+ House™ is now partnered with the Energy Star and Indoor airPLUS.  Our goal is to have all of our houses qualify and get certified in these programs.  Here is some basic information on what it takes to get a new house certified in both of these and what it does for the owners and occupants.

About Energy Star Homes

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

And with homebuyers increasingly interested in green building, energy efficiency is the place to start. That’s because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new home is energy efficient is to look for the blue ENERGY STAR mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. Learn more about how Green Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue (130KB).

Any home three stories or less can earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has been verified to meet EPA’s guidelines, including: single family, attached, and low-rise multi-family homes; manufactured homes; systems-built homes (e.g., SIP, ICF, or modular construction); log homes, concrete homes; and even existing retrofitted homes.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of ‘tried-and-true’ energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution:

1. Effective Insulation

Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort. Learn more about Properly Installed Insulation (149KB).

2. High-Performance Windows

Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings. Learn more about Qualified Windows (212KB).

3. Tight Construction and Ducts

Sealing holes and cracks in the home’s “envelope” and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance. Learn more about Efficient Duct Systems (163KB).

4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won’t have to work so hard to heat and cool the home. Learn more about:

• Qualified Heating Equipment (142KB)
• Qualified Cooling Equipment (178KB)
• Mechanical Ventilation (140KB)

5. Efficient Products

ENERGY STAR qualified homes may also be equipped with ENERGY STAR qualified products — lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified products:

• Qualified Appliances (153KB)
• Qualified Lighting (170KB)
• Advanced Lighting Package (91KB)
• High Efficiency Water Heaters (177KB)

6. Third-Party Verification

With the help of independent Home Energy Raters, ENERGY STAR builder partners choose the most appropriate energy-saving features for their homes. Additionally, raters conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, air tightness, and duct sealing details. Learn more about Independent Inspection and Testing (182KB).

Click here to take a tour and see what an Energy Star is all about.

About Indoor airPLUS

Improved Indoor Air Quality

More than 30 additional design and construction features are included in Indoor airPLUS homes to help protect you against moisture and mold, pests, combustion gases, radon, and other airborne pollutants in your home.

Minimize Pollutants

Moisture and pest control, among other things, can help protect your family by eliminating common allergens from entering the home, such as mold and pest residue. Your builder will provide a first line defense against pests like cockroaches and rodents, by fully sealing, caulking, or screening where pests enter your home.

Improve Comfort

Your Indoor airPLUS home can provide a more comfortable living environment because it includes properly engineered HVAC system sizing, improved duct and equipment installation, improved filtration, and whole-house and spot ventilation to dilute and remove indoor pollutants.

Protect Against Combustion Pollutants

The home provides protection from potential exposure to combustion pollutants by the installation of heating equipment that cannot spill combustion gases inside the home and preventing pollutants in the garage from entering your house. Also, carbon monoxide alarms are in all sleeping areas.

Home Maintenance

After purchasing a home with the EPA Indoor airPLUS, you’ll receive a manual explaining your home’s indoor air quality features and how to operate your home to continue minimizing the risk of indoor air quality problems. In addition, your home will have a label as proof that it was built to the high indoor air quality specifications if you resell the home.

Energy Efficient

All Indoor airPLUS homes must first earn the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating thereby reducing your contribution to climate change.

Click here to download the construction specifications and see what is involved to qualify as an Indoor airPLUS home.

As the market for new green products expands the use of “Smart” Thermostat products will grow with it.  Though we don’t have a specific partner for “Smart” Thermostats, the + House™ will have some form of energy and utility tracking.  This will allow you to see how much energy you are using and what areas you can reduce your consumption of energy.  This will allow the + House to be very efficient on how energy is used and in the end help you save money and help reduce your carbon footprint!

Check out this video from SmartPlanet.com on what new products are being developed to help make homes more efficient and conscious of energy usage:

Check out this video from Realtor®TV talking about Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design.  Whether you are building a + House ™ or you want to update your current house, there are many ways you can be “Eco-Friendly”.  Being able to customize and upgrade your Kitchen on a + House allows you to maximize your energy use.  From Energy Star appliances to low flow plumbing fixtures, there are plenty of options to put less of a burden on mother nature and put money back in your pocket.  Give us a call today to find out how “Eco-Friendly” your kitchen could be in a + House 800-603-5251 Ext. 248.

The + House ™ is a 3 Star Green Permitted Chicago Home.  Here’s the City of Chicago Green Permit Program brochure to give you an idea of what a 3 Star Green Permitted Home in Chicago would look like.  The goal of the + House is to use the latest technology and building systems to make your home as “green” as possible and leave the smallest possible footprint on Chicago’s environment.  For more information on the 3 Star Designation please call 800-603-5211 Ext. 248.

As Chicago becomes a greener city, we feel the + House ™ is a great addition to our city and its goal of becoming a “green” city.  Chicago’s Green Building Agenda is a great source of information and guideline to follow in making Chicago a “green” city.  Not only will the + House ™ be “green”, but it will also be “healthy” for it’s residence.  Over the past 100 years building has evolved and become more efficient and streamlined, but it has come at a cost.  With the exception of Lead based paint, building methods have been slow to change and become more healthy for the people that will be residing in new homes.  The + House ™ addresses the “green” aspect of building and construction, but also brings awareness to what and how a “healthy” home should be built.

Here are some of the ways the + House ™ will be “green”, but also “healthy”:

+ House ™ Improves Indoor Air Quality

Since our construction materials are never exposed to rain, moisture, or humidity we are bale to reduce your exposure to mold and other potential problems.  With the use of Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints & sealants we limit the amount of carbon-containing chemical compounds that evaporate into the atmosphere – healthier in you home, and better for the ozone.  Our insulation is formaldehyde-free reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals.

+ House ™ Reduces Its Impact On The Environment

Our precise construction methods significantly reduce the amount of waste from building (approx. 2% as compared to 30-40% on a “stick-built home”), and our on-site debris is recycled locally in special “LEED” certified dumpsters; our insulation is also made from 25% recycled products.  50% or more of the home is built off-site reducing road trips – this decreases fuel consumption, and air pollution.  By shortening the construction time and having better than 50% of the work done off-site, we are able to reduce the noise impact on the neighborhood and minimize the carbon footprint.

+ House ™ Is More Energy Efficient

We provide improved energy efficiency through precision off-site construction methods that reduce air infiltration due to enhanced sealing techniques – giving you a tighter building envelope.  Our homes have increased insulation packages, high performance windos & doors, hybrid HVAC with programmable thermostats – all of these contribute to a more efficient home – and reduce your utility bills.  ENERY STAR standards provide homes that are typically 30-50% more efficient than standard homes.  All of our homes will be ENERGY STAR certified and meet the NAMB (National Association of Home Builder’s) “Green Building Program” standards.

Call 800-603-5211 Ext. 248 to learn more about the + House ™, its “green” features and “healthy” features.  There are also numerous upgrades to the + House ™ that can make your home even more “green” and “healthy.”

Check out the facade of the + House ™.  This is not the final facade, but this should help give everyone an idea of where the look is going for the + House ™.  For more information on the + House ™ give us a call today 800-603-5211 Ext. 248.

Team Buoscio and Better Living Realty, Inc are proud to introduce + Two ™.  + Two ™ is the 2 unit version of + House ™.  For more information on this Healthy, Green and Affordable 2 unit please call 800-603-5211 Ext. 248.  We also have a new page on our site, simply click + Two ™ Here and you can see the floor plans and learn a little more about the building.