We are proud to offer new homes that have earned the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are substantially more energy efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Our ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are independently verified by a third-party Home Energy Rater to ensure they meet ENERGY STAR energy efficiency guidelines. These homes are better for the environment and better for you.
Benefits of Owning one of our Energy Star qualified new homes include:
A Label Backed by the Government
All ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are certified to meet EPA's strict guidelines for energy efficiency. This exemplary performance is verified by an independent third party.
Lower Utility Costs
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified new homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and hot water heating. Homeowners can expect to save about $200–$400 annually on their utility bills.
More Comfortable/Quieter Homes
The energy-efficient features of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes keep out excessive heat, cold, and noise, and ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms-making these homes more comfortable to live in.
HELPING TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE
By purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified new home, you are joining millions of consumers who have changed to ENERGY STAR, helping our nation reduce our energy needs and building a cleaner environment for the future. Features of our ENERGY STAR qualified new homes include:
- Effective Insulation — Properly installed insulation that meets or exceeds national code requirements helps achieve even temperatures throughout the house while using less energy. The result is lower utility costs and a quieter, more comfortable home.
- High-Performance Windows — Advanced window coatings help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. They also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furniture.
- Tight Construction and Tight Ducts — Attention to detail by sealing all holes, cracks, and seams in ducts and construction assemblies helps eliminate drafts, moisture, dust, pests, and pollen. This improves comfort and the quality of indoor air, while lowering maintenance costs.
- Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment — More efficient and properly sized heating and cooling systems use less energy, which reduces utility bills. These systems also turn on and off less frequently, removing more humidity and providing better comfort.
Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at http://www.energystar.gov
The 208 Butternut Project
The Butternut Project, Pike County’s 1st Certified Gold Green Home, is innovative in its form, materials and function. This contemporary home is architecturally compatible with other saltbox style homes and impressive in its sustainability. As the builder, Ed Nikles Custom Builder, Inc. has meticulously selected and constructed optimal green features for this Green Country Home. At 208 Butternut Road, we guarantee that you’ll enjoy High Performance in three major areas: Energy Efficiency/ Comfort, Indoor Air Quality/Health, and Sustainability/Stewardship. This “Green” sheet will walk you through the High Performance highlights that make this Custom-built home “green” and that make it a smart home and sustainable environment for you. We hope that the Butternut Project & our other Ed Nikles Custom Builder, Inc. Green Country Homes will encourage Pike County residents to build to the same standards of excellence.
1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Ed Nikles Custom Builder, Inc. Green Country Homes are designed to maximize thermal and human comfort while also achieving the lowest possible utility bills within a given budget. This home has been independently evaluated to use approx. 52% less energy than a standard 2006 IRC code built home. It also achieved a 5 Star Plus Rating for Energy Star with a HERS Rating of 48, which was the “highest rated conventionally insulated home” ever tested by the HERS Rater. We’ve accomplished this through state of the art technology and sound design.
- The home’s rear southeast exposure, window and roof overhangs are designed to maximize the benefits of summer shading, winter solar heat gain, and ample natural daylight.
- Almost all ductwork is located inside the thermal envelope, so any air leakage is into the conditioned space of the house. Most homes have their ductwork in uninsulated basements or super hot (or cold) attics.
- 2” Thick R-8 insulated ducts have been sealed at all seams & joints to minimize air leakage.
- York 95.5% efficient LP gas furnace with combustion air brought from outside and power vented exhaust, whereas many furnaces are only 80% efficient or less.
- An evaporator coil for future air conditioning has already been installed within the ductwork.
- Solid vinyl Interstate Fuel Saver windows & patio doors with triple pane (or equivalent) glazing with Krypton gas & screens (U-Valve .19, R-5.26), which are 40% more efficient than code requires.
- Basement walls insulated with foil faced 1½” Thermax (R-10.8) Foam, Formaldehyde Free fiberglass R-49 in flat ceilings, R-38 CATT in cathedral ceilings & R-21, in exterior walls.
- All joints & penetrations in walls foam caulked & sealed.
- Skuttle Tight R-40 EPS gasketed attic entry system.
- Rinnai Tankless Water Heater only heats water on-demand, eliminating standing loss from conventional tank units and providing homeowners with virtually unlimited hot water.
- Energy Star Lighting with compact fluorescent pin & screw-in bulbs for maximum energy efficiency. These bulbs use 1/3 the energy to produce the same light as an incandescent bulb, last many years longer and don’t produce excess heat loads which adds to A/C costs.
- Energy Star Ceiling Fans in Great Room & Loft to circulate the air.
- Fully glued gypsum board on walls & ceilings to prevent air from circulating between cavities.
- Exterior sill plates & sole plates fully caulked & sealed to limit outside air intrusion.
The quality of indoor air is stressed by today’s increasing number of synthetic carpets, pesticides, plastics, adhesives, sealants and finishes. These contaminants can, in turn, be a contributor to health problems such as asthma and allergies. In fact, the EPA has named indoor air pollution as one of the top 5 risks to public health. At Ed Nikles Custom Builder, Inc., our Green Country Home motto is Build Tight and Ventilate Right. If you have sensitivities to chemicals, dust, pollen or other airborne contaminants, you’ll benefit from this home’s design and will enjoy healthier indoor air because:
- Ventilation fans in both bathrooms with an automatic timer switch on 2nd floor bath fan to provide exhaust for humid bath air & “sick” air from inside the home.
- Microwave/Hood over LP range ventilates cooking fumes to the outside through the boxed kitchen soffits.
- “Passive” Radon Venting System from sub-slab gravel through roof ventilates soil gases.
- Heat-N-Glo direct vent LP gas log fireplace with outside air intake.
- Automatic Humidifier on furnace to regulate humidity level of home during the heating season.
- Furnace filter to clean airborne irritants.
- Wall-To-Wall Low VOC Green label carpet with 90% recycled content foam rubber re-bond padding.
- HAAS Lancaster Oak kitchen cabinets with no VOC finish & dove tailed drawers.
- Dulux Lifemaster No VOC paint on walls & ceilings.
- Johns Mansville formaldehyde free fiberglass insulation eliminates “off gasing” from typical fiberglass insulation.
The issues of resource depletion, longevity and life cycle, and using environmentally preferred materials and products are important to a green built home. Of particular importance to residents in Pike County is water usage. Residential homes and their thirsty landscapes take a huge toll on our available water sources. Here is what we’ve done to address those issues in this home:
- The lot chosen was an “infill” lot in an established multi-generational community, so no new lot was created.
- All disturbed areas were hay & seeded to lessen soil erosion & sedimentation.
- An alternative septic, with Aerobic Tank & controls, was installed to provide better waste treatment prior to ground water recharge.
- Our team of trade contractors properly disposed of construction debris in our onsite dumpster & recycled where possible.
- 1.6 Gallon flush toilets save thousands of gallons of water over the course of a year vs. conventional 3.5 gallon toilets in older homes.
- Low volume Delta kitchen & bath faucets reduce water consumption.
- Certainteed Mainstreet vinyl siding with Cedar Impressions vinyl shakes in front gable over Green Guard house wrap with taped joints offers maximum durability and easy maintenance.
- Aluminum gutters & leaders with downspouts & splash blocks extending a minimum of 5Ft. from house to keep the basement dry.
- Rain collector barrel with hose spigot on front gutters for watering plants & filling watering can.
- Basement & outdoor area underneath sundeck provide room to be used for recycling storage areas until you can take them to the nearby recycling center.
