Energy Plus

Efficiency and Comfort

Cates Building ENERGY PLUS Qualified homes are designed and built to provide greater energy efficiency and comfort. What does that mean?

Lowered cost of ownership and energy bills. The EPA's ENERGY PLUS standards require the home to be at least 15% more efficient than typical code built homes ( 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.

Independent Testing

All Cates Building homes are independently tested and rated with the HERS Index (Home Energy Rating System). Each home will produce a "Home Performance Label" to show each homeowner their energy and money savings.*

Working closely with Residential Energy Service Network (RESNET®), the energy rater analyzes each homes' construction plans and performs on site inspections, using energy efficiency software.

Each one-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption. 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.

*Performance label example of a rated energy-efficient home. Actual energy savings and energy use is dependent upon occupant(s).

Features of an Energy Plus Home

How You Benefit

Greater Comfort

ENERGY PLUS standards improve overall comfort through minimizing uneven temperatures, more effectively distributing air and better regulating temperature and humidity variations.

Environmentally Responsible

ENERGY PLUS homes are designed to not only be more energy efficient, but also help reduce your home’s carbon footprint from the use of green building practices, energy-efficient appliances and water conservation systems.

Cost Savings

Feel even more secure in knowing that you'll save money on your utilities each month. Because our homes are on average 15% to 30% more efficient than typically built homes, homeowners save more money on energy bills.

Energy Plus Checklist Requirements

Energy

All insulation that is installed is rated to a minimum RESNET-defined grade II or better.
Insulation installed makes 6 points of contact when installed vertically on exterior walls and also horizontally through the floor cavities.
All conditioned to unconditioned space has blocking installed and is sealed off completely.
All bottom plates are caulked and properly sealed to the respective subfloor, slab, or foundation wall.
All exterior doors have proper weather-stripping installed and all windows/exterior doors are air sealed tight to the framing members.
Duck leakage testing requires a maximum of 6% total leakage.
Whole house leakage testing requires a 5 ACH50 or less.
Appliances such as dishwasher and refrigerators are energy star certified.
All of our homes include a minimum of 80% efficient lighting (energy star fixtures, CFL or LED light bulbs)
Programable thermostats included in all homes (1st and 2nd floor)
Low-E window requirments:
- a. Climate zone 1-4: U-factor 0.35 / SHGC 0.30
- b. Climate zone 5+: U-factor .035 / SHGC any
All HVAC ducts installed in unconditioned spaces require a minimum of a R-8 insulation.
Manual J Load calculation completed and verified

Indoor Air Quality

Foundations:
- a. All grade around foundations is required to meet code.
- b. Perimeter drain installed that exits to daylight on crawlspace foundations
- c. All crawl spaces include a minimum 6 mil poly vapor barrier that is to be installed with 100% coverage. (lapped 6”-12”)
- d. Slab foundations include a minimum 6 mil poly vapor barrier that is to be installed with 100% coverage. (lapped 6”-12”)
All bathrooms that include a tub and/or a shower have an exhaust fan installed that meets a minimum measure of 50 CFM flow rate.
All solid fuel burning appliances are required to have a total sealed door with gaskets. Gas fireplaces are required to be direct vented with a fixed or gasket door. Non-vented fireplaces or vent free fireplaces are not permitted.
Carbon Monoxide detectors are installed on every floor of the home.

Water Efficiency

All faucets installed are labeled as EPA WaterSense
Moisture or rain sensors are installed with any onsite irrigation systems.