Profile of a Top One Percent Builder

Since 2013 the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Housing Innovation Awards has recognized the top builders of zero energy ready homes. Housing Innovation award winners represent the top one percent of builders across the country who meet the most rigorous specifications for high-performance homes. Among this...

Addison Homes, a green builder in Greenville, South Carolina, certainly didn’t set out to cause trade partners to grumble, murmur or gripe. They set out to build DOE certified Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) to provide their customers with the energy savings, comfort and indoor air quality such homes deliver. To do that, Addison Homes had to get...

In the 1963 film “The Great Escape”, we were rooting for McQueen, Bronson, Attenborough and crew to safely escape the Nazi prison camp. When it comes to air fleeing our homes, our hope is exactly the opposite. Codes and customers are pushing for more energy efficient homes, and that means tighter envelopes. Tighter homes have significant impacts...

Over the first half of 2016, The Insulation Institute conducted qualitative research[1] with builders exploring a few areas, including the changing dynamic between home builders and home buyers. The “Google Era” has changed the way homebuyers enter into the buying process and is reshaping their interactions with builders. They are researching...

For an insulation inspection during a building inspection, our handy guide – “25 Checkpoints for Inspecting Insulation Jobs” – covers all the bases, and then some. Intended to provide useful guidance on how to improve the quality of the installation of insulation products, the List has been created by our experts here at the Insulation Institute....

Yes. The answer is simple, so this could be the shortest blog ever. However, given the misinformation that is out there it is worth explaining why R-value is in fact a good measure of thermal performance and dispelling some common misconceptions about it.

When it comes to energy costs, we all know the big numbers lie in heating and cooling the house. A large portion of this excessive energy use is due to air leakage as well as too little – or improperly installed – insulation. A good thermal boundary, which includes insulation, windows and doors, not only reduces energy waste, but also greatly...

Whether you’re building new construction or working on a renovation, you’ve got to think about preparing for and preventing the impact of water on the structure of the home. Because without your expertise, homes can easily have a drinking problem -- and the water they absorb can be downright destructive.

KB Homes, a top 10 builder nationally, has firmly established itself as a leader in energy efficient building. In April of this year, it won its sixth consecutive Energy Star Partner of the Year Award. Additionally, in 2013, 2014 and 2015 it received Department of Energy Housing Innovation Awards for its Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) construction....

Net-Zero Energy vs. Zero Energy Ready Homes

Not all net-zero energy (NZE) homes are created equal, well, they aren’t all built the same that is. Also, slight differences in wording can mean different things. Did you know that there are net-zero energy homes and Department of Energy (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH). What’s the difference? DOE...