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Energy Efficiency Not Optional for Two Custom Builders
Energy efficiency and green building are not an option for the clients of two 2007 Energy Value Housing Award (EVHA)-winning custom home builders — Ferrier Custom Homes of Fort Worth, Texas and Fireside Homes Construction of Dexter, Mich. Both companies have garnered success in catering to custom home buyers who are seeking a home built to high energy and environmental standards.
The EVHA program is managed by the NAHB Research Center, and operated in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Ferrier’s “High Performance Homes” come in all styles and sizes. The modern styling of its award-winning “Heather’s Home” reflects the owner’s contemporary taste, yet many of the company’s other homes are traditional.
“The outside look is not the focus, but simply a reflection of the owner’s preference,” said company president Don Ferrier. “It’s the high performance of the home that people seek and we deliver. The vast majority of our clients come to us because we only build very energy-efficient, comfortable, green homes.”
The goal for the project was to build a high-performance home featuring sustainable materials and near-zero energy consumption that an average family could afford. Located in Weatherford, Texas, the just under 2,000-square-foot home was constructed at a cost of $115 per square foot.
With quality always a top concern for his company, “subs and suppliers who are properly aware of energy-efficient practices and procedures are the only ones we will consider using on our projects,” Ferrier said.
 Early on in its history, Fireside Home Construction decided to make energy efficiency a cornerstone of its business, with the mission of building “for customers who seek high-quality, energy-efficient and sustainable housing that incorporates green building principles."
Over the years, the company has refined its practices according to the latest recommendations by building scientists. During the various phases of construction, the builder meets with the client at the construction site to review the energy and environmental features of the home. According to company owner Robert Burnside, “Once the customers see and understand these practices, they become one of our greatest sales tools.”
Fireside’s award-winning 3,453-square-foot home was built in Ann Arbor, Mich. for $198 per square foot.
Burnside said that his company emphasizes consistency in design and execution and uses the same tradespeople, who know Fireside’s system and understand its expectations.
The EVHA program is managed by the NAHB Research Center, and operated in partnership with NAHB and the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
To learn more about the EVHA program and the 2007 winners, click here.
Applications for the 2008 EVHA are officially closed. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando in February.
For more information, e-mail Kimberly Warren at the Research Center, or call her at 800-638-8556.
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