Beat the Heat AND Your Utility Bill with Guaranteed Usage
July 12, 2018
You can buy a new construction home in the Oklahoma City region and get the warranties that go along with it—from foundation to ceiling. That’s one of the major benefits of buying a new home versus a resale. But Ideal Homes provides a guarantee that no other Oklahoma home builder currently offers. You can beat the heat AND your utility bill with guaranteed heating and cooling usage. You will not pay more than the amount we promise. If your bill exceeds that limit, Ideal Homes pays the difference. We’ve partnered with Environments for Living to give you this unique coverage on your home’s energy usage. Ideal Homes’ strict adherence to sustainable building practices gives us the confidence that our homes will provide you with a healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient environment. The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is a standard for measuring a home’s energy efficiency. A HERS-certified rater conducts a meticulous inspection of a home to determine its performance rating. The inspection includes:
- All exterior walls (above and below grade)
- Floors over unconditioned spaces (e.g., garage, basement)
- Ceilings and roof
- Attic, foundation, and crawl spaces
- Windows, doors, vents, and ductwork
- HVAC system, water heating system, and thermostat
- Air leakage
- Leakage in the heating and cooling distribution system
Based on this in-depth inspection, the rater assigns a HERS Index Score. The lower the number, the greater the energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy determined that a typical resale home (prior to 2004) earns a score of 130. A new home (built to the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code) is rated a 100. That 30-point difference means that a newer home is 30% MORE efficient than the older one. Ideal Homes earns some of the lowest HERS scores in Oklahoma—between 35 and 65. A 65 HERS score translates to a home that is certified to be 35% more energy efficient than a typical new home, and 65% more than a resale. Imagine the savings you’ll realize when your home performs at such a high level of energy efficiency!
In 2018, for example, you could choose our 2,346-square-foot Oakland floor plan, with four bedrooms and a spacious open concept. Your monthly energy expense for heating and cooling usage would not exceed $52, because even if it goes one dollar over that amount, Ideal Homes pays the difference. You should feel confident that your builder respects the importance of conserving energy in every possible way. From carefully insulating and sealing the home to installing ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, every choice matters. We hope that when you’re ready to make the choice of a home builder in the Oklahoma City metro region, you’ll remember the one who stands behind the work like no one else. Contact Ideal Homes to learn more about Environments for Living, our communities, floor plans, including our move-in ready new construction homes!
