Builder - February 2009 - (Page 55) PUTTING THE “G” IN GREEN: Homeowner Limited Guarantees* In addition to providing guidance and tools to builders on how to achieve high-performance homes, the Environments For Living program and the Environments For Living Certified Green program provide limited guarantees on comfort and energy used for heating and cooling. This allows builders to send the message to prospective buyers that the home will perform to the expectations of the program — a unique benefit that no other national green building program offers. Dr. Lstiburek is quick to point out that at all levels the Environments For Living program “delivers because it has a guarantee, and the guarantee is coupled to measurable, verifiable metrics. You can’t run, you can’t hide. It either meets it or it doesn’t. As simple as that sounds, that’s very special about this program.” * See guarantee for complete details and limitations. The comfort guarantee ensures the original homeowner that the temperature in the home (as measured at the location of the thermostat) will not vary by more than three degrees from the temperature at the center of any room within that thermostat zone. If the comfort guarantee is not satisfied, Masco Home Services will assist the builder in identifying and resolving the comfort issues. The heating and cooling guarantee promises that the energy used to heat and cool the home will not exceed the “guaranteed usage” for the specific home. If the actual usage exceeds the guaranteed usage, Masco Home Services will reimburse the homeowner 100 percent of the cost difference between actual and guaranteed usage. “With the Environments For Living program, the building is a lot more durable and comfortable, meaning a huge reduction in warranty callbacks. Sure, you save energy, but by the way, you’re dramatically reducing your own risk.” –DR. JOSEPH L. LSTIBUREK program to easily take advantage of the added benefits of participation in the Builders Challenge.” Beyond Gold and Platinum levels, the flagship Environments For Living Certified Green program assists builders in building homes that, at a minimum, reduce energy use by 20 percent as compared with the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and reduce internal water usage by 20 percent and reduce carbon emissions by at least 20 percent as compared to a conventionally built home. With the benefits of participating in the Environments For Living program come serious responsibilities on the part of the builder to ensure that homes meet the requirements of the program and expectations of homeowners. When builders sign on to build Environments For Living homes, they commit to ensure that the homes are designed and constructed to meet the program requirements, and ensure that all subcontractors understand and meet their specific responsibilities. These requirements help realize the benefits that all builders are aiming toward: fewer call backs, less risk, and higher customer satisfaction. According to Dr. Lstiburek, a key benefit of participating in the Environments For Living program is reducing risk associated with problems that might otherwise arise in a home constructed to conventional building codes. “At the end of the day,” says Lstiburek, “not only do you get an energyefficient building, but you get other collateral benefits. The building is a lot more durable and comfortable, meaning a huge reduction in warranty callbacks. Sure, you save energy, but by the way, you’re dramatically reducing your own risk.”
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