Summit County Citizens Voice

From L to R, residential energy expert Matt Wright, builder Dan McCrerey, architect Matt Stais, Frisco planner Jocelyn Mills and Peak One developer David O'Neil take a closeup look at some the insulation that will help the home qualify for an Energy Star rating.

Good insulation, tight construction key to meeting sustainability goals

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Thanks to the close partnership between developers of the Frisco Peak One Neighborhood and the High Country Conservation Center, it looks like the new homes sprouting along Belford Street won’t have any problems meeting the high environmental standards of the town or the EPA’s Energy Star program.

The neighborhood’s sustainable design elements also fit into the town’s Clean Tracks program, aimed at making Frisco a model community for sustainability.

Matt Wright, the residential energy specialist for the center, recently tested one of the new homes under construction in the local’s neighborhood, and found that it far exceeds the Energy Star requirements under the environmental Home Energy Rating. Under the Energy Star program, new homes are measured against a baseline standard. To qualify, the homes have to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code. They typically include other features that make them between 20 and 30 percent more energy efficient than standard homes.

“It’s a quantifiable measure of energy use, like a miles-per-gallon rating for a home,” Wright said, after announcing that the Peak One home he tested scored a 57 on the energy rating system.

With the baseline score of a standard home set at 100, that 57 score represents a 43 percent energy savings over the reference home — good for the homeowners, who will see lower energy bills, and good for the environment, resulting in less air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.  A net-zero energy home would have a score of zero.

Wright’s test of the Peak One home was based on a blower test that sucks air of the house, enabling inspectors to find leaky spots in joints or near pipes, plumbing fixtures or electrical boxes. Conducted before the house is complete, the test allows builders to go back and add more insulation or take other measures to improve energy efficiency even more.

It may not be as sexy as a solar panel, but improving the basic energy efficiency of homes is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing overall energy usage.

Builder Dan McCrerey and neighborhood developer David O’Neil said they were pleased with the results, especially since they are trying to balance environmental performance with affordability. Most of the homes in the new development will be deed-restricted, which means they have to meet a certain price point. McCrerey said careful workmanship on the part of subcontractors is helping meet the energy efficiency goals.

Click here to learn more about the Peak One Neighborhood’s sustainability efforts.

Filed under: Environment, Summit County Colorado Tagged: | Energy conservation, Energy Star homes, EPA, Frisco Colorado news, Frisco Peak One neighborhood sustainability, Peak One neighborhood, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News