American West is joining forces with Nevada Energy to increase energy efficiency in our communities through the Energy Plus New Homes Program. The program certifies homes with energy-efficiency standards that exceed both state building codes and the well-known Energy Star program.
“American West is committed to building quality homes that our buyers are proud to own. Our homes will be certified Energy Plus,” said American West President Larry Canarelli. “It’s responsible building and American West is proud to participate.”
So how does the Energy Plus New Homes Program beat Energy Star guidelines? New homes are rated on the EnergySmart scale developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The scale is based on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index that evaluates a home’s energy consumption. While Energy Star homes must meet a score of 85 on the scale, Energy Plus homes are certified at 70. In this case, the lower the score, the higher the efficiency.
Energy Plus Homes are approximately 30% more energy efficient than code-built homes. More efficient homes save you money and reduce your energy carbon footprint.
All of American West’s energy-efficient features are included in our homes. These features include: Carrier® 14-SEER natural gas heat and electric central air-conditioning with Puron®, the environmentally sound refrigerant; R13 insulation in exterior walls and R30 in ceilings; energy-efficient radiant-heat barrier roof sheathing; PROInstaller E2S Complete Weatherproofing System; fully-insulated, fiberglass, front-entry door; vinyl-framed, dual-paned, Low-E windows and sliding glass doors; 50-gallon, quick-recovery, natural-gas water heater; and water-conserving Moen faucets and showerheads.
“It’s an impressive list of energy-conserving products. These products are in addition to the building practices and products we already utilize to meet Energy Star standards and they come at no extra cost to the homebuyer,” said Canarelli. “Our homes are twice as energy efficient as a home that only qualifies as Energy Star.”