Corporate

Northwest utilities tap Advanced Energy for high performance homes

RALEIGH -- The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance [NEEA], a consortium of 11 utilities and the Bonneville Power Authority, awarded $1.2 million to Advanced Energy to change the way that houses are built in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

"Advanced Energy has high standards for home construction, and they have the expertise to collaborate successfully with builders and local service providers to improve house construction," said Anne Brink, new construction market manager for Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. "Their track record in transforming the housing market nationwide makes them a fit for what we want to accomplish in the Northwest."

With its partner Fluid Marketing Systems, Advanced Energy's role is to support local service providers who will promote Northwest Energy Star and to assist builders in meeting the required high performance standards. This will include providing training in both construction practices and in how to sell to builders.

To date, Advanced Energy has worked with builders nationwide to build more than 130,000 high performance homes. These homes are built based on the company's applied building science techniques that view the home as a complete system, rather than a home built with different parts. These techniques help builders improve the durability, energy efficiency and environmental impacts of a home while stressing the importance of health, comfort and safety of the residents. [Typical code built homes may have problems such as hot or cold rooms, back drafting from appliances and excessive mold and mildew due to moisture buildup and contaminated air that may enter from the attic or crawl space.]

Homes built to Advanced Energy's standards come with a guarantee on the heating and cooling portion of the home's energy usage. On average, these homes are saving homeowners 10 percent to 15 percent in total energy consumption per month.

"Further penetrating the housing market in the Northwest is in perfect alignment with our mission and goals," said Keith Aldridge, Advanced Energy's applied building science director. "Our work will bring greater satisfaction to both the participating builders and to their homeowners."

To date, Advanced Energy has been able to transform the U.S. housing market with innovative building solutions though its collaboration with other funders such as electric utilities nationwide and federal government agencies.

Learn more by calling 919 857-9000 or by visiting http://www.advancedenergy.org/buildings.