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Energy Efficiency Elevated


A home built by Capstone Homes is designed at an elevated level of energy efficiency. Our construction materials, design and features create a maximum level of efficiency that begins with an Energy Star® certification. Many of our new home communities are built to the highest designation, a Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH), following a stringent program with the U.S. Department of Energy.


Our homes are certified by Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) providers to ensure they meet all certification guidelines and receive a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score. A standard built, new home is the reference with a score of 100; existing resale homes score much higher. The lower the HERS Index Score, the more energy efficient the home. Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption resulting in energy cost savings each month. Our Energy Star certified homes typically score in the 60s with our Zero Energy Ready homes scoring in the 50s resulting in a home that is 40%-50% more efficient than a standard new home. Capstone Homes is committed to the Energy Star and ZERH certifications as well as being WaterSense and Indoor airPLUS program partners. 

 

Our homes earn the Energy Star certification with these Capstone Homes standard features:

Energy Star Certified Appliances

Energy Star certified appliances are built to the highest standards of quality and efficiency, saving up to 50% more energy than standard appliances. Energy Star certified appliances utilize the most modern technology to reduce pollutants, save energy, and keep energy costs down without sacrificing quality, luxury and convenience.

Programmable Thermostats

A programmable thermostat reduces energy use by adjusting the temperature according to a series of custom programmed settings that take effect at different times of the day. By programming your thermostat to your home schedule and lifestyle, you can save up to 30% in heating and cooling energy usage.

Water Efficient Fixtures

Capstone Homes is committed to building energy efficient homes that conserve our water resources. We select faucets, toilets, and shower heads with the WaterSense label, an EPA program that certifies high quality fixtures that use at least 20% less water than standard fixtures. This ensures superior performance while saving on energy.

Low E2 or E3 Windows

Low-E coatings on windows reduce energy loss by 30-50% compared to regular windows. Low-E coatings, which are microscopically thin materials bonded to the surface of the window glass, are so thin they have no effect on clarity or visibility yet prevent heat and ultra-violet (UV) rays from passing through the glass.

R21 Cellulose Insulation

Our standard insulation of R21 blown cellulose is far more superior than loosely fitted typical batt insulation found in other homes. Blown cellulose insulation leaves no holes or gaps, filling in around all outlets, pipes and wires. Cellulose also has the benefit of being fire, mold, insect and rodent deterrent.

Insulated Slab

Improving the energy efficiency of a home starts at the foundation. Sixty percent of heat loss from the foundation occurs in the top eight inches of an uninsulated stem wall/slab edge. Insulating these eight inches results in a tremendous amount of energy savings. A properly insulated slab is estimated to save at least $200 a year in energy costs in addition to dramatically increasing comfort in the living space.

Jump Ducts

The standard practice for homes with central returns is to undercut doors to allow for air flow, but undercutting alone doesn’t provide enough room for air to move. The best practice is to use transfer grilles or jump ducts so air can easily reach the central air return and make every room in your home consistently comfortable. And, no more slamming doors when air is pulled through your home.

95+ Efficient Furnace

A properly insulated home is only as good as the furnace that heats or cools it. We review the finest and most innovative furnaces on the market that are 95+ efficient or better to ensure your home benefits from the latest technology, top performance and lasting durability backed by great warranties with excellent service and support.

Third Party Inspections

Having our homes inspected by a third party ensures we are succeeding every step of the way in building the best energy efficient home and earning all certifications. The RESNET provider considers all aspects of the home construction and materials using on-site testing as well as an examination of the blueprints of the home.

Zero Energy Ready Homes


Capstone Homes is proud to offer the highest rated energy efficient homes available in today’s market – new homes with the prestigious Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) designation. Only one percent of builders in the country are meeting these extraordinary levels of excellence in energy efficiency and performance. These homes are built for the future by committing to the U.S. Department of Energy’s rigorous program requirements that ensure outstanding levels of energy savings, comfort, health and durability. Zero Energy Ready Homes are significantly more efficient than other new homes and far exceed any resale home on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index scale, verified by a Residential Energy Service Network (RESNET) third-party provider. For more information on this program, visit the Department of Energy’s ZERO page here. We are pleased to be honored with U.S. Housing Innovation Awards for our Zero Energy Ready Homes.

 

A Zero Energy Ready Home starts with being Energy Star® certified and is enhanced with these advancements:

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Foam Insulation

Foam is a powerful insulator, expanding to fill the tiny spaces that other insulation misses. This air-tight seal not only keeps energy in, but also blocks out water and moisture, significantly reducing the chance of mold and leaks. Foam is sprayed in the exterior walls and also the cathedralized ceiling which represents the entire home envelope, creating an insulated home from floor to roof.

Fresh Air Exchange

Fresh air exchanges, also known as energy recovery ventilators (ERV), quietly filter fresh air into your home while balancing optimum humidity. Fresh, HEPA filtered, conditioned air is exchanged in your home every four hours whether your furnace is on or not, resulting in clean oxygenated air for your family to thrive.

Optional AeroBarrier

Capstone Homes proudly offers AeroBarrier, a revolutionary sealant technology that fills the smallest of gaps and provides a superior seal to your home. This innovative technique is applied during construction (after framing and insulation) by pressurizing the space, allowing the atomized spray to seek and block any air leaks. The process gives you a truly air-tight, energy efficient home.

Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters use up to 50% less energy than large standard water heaters that must work continually to hold gallons of hot water. A tankless water heater supplies your home with instant, continuous hot water. This compact, space saving unit ensures you have limitless hot water on demand throughout your home while saving money and energy.

Low Impact Building

Every Zero Energy Ready home is built from the ground up with our environment and your health in mind. Using low VOC paints, adhesives and other materials reduces the amount of harmful toxins emitted in the building process and in your completed home. We are proud to build to the EPA's elevated standards of Indoor airPLUS and to participate as a program partner.

Solar Panel Ready

Zero Energy Ready Homes are built to be the pinnacle of energy efficiency in new home construction both now and in the future. Most importantly, these homes are designed and wired for your future addition of solar panels. The homes are so efficient, the number of solar panels required is much less than a standard home. The addition of solar panels can offset all or nearly all of your energy costs, resulting in a net-zero energy home.

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