Guides and Case Studies for Hot-Dry and Mixed-Dry Climates
The Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a series of best practices and case studies to help builders improve whole-house energy performance in buildings found in hot-dry and mixed-dry climates.
- Best Practice Guides
- New Construction Case Studies
- Improvements to Existing Homes Case Studies
- Solutions that Work Across Climates
Best Practice Guides
New Construction Case Studies
Arizona
Project: Amory Park Del Sol — Tucson
Builder: John Wesley Miller Companies
Profile: This urban infill development of Builders Challenge qualifying homes offers high-performance masonry walls, insulation, windows, and heat pumps with solar photovoltaic (PV) and water heating systems. Read the Builders Challenge spotlight.
Project: Cabrillio Point — Phoenix
Builder: Pulte Phoenix
Profile: Builders Challenge Spotlight on 69 homes that achieve HERS index score of 68 with superior building envelope construction.
Project: Centennial Terrace — Tucson
Builder: CDC Realty, Inc.
Profile: Prototype home for this 17-home development achieved 40% energy savings through conditioned duct space, R-38 insulation, and solar hot water heating.
Project: Civano — Tucson
Builder: Pulte Homes
Profile: Community of 1,500 homes using package of energy efficiency, solar water heating, and sustainable practices to cut utility bills and improve comfort and quality.
Project: Prescott Habitat for Humanity Demonstration Home — Chino Valley
Builder: Yavapai College Residential Building Technology Program
Profile: Builders Challenge Spotlight on Habitat for Humanity net-zero energy home incorporating tight building envelope, 4.6 kW PV array, and solar hot water heating system.
California
Project: Carsten Crossings — Rocklin
Builder: Grupe Homes
Profile: 144 Builders Challenge homes featuring 2.4 kW PV solar tiles, ducts buried in R-49 attic insulation, rigid foam exterior sheathing, and SmartVent night cooling. Also read the Builders Challenge spotlight on these homes.
Project: Fallen Leaf at Riverbend — Sacramento
Builder: Treasure Homes
Profile: Award-winning community offers homeowners high efficiency and solar feature to reach energy savings of up to 50%.
Project: Production homes zero energy upgrade
Builder: Artistic Homes, Albuquerque NM
Profile: Zero energy upgrade on production homes with foam-wrapped slab, extensive air sealing, advanced framed walls, air leakage testing, plus PV and solar water heating.
Project: Windemere — San Ramon
Builder: Centex Homes
Profile: Builders Challenge Spotlight on PowerSave building options, which offer homeowners energy savings of nearly 40%.
Project: Zero Energy Casita - Fresno
Builder: Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes
Profile: 196 homes scoring 48 to 53 HERS Index without PV, due to tight air sealing, rigid foam wall sheathing, R-49 attics, 94 AFUE gas furnaces and 19-SEER ACs.
New Mexico
Project: Gamlen House — Albuquerque
Builder: Artistic Homes
Profile: Builders Challenge Spotlight on production home builder who is incorporating high-efficiency building science practices into construction.
Project: Zero Energy Home Package — Albuquerque
Builder: Artistic Homes
Profile: Affordable net-zero homes using tight building envelope and 4.2-7 kW PV and solar water heating to achieve HERS index score of less than 35. Also read the Builders Challenge Spotlight on this project.
Nevada
Project: Masco Environments for Living Exhibit Home — Las Vegas
Builder: Palm Harbor Homes
Profile: Builders Challenge Spotlight on Masco's Environments for Living Certified Green® prototype home, which scores 44 on the HERS index.
Project: Multiple developments — Las Vegas
Builder: Las Vegas Division of Pulte Homes and Communities of Del Webb
Profile: Builders Challenge-certified homes with HERS scores below 60, conditioned attics, advanced framing, and Environments for Living guarantee.
Project: New American Home 2009 — Las Vegas
Builder: Blue Heron
Profile: Showcase house for the International Builders Show that models energy efficiency and a PV system to achieve nearly 50% energy savings.
Project: NextGen Demonstration Home — Las Vegas
Builder: NextGen Home
Profile: Builders Challenge Spotlight on demonstration home that is 50% more efficient than standard homes.
Texas
Project: High Efficiency Homes — Dallas
Builder: Ferrier Custom Homes
Profile: Builder Challenge Spotlight on award-winning builder focused on constructing high efficiency, "green" homes with average HERS index scores of 50.
Project: Zero Energy Casita - Fort Worth
Builder: Ferrier Custom Homes
Profile: Recycled barn siding and metal roof covers SIPS panels for R-30 walls, R-50 roof at 2 ACH@50Pa and 3.7 kW wind turbine meets electricity needs.
Improvements to Existing Homes Case Studies
Arizona
Project: Historic Adobe Home Retrofit — Tucson
Builder: John Wesley Miller Companies
Project: The successful retrofit of this historic property earned Tucson Electric Power's first heating and cooling guarantee for a home remodel.
California
Project: California Central Valley Retrofit — Lodi
Builder: The Grupe Company DBA Green Home Solutions
Project: With the help of federal and state rebates and utility incentives, this retrofit project improved energy efficiency and comfort of a 22-year-old, 2,129 square foot home.
Project: California Ranch-Style Retrofit — Pasadena
Builder: HartmanBaldwin Design/Build
Project: This retrofit project reduced air leaks and installed new HVAC equipment in a 50-year-old, 2,402 square foot ranch-style home, subsequently cutting electric bills in half.
Project: Energy Efficient Remodel Demonstration Project - Fair Oaks
Builder: Greenbuilt
Project: Energy efficient remodel of 1980's 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, cut energy use by 61% and added 2.3 kW of PV.
Project: Energy Efficient Remodel Demonstration Project, Sacramento, CA
Builder: Housing Group Fund, Sacramento, CA
Project: Energy-efficient makeover of 1950's abandoned, foreclosed 1,260-sq.ft. home cut energy use by 53% and dropped HERS score from 241 to 86.
Nevada
Project: ReVISION Home — Las Vegas
Builder: Building Media, Inc. and Green Builder Media LLC
Profile: This zero energy demonstration project is a deep retrofit of a 1963 ranch home that will cut energy bills by at least 60%, not including the 4.8 kW PV and solar water heating systems.
Solutions that Work Across Climates
DOE has developed several building solutions that work across climate regions.
- Insulation: A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners identifies steps to take to increase insulation in homes, ensure healthy levels of ventilation, and prevent moisture problems.
- HVAC: A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners offers tips about energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and cooling options to help homeowners cut their energy use, reduce carbon footprint, and increase their homes' comfort, health, and safety.
- Energy Performance Techniques and Technologies: Preserving Historic Homes (Volume 13) focuses on being aware of and adhering to historic designation regulations, and addressing health and safety issues while preserving the features that make historic homes appealing.
- Air Sealing: A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners (Volume 10) provides information to help homeowners understand ways to seal unwanted air leaks in homes, while ensuring healthy levels of ventilation and avoiding indoor air pollution.
- Solar Thermal & Photovoltaic Systems (Volume 6) features current photovoltaic and solar thermal building practices by more than a dozen builders.
For additional, updated information on hundreds of building science topics that can help you build or retrofit to the most recent high-performance construction criteria, including the latest version of ENERGY STAR and the DOE Challenge Home requirements, see the Building America Solution Center.