New Home Scores Points for High Energy Efficiency

FRANCONIA, NH – April 30, 2014 –Building Alternatives of Franconia just recently handed over the keys to a brand new, highly energy-efficient home built in Franconia. President Bob Tortorice said that this home received the best energy score since building his own home eight years ago.

For each home modeled in REM/RATEtm software an energy rating known as a HERS index is produced. This HERS index will typically be a number between 0-100 and represents the energy usage as compared to a home of similar size and shape built to minimum New Hampshire energy code. For example, a home with a HERS index of 100 means that the home uses the same amount of energy (100 percent) as does a home constructed to minimum energy code; a home with a HERS index of 80 uses only 80 percent of the energy consumed by the home built to the New Hampshire energy code. Therefore, a lower HERS index represents a better home energy performance. Most ENERGY STAR buildings score a HERS index of 60-80. The HERS index produced by Buildings Alternatives for this home was a 39, which means that even in extreme cold weather the homeowners can potentially reduce their heating and cooling needs by 61 percent, says Tortorice. Tortorice's own home built on Wallace Hill eight years ago scored a HERS index of 35.

The design and selection of systems and materials: passive solar design, heat and air conditioning by Geothermal, insulated basement walls through a combination of ICF forms and closed-cell foam for the 2x6 walls helped this new home achieve its high energy performance. Equally important was the workmanship and devotion of the tradesmen involved. The modular home was completed by the master carpentry crew of Jon Meachen of Sugar Hill. Although the house construction faced its fair share of problems, including weather, factory issues and the demise of the original carpentry crew, the perseverance and dedication of all the tradesmen, especially Meachen's crew, resulted in a home that will be entered into the "Home Builders Association, Most Energy Efficient Home Contest" next June for a home built in 2013. Tortorice would like nothing better than to present the owner with a plaque to hang alongside the home's Energy Star V3 certificate proclaiming this as a 5 STAR PLUS confirmed home.

Tortorice has been a HERS rater himself, testing homes and training other New Hampshire builders, helping them to become certified Energy Star Builders. This is the 15th Energy Star home built by Building Alternatives. Tortorice has dedicated his company to build 100 percent Energy Star Homes, through an EPA program.

Tortorice notes that homeowners can avail themselves of current technology to improve energy efficiency, no matter the age of the home. Energy Savings of 25-60 percent have been achieved throughout northern New Hampshire.

About Building Alternatives: Building Alternatives is a certified Energy Star Green builder utilizing all forms of energy savings construction technologies. For more information, please use the contact information and link provided below.