It is NOT simply saying that you have Green features. At Christyn Homes,
we include such high efficient features, we had our homes tested using a
3rd Party testing agency and utilizing the Government HERS® Index. Don’t
take our word for it – look at our results!
The HERS Index
The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy
Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to the specifications of the
HERS Reference Home (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation
Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a
HERS Index of 0. The lower a home's HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is
in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.
Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in
energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with
a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference
Home and a home with a HERS Index of 80 is 20% more energy efficient.
Unlike a Building Performance Audit or a weatherization assessment, a home
energy rating is a recognized tool in the mortgage industry. Home energy ratings
can be used in a variety of ways in the housing industry. Since a rating quantifies
the energy performance of a home, the HERS Index provides an easily
understandable means to compare the relative energy efficiency of different
homes.
A Standard New Home HERS® Rating is 100. A Christyn Home HERS® Rating
is 65! That’s 35% more efficient than our competitors!
Responsible lot and site development.
The home is positioned to take advantage of heat and light from the sun. Natural
site features are preserved and protected.
Energy efficiency.
Appliances, insulation, doors, windows, heating and air-conditioning and the home’s design work together to conserve energy resources and reduce utility bills.
Christyn Homes: Utilize high efficiency appliances INCLUDED, Low-E Glass Windows – INCLUDED, 90%+ Efficient Furnances – INCLUDED, 15 SEER A/C – INCLUDED, Programmable thermostat - INCLUDED
Water efficiency.
Water heaters, toilets, faucets and drought-tolerant landscaping conserve water
inside and out.
Low Flow Fixtures
such as faucets, showerheads and toilets help to reduce water usage. Low flow fixtures can help cut a home’s water usage by up to 50%.
Water Conserving Appliances
These include ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines that use less water than traditional appliances. These appliances are as effective as non-ENERGY STAR appliances but save you money and protect the environment
Programmed Low Volume Irrigation Systems
direct water straight to the root zone of plants in need. With low volume irrigation systems, each area is programmed to provide the right amount of water for each specific plant. Low volume irrigation systems eliminate water waste on areas that you don’t need water such as weeds and areas without vegetation.
Rainwater Collection Systems
store rainwater to be used for watering your grass or plantings. An effective rainwater collection system can eliminate using public water to water your lawn and plants, therefore greatly reducing your water use, saving you money.
Grey Water Recovery Units
can recovery heat used for tubs, showers, sinks,
and dishwashers; and store the heat for later use. This process involves warm
water flowing down the grey water drain pipe and warming the incoming cold
water as it flows to your water heater.
Grey Water Recycled for Flushing Toilets
can reduce water usage by filtering
and pumping back up water from faucets and shower for use to flush toilets in
your home.
Resource efficiency.
Materials are selected for durability, origin, and recycled content while waste-management strategies reduce the environmental impact of the home’s construction.
Lot & House Orientation
Properly positioning your home on your site can save you money on your utility bills and make your home more comfortable year-round. Orientation is a critical component of energy efficiency and the ability of a building to properly mediate the summer and winter sun heat loads which penetrate through a building’s outer shell, especially in homes.
Renewable & Recycled Materials
are select materials such as lumber from sustainable managed forest and materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.
Preservation
of trees and other vegetation is an important piece to the overall environmentally friendliness of a home and can also contribute to the energy efficient of a home. We lay out our homes on the lot to reduce or eliminate the need to destroy natural vegetation and trees.
Sunlight
can be used to provide a natural source of renewable energy for a home. Homes can be placed on the lot and designed in order to allow for solar panels and solar shingles. Sunlight can greatly reduce energy bills by providing homeowners with natural energy. Solar power is becoming a reliable source for power and allows for greater energy independence. Low E glass windows, included with your Christyn Home, help to manage the Sun’s heat through all four seasons we see in Illinois.
Indoor environmental quality.
The heating and cooling industry has seen a revolution over the past decade. Heating and cooling once defined the industry, but today, many contractors, builders and homeowners need to consider a variety of air quality factors when planning and installing new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In fact, the old "heating and cooling" school of thought has largely ceased to exist - replaced by the "indoor air quality" philosophy that embraces all aspects of heating, cooling and overall comfort, health, energy efficiency and protection of home furnishings.
Properly Sized HVAC
allows your home to run efficiently while keeping costs to a minimum. Heating and cooling your home typically eats up close to 50% of your total energy bill, therefore it is very important to have an HVAC system that is going to run efficiently as possible.
Ventilation Control
according to the EPA, concentrations of toxic pollutants can be up to one hundred times greater inside a home than outside, even in our smoggiest cities. Poor ventilation in the home can lead to stuffy air and a build-up of unpleasant odors, irritating pollutants and potentially harmful gasses such as radon or carbon monoxide. At Christyn, our homes are built with an air exchange system that takes the stale air from inside out of the home and replaces it with fresh air from outside.
Low-VOC Paints & Finishes
Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. There are now low-VOC and zero-VOC paints on the market and we use them standard in all Christyn Homes.
HEPA Air Filtration Systems
are systems that target even the smallest particles and irratants in your home.Everything from mold, allergens, pet dander, dust, and other harmful pollutants are filtered out using these systems. HEPA filters essentially trap these harmful particles and remove them. You will also find similar systems in hospitals and on airplanes and are now becoming popular in new homes to ensure the best air quality.
Home owner education.
Because making sure your customers know how to operate and maintain their green home is key to its long-term performance! We don’t just build your home, we become a resource for life! |
