Builder - February 2009 - (Page 54) PERFORMANCEBASED BLUEPRINT for SUCCESS Since 2001, the Environments For Living program has assisted builders in improving energy and environmental performance, comfort, and durability of their homes. The turnkey, prescriptive program provides builders with a complete solution for high-performance building, including plan review, field-testing, training, certification, and powerful marketing tools. Because the Environments For Living program is performance and not product-based, any product, system, or strategy may be used as long as it meets Environments For Living program requirements, allowing builders maximum flexibility. “What I really like about [the program] is the systematic approach — not just looking at a product or product types in isolation — but in relationship to all of the other elements of the house,” says green building expert Ron Jones. “It’s critical to making sure that you don’t create a set of new problems to replace the ones you’re solving. The fact that the Environments For Living program is a response to these [green building] issues that come from the manufacturing sector is unique.” The basic specifications of the original Environments For Living program focus on the performance requirements in the following areas: Framing Thermal envelope Air sealing Pre- and post-drywall practices Mechanicals Ducts Ventilation Pressure balancing Carbon monoxide detection Moisture management Testing protocol and frequency The Environments For Living program offers two primary levels of energy performance: Gold (15 percent more efficient than IECC), and Platinum (30 percent more efficient than IECC). The program is intended to be synergistic with other performancebased programs. Gold energy-level homes also qualify as ENERGY STAR® homes, and Platinum homes may qualify for an innovative program of the U.S. Department of Energy called the Builders Challenge. The Builders Challenge program seeks to highlight homes in the market that meet or exceed a 70 on the new EnergySmart Home Scale, a consumer-focused rating scale based on the Home Energy Rating System. Participation in the program may allow the builders to qualify for the $2,000 Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency. Says Christine Barbour with Newport Partners LLC, who manages the Builders Challenge initiative: “The partnership has been created to allow builders who meet the Platinum level of the Environments For Living
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