In the buzzword filled world of green building, it can be hard for a client to filter through the greenwashing and find building professionals with a commitment to the performance of their product long after their involvement. For this very reason, I’m intentionally cautious about throwing around words like ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’. With that in mind, here is one of the most impressive and quantifiable high performance programs I’ve ever seen.
Prime Energy Group installing SPF
The Bayer High Performance Residential Program
I was introduced to the Bayer High Performance Residential Program through the fine folks at Prime Energy Group. This program takes a genuinely holistic approach to residential building performance, taking into account building orientation, climate, construction assemblies, insulation, and heating and cooling systems to create a single package. With the substantial research and development power of Bayer MaterialScience, the end result is a system that nearly sells itself.
Home Energy Rating
The Home Energy Rating Index
Using the HERS index (Home Energy Rating) a structure can be charted relative to other relevant standards in the residential marketplace. On the chart above, you’ll note 100 on the HERS scale is labeled as ‘Standard New Home’, that would be, essentially, the building code minimum. A typical Energy Star home would land at about 85 and the point shown for a new residence within the High Performance Residential Program is at about 65. That gives you a rough idea of how well this system works, but it gets better, especially for the home owner.
Individualized Performance Goals
Part of what is so attractive about this system is the ability to meet very specific goals for both the builder and the consumer. Not only can one meet national, easily recognizable standards like Energy Star; but a builder can select an internal goal that sets them apart from the competition. Using sophisticated energy performance modeling and an intimate knowledge of their own Spray Polyurethane Foam insulation, the Bayer system allows for optimization of the HVAC system at a level rarely seen in the residential marketplace. In fact, it comes with a heating / cooling guarantee, giving the homeowner a very tangible and calculable return on their investment, in the form of a guaranteed maximum utility bill.
Long-term and Potentially Immediate Cost Savings
I haven’t met a homeowner yet who prefers sending money to the utility company over building equity into their home, and that’s where the real value of this system becomes clear.When looking at the costs of building, a homeowner can now calculate the initial and operating costs of the home to see not only a long-term return on their investment, but potentially an immediate month-to-month savings, when those initial costs are amortized over a standard 30 year mortgage.
Where Can I find out More?
Prime Energy Group of Raleigh are my go-to consultants for the High Performance Residential Program. I’ve worked with them on several projects utilizing SPF, and am planning to employ the HPRP on two upcoming projects. When considering the costs of different building systems, consult with your Architect before deciding to go with the ‘cheapest’ option, it may save you a bundle in the long run.