FAQ: Green Building

Does a Winmore Green Built Home cost more?

No. A Winmore Green Built Home actually costs less. The home owner will spend less on their home’s utility bill each month. They’ll spend less on repairs and less on maintenance. These savings offset increases in mortgage payments needed for the improved energy features and can result in a positive monthly cash flow.

Are all energy-efficient homes Green ENERGY STAR homes?

No. To ensure that your ENERGY STAR qualified home is truly energy-efficient, it is tested by an independent third-party home energy rater (Southern Energy Management). This testing ensures that your homes provide buyers with added confidence that the home will perform efficiently and have lower power bills year round.

How does a Winmore Green Built Home earn the ENERGY STAR label?

The ENERGY STAR label is earned only after the home’s energy efficiency is verified by an accredited home energy rater (Southern Energy Management).

Ratings involve the analysis of a home’s construction plans and at least two on-site inspections of the home. The plan review allows the home energy rater to attain technical information such as orientation, shading area, proposed SEER rating, insulation levels, etc. Meanwhile, the on-site inspection includes inspection of the air sealing, thermal bypasses, insulation plus a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are entered into a computer simulation program to generate the HERS score and the home’s estimated annual energy costs.

What other financial benefits do Winmore Green Built Homes have?

In addition to lower heating and cooling costs, Duke Electricity provides a lifetime discounted electric rate for homes that are ENERGY STAR Designated.