MHB (Plantation Homes)

 

     On June 1, 2013 Chad Giese gave us a tour of one of Plantation Homes’ energy efficient homes at 6053 Texas Shiner Drive, Fort Worth, TX.  Plantation Homes is one of several companies whose parent company is McGuire Homes Inc., out of Houston, TX. 

     Chad explained that 8-10 years ago the energy efficient movement started heavily.  Then approximately 5 years ago the going green programs were implemented.  Finally, in the last 1-2 years the LEED certification for production homes became the goal.  

      Chad went on to say that interaction with appraisers has been a difficult issue.  He said there are two impacts on appraisals, “energy efficiency (lack of knowledge) and market prices going up or down (appraisers are usually six months behind)”.  He said they continue to try to educate the appraisers and underwriters on the value of energy efficiency so it should reflect in their numbers.

     The LEED requirements he emphasized were innovation and design, concrete siding, thermo-ply, hurricane straps, durability, and longevity of construction.  Some of these are displayed in the photos to the left.

    

     Other efficiencies that Plantation Homes utilizes are 2 pane glass with Argon gas in the middle, 2.6 low flow toilets, and low flow plumbing fixtures throughout the house.  These provide a weather barrier for the windows and conserve water with the fixtures.

     Chad stated that Plantation Homes references the Home Energy Rating System (HERS).  The HERS index states that the lower the score is the more efficient the home is.  The typical home on the index scores roughly 85-90.  

     Plantation Homes being built now fall between the score 55-75 on average, well ahead of the industry.  The ideal would be a Net Zero home.      

     I thought it was interesting for us to see the home in the process of being built.  This allowed us to see what exactly was being looked at that is typically behind the scenes.

Scale courtesy of http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hotshotzinspections.com/images/hers/hersscale.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.hotshotzinspections.com/hers.php&h=400&w=450&sz=12&tbnid=cGrVzXyvDkLWSM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=101&zoom=1&usg=__IqU714zDzQ_lKmz21qnKrOrpSZs=&docid=yNRy_S-lJJywEM&sa=X&ei=BW-rUejuLZLj4APgzIAY&sqi=2&ved=0CFgQ9QEwBA&dur=847

Useful Links:

www.plantationhomes.com
www.leedforhomes.org