Building America Overview
 Building America works with members of the home-building
industry to produce quality homes that use less energy without costing
more to build. Building America employs two principles in working toward
this goal.
- It views the house as a system and then looks at re-engineering that
house; this is in contrast to making isolated changes in one part of
the house.
- It brings together all segments of the housing industry: designers,
builders, developers, financial institutions, materials suppliers and
equipment manufacturers. Through communication and analysis, problems
are identified and solutions are developed.
Goals
- Design and construct more energy efficient homes
- Reduce construction costs to provide more affordable housing
- Improve comfort
- Improve health and safety and indoor air quality
- Increase resource use efficiency
- Increase building durability
Key Strategies
Building America has developed key strategies that focus or
direct its work. These strategies reflect general decisions about how the
goals will be accomplished but leave the specific details open-they are
performance-based wherever possible. Different materials and methods may
be selected and yet still be consistent with the strategies and goals.
- Building Enclosure Leakage must be controlled to less than 2.5
square inches per 100 feet of building enclosure. This strategy and
specific performance target are critical to accomplishing the
program's goals.
- Pollutant Control accomplished through a combination of
- Source Control - decreasing pollutant source strength reduces
needed removal rate
- Controlled Mechanical Ventilation - dilutes pollutants
- Building Durability requires a building enclosure designed to
exclude moisture and to promote drying should it get wet.
 Advantages to Builders
Building America houses use less energy to heat and cool than
standard houses - that's good for the homeowner, the environment and our
nation's energy balance. Building America houses are more
comfortable and more durable - again this benefits the homeowner. But what
is in it for the builder? At this point you're probably wondering how much
more will it cost you per house to meet Building America's
standards? Well, it depends on a lot of variables such as your current
construction practices. Below are some of the cost variables and factors
involved in switching to the Building America way.
- Better windows, more efficient furnaces and air conditioners, more
insulation and sealing the holes in the envelope cost more, but
- Because of these changes the air conditioning unit can be downsized
and therefore costs less.
- With smaller air handlers less air flow is needed so ductwork can be
downsized and simplified and costs less.
- Better moisture management means fewer callbacks and saves money.
- Fewer warranty problems => happier homeowners.
- Happier homeowners => more referrals to the builder.
- More referrals => easier sales => more profit.
- Predictable heating and cooling costs facilitates energy guarantees;
in some markets this translates to more sales.
- One of the intangible costs is the effort usually required to
implement the necessary changes. Most people are not happy to have to
change how they do things.
But don't just take our word; check out the Building
America
Case Studies to find out what some actual builders and their customers
have to say.
The table below lists typical cost tradeoffs for several climates. For
more detailed information go to The Building America Program:
Systems Engineering for Resource and Energy Efficient Homes.
Cost Summary By Climate Type
| Climate Type |
Typical
Incremental
Cost to Builder |
Typical Annual
Cost
Savings to Homeowner |
| Cold |
+$350 |
$300
– $500 |
| Hot-Dry |
-$100 |
$200
- $300 |
| Mixed-Dry |
-$200 |
$200
- $350 |
| Hot
Humid |
+$300 |
$200
- $300 |
|
