EEBA's High Performance Home Blog

Greenville, South Carolina – November 8, 2024 Addison Homes, a South Carolina home builder which specializes in building healthy, high-performance homes that emphasize resilience to natural disasters, increased comfort and durability, better indoor air quality, and ultra energy efficiency has received a Housing Innovation Grand award from the U. S. Department of Energy at the 2024 Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) High Performance Home Building Summit held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Grand awards are the highest award available in the DOE Housing Innovation program and are given in five different categories for buildings that have already reached award-winning status in the program. Addison Homes received the Grand award for its house the Westbrooke, built in Powdersville, SC, for the category of "Change Maker," an award "for the builder who demonstrates a successful strategy to transform the market (locally, regionally, or nationally) through innovative... read more

Today, builders hold a crucial role in meeting energy codes, earning tax credits, and providing a comfortable home filled with fresh, clean air. So, we want to help you understand the importance of using whole dwelling ventilation to optimize Indoor Air Quality for your current and future projects and how you can lower your HERS score while doing so. Ventilation 101 Ventilating a home involves exchanging indoor and outdoor air to maintain good indoor air quality. And there are three types of ventilation: exhaust, supply, and balanced in which Broan-Nutone can help you with the selection criteria of the proper ventilation to maximize airflow and energy efficiency. Navigating the Complexities of Modern Homes Navigating and implementing energy codes and advanced building methods can be a bit tricky. But with our expertise and partnership, we can help guide you and break it down for you. Why Ventilation Matters Proper ventilation ensures the effective removal of indoor... read more

In this era of sustainable development, construction methods are rapidly evolving to meet heightened demands for energy efficiency and reduced environmental impacts. The EcoSmart Stud is at the forefront of this revolution with its innovative solution for eco-friendly construction. By strategically removing material within the stud, the EcoSmart Studs are lighter and easier to build with than conventional studs. Paired with high-value insulation, the EcoSmart Stud system offers exceptional energy efficiency while lowering emissions and costs. Traditional construction with thermal bridging in wall assemblies often leads to significant energy loss while contributing to the carbon footprint of new builds. EcoSmart Stud tackles these issues by minimizing thermal bridging, significantly enhancing insulation effectiveness, and optimizing material use. This unique approach not only meets but exceeds current stringent energy codes, resulting in superior build performance and... read more

The 2024 Building Excellence Awards were presented at the High Performance Home Builder Summit in Salt Lake City, an awards banquet that truly showcased the unwavering dedication, innovation, and sheer talent driving the construction industry forward. This awards banquet is a testament to the remarkable projects, brilliant minds, and tireless efforts that have shaped our built environment over the past year. We are thrilled to congratulate this year's winners, whose work not only sets new standards in building science, sustainability, and energy efficiency but also exemplifies excellence in high-performance home construction. Their achievements are helping to shape a more sustainable and resilient future for all of us. Volunteer Award: Theresa Gilbride Congratulations to Theresa Gilbride, a building energy efficiency researcher at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The EEBA Volunteer Award recognizes Theresa who selflessly gave her time, energy, and skills to make a ... read more

Achievement highlights significant advancement in residential construction, ensuring cleaner, healthier living for homeowners Empire Communities, an award-winning residential homebuilder in Canada and the United States is proud to announce that its standard home model featuring ERTH360 Air enhancements has achieved the rigorous clean airflow requirements of ASHRAE Standard 241 — the new high bar for infection resiliency. This first-of-its-kind achievement is a testament to Empire’s commitment to providing homes with the highest standards of indoor health and sustainability. ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols, is a landmark standard published in July 2023 and applies to all building types, commercial and residential. The clean air performance of Empire’s standard home with ERTH360 Air was evaluated and verified to meet the standard’s targets using a new test method that ASHRAE Standard 241 introduced to the industry, known as ‘air tracing’. Poppy, a... read more

Between government regulations and evolving consumer preferences, it’s no surprise many industries are making a conscious effort to meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly products and sustainable solutions - the HVAC industry is no exception. There are two innovative core solutions propelling the industry closer to high-performance and net zero buildings: electrification and inverter technology. What is Electrification? Electrification refers to the shift from traditional fossil fuel equipment to electricity-fueled equipment. Electrification is a key component in sustainable building practices, offering increased energy efficiency and decreased carbon emissions. For example, electric heat pumps can operate at up to 500% efficiency as they move heat from one location to another, instead of simply generating heat directly, further driving down costs and consumption. What is Inverter Technology? Inverter technology allows HVAC systems to operate at higher efficiency... read more

Balanced ventilation is a critical concept in modern building design, referring to ensuring equal amounts of incoming and outgoing air in a home. Balanced ventilation systems mitigate the common issues associated with exhaust-only or supply-only systems, such as pressure imbalances and uneven temperature distribution. By ensuring a balanced approach, these systems help maintain a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment. Fresh Air Appliances with heat (HRV) or energy recovery (ERV) are types of balanced ventilation systems that provide controlled and equal airflow, enhancing indoor air quality and energy efficiency. A Technical Examination into Humidity, Location, and Optimal Choices When building new or renovating existing homes, selecting between a Fresh Air Appliance with heat recovery and one with energy recovery is a critical decision that impacts indoor air quality and energy efficiency. This article gets into the Fresh Air Appliance with heat recovery... read more

Noyes Development, based in Oregon, is a high-performance home builder and EEBA Member Builder who is empowering their staff to learn about building science and advances in sustainably constructing better homes through the EEBA Academy. Founded in 1993 by Peter Noyes, they have secured a solid reputation over the past 30 years by building high-quality, classy, and innovative homes while setting the leading standard in home building. Alex Vidal, their Marketing Coordinator, is one of their staff dedicated to deepening his knowledge and has completed over 10 EEBA courses and designations - which he displays in his office. Tell us about your display! I initially had a blank wall in my office, but after hanging up my first certificate, followed by the second, and then the third, I felt compelled to continue. Not only does it serve as a personal achievement, but it also showcases the expertise of our team when visitors, whether current homeowners or prospective ones, stop by our... read more

Florida Builders, General Contractors, Architects, and Plumbers – we have big news for you! Water conservation will continue to be a topic in 2024 with Florida water shortages. We at Hydraloop, arereaching out with a unique opportunity that promises to elevate your developments while at the same time doing your part in securing water sustainability. The state is now offering a tax rebate of up to $4200 USD and a 25-35% density bonus for properties implementing graywater recycling. Homes certified under the Florida Water Star Program that are built with graywater recycling can receive an additional cash rebate, depending on the county. Hydraloop devices are at the forefront of this initiative, providing a cutting-edge solution to water conservation challenges. By recycling shower, bath, and laundry graywater, each home can save over 10,000 gallons of potable water usage annually, with minimal maintenance and no consumables. Discover how integrating Hydraloop technology... read more