another other community in Florida. ENERGY STAR homes feature:

• R-30 ceiling insulation to reduce heat gain/loss and improve the home’s durability.

• Low-E, double-pane windows to reduce condensation and heat gain/loss while protecting the home's

interior from the sun's damaging rays

• Tight construction to seal and maintain the home's temperature efficiently while acting as a sound barrier

• Efficient heating-and-cooling system to improve air quality and enhance comfort while saving energy

On Top of the World Communities has been named to the list of America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities by Where to Retire magazine and Best Neighborhood for 55+ by Ocala magazine. Its builder and developer has built about 4,500 homes in 14 neighborhoods in this central Florida location since construction began in the 1980s.

One of the community’s most compelling features is the Master the Possibilities Education Center, where 600 classes, lectures, presentations and film series are taught by a professional faculty. Also located here is the 830-seat Circle Square Cultural Center, Ocala’s largest indoor venue for concerts, art exhibits, conventions and social functions.

On Top of the World offers 13 residential designs in three distinctive series – Premier, Estate and Custom homes.

For more details, visit OnTopoftheWorld.com.

Environmental awareness is a core belief at On Top of the World Communities and is reflected in its seven new model homes ... all offering optional solar power as part of a sustainable design package that saves the homeowner money, while saving the planet.

On Top of the World Communities’ commitment to energy-efficient homes began when the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy introduced the ENERGY STAR® program. The company embraced this effort immediately, integrating energy-efficient products and building techniques in its homes to ensure long-term energy savings for its home buyers.

As a result, On Top of the World Communities became Florida’s first active adult community to receive 100 percent ENERGY STAR qualification on all new homes.

ENERGY STAR homes include more than two dozen building products and practices ranging from R-30 insulation in ceilings to low-E, energy-efficient double-pane windows, tight construction and efficient heating-and-cooling equipment.

On Top of the World Communities ensures adherence to ENERGY STAR guidelines by performing onsite inspections by an independent third-party expert before and after drywall is installed. Test results compare the energy efficiency of homes here with other area homes built only to local building codes. Then, home buyers are given a report of anticipated energy savings for cooling, heating, lighting, hot water and appliances. And with consistently better energy ratings, On Top of the World homes qualify for Energy Efficient Mortgages, and have higher appraised values.

Currently, the community is pursuing LEED certification, an international green-building-rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizing practical and measurable green-building design and construction.

“We didn’t have to change any of our building practices when we applied for LEED certification because we were doing these extra things already as part of the ENERGY STAR and Builder’s Challenge programs,” notes construction manager Sheryl Johnson. “We’re very proud of that fact.”

As for solar-capable homes – the Huntley II model actually is fitted with solar panels – On Top of the World Communities is among the area’s first home builders to incorporate alternative sources of energy as options in new homes. You may view the production of energy by the Huntley II at the On Top of the World Model Center.

“This is a great opportunity for homeowners to see solar power in action,” Johnson explains. “And from everything we’ve seen and heard, 70 percent of home buyers say they want a high-performance home that is good for the environment.”

On Top of the World Communities is committed to building the highest quality homes with reduced energy use. Our homes surpass the strict guidelines set forth by ENERGY STAR®. Our standard features support environmental stewardship and achieve ENERGY STAR qualification by an independent third-party inspector. Our standard features include:

• R-30 Batt/Blown Attic Insulation reduces heat transfer through the roof of the home. (Minimum required is R-19).
• Rigid Foam Board Wall Insulation with proper taping technique provides a continuous barrier around the inside of the home which serves as a seal against air and moisture transfer.
• Electrical Boxes Mounted to Furring Strips creates fewer penetrations in the block wall, providing a better seal in the building envelope.
• Low-E Windows reduce condensation, reduce heat gain/loss and block 90%+ of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet light, protecting the interior of the home.
• Reflective Radiant Barrier helps keep heat out of the attic.
• Sealed, Insulated and Right-Sized Ducts in the Ventilation System prevent air leakage, reduce energy loss, and provide efficient distribution of conditioned air throughout the home. (NOT ALL builders adhere to the correct duct-sizing calculations as provided by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Manual J and Manual D.)
• Multi-position Variable Speed Fan Motor in Air Handler saves energy as fan speed is determined by the temperature demand rather than running at a constant speed.
• Programmable Thermostat
• 14 and 15 SEER HVAC System, with higher efficiencies available
• IC-rated Sealed Recessed Can Lights with CFL Bulbs minimizes leakage of air from attic into conditioned space and provides energy savings.
• ENERGY STAR®-rated Dishwasher
• WaterSense-certified Delta® Faucets and Shower Heads, as well as low consumption, high efficiency commodes, reduce water usage.
• Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets made from renewable resources and KCMA Environmental Stewardship Program Certified.
• Ceramic Tile Flooring provides energy savings.
• Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Paint emits fewer contaminates into the air.
• WaterWise Yards using drought tolerant plants and drip-irrigation systems conserve water.

On Top of the World Communities has always been an innovative leader in the home-building industry. Click here to learn more.