With construction of the first student-built home set to begin in August of 2014, the Columbia Basin Student Homebuilders Program has been cooperating with the Energy Trust of Oregon to ensure the new residential development incorporates the latest in energy efficient technologies.
Referred to as an energy performance score (EPS), Energy Trust rates the efficiency of a new home, measuring it against similar-sized homes in Oregon. With the EPS program, the lower the score, the more efficient a home is. According to Energy Trust of Oregon, qualifying EPS homes offer superior efficiency, comfort, and durability, which saves homeowners hundreds of dollars a year in utility costs, over a comparable home built only to local building code standards.
“Energy Trust of Oregon has gone out of its way to assist us on this project,” said Wade Smith, Hermiston School District deputy superintendent. “Not only will our student-built homes feature state-of-the-art amenities and efficiencies benefiting our future owners, our students are learning first-hand the technologies that will set the standards for new home construction in the future.”
According to the school district, as students work with architect Gail Sargent in the design phase, measures to incorporate the above-code standards will be considered to ensure EPS criteria are met for the future homeowner. Such above-code measures include enhanced insulation; energy efficient windows; sealed ductwork; energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems; efficient lighting and appliance systems; envelope tightness measures; and the consideration of solar resources.
A third-party verifier will analyze the home’s features and construction techniques before, during, and after the construction process, and will test performance factors such as air leakage and duct tightness. The process will then provide the future homeowner with an estimated monthly and annual energy cost report, an overall energy score, and the savings realized had the home been built only to today’s codes and standards.
“These homes will join a very limited number of homes in our region built to these standards,” said Smith. “We are delighted with Energy Trust’s support and expertise, as well as the willingness from our local contractors who have stepped up to assist us in this process.”
