Certified Green Homes that Meet Sustainable Building Practices, Energy Standards, and Save Money
Every Tim O'Brien Home meets the Focus on Energy Requirements and Green Built Certified and includes 3rd party testing. This rigorous testing inspects: R-Values, foundation walls, door and window leakage, mechanical ventilation, ducts and duct leakage, mechanical ventilation, ducts and duct leakage, and all lights and appliances. Each home goes through a Blower Door Test to ensure the Whole System is performing exceptionally. Test results are analyzed and a cost-savings is calculated.
Tim O'Brien Homes participates in the following programs to ensure your new home is a sound investment now and in the future.
Wisconsin Focus on Energy – Every home in the Focus on Energy New Homes Program undergoes a series of performance tests and must meet specific program standards, including:
- Framing and insulation installation review
- Air-tightness to minimize drafts and create superior indoor air quality
- Sealed combustion equipment and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure safety
- Whole-house ventilation installed for proper ventilation
Upon certification, Tim O'Brien Homes homeowners receive a Homeowner's manual, a certification report that shows the home's energy savings, and a Focus on Energy New Homes Certification Plague.
HERS – The Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) is a national index that shows where a home lands on an energy scale, and every Tim O'Brien Home is tested and has a score. A HERS of 0 means the home is zero energy and uses no energy at all. If a new home was built to new code specifications it would receive a score of 100 and existing older homes typically score 150 and higher. Tim O'Brien Homes score between 35 – 65 on the HERS Index, and we've even built a home with a negative HERS score. The lower the score, the more energy-efficient the home and the more money the homeowners will save.
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Certified Home - This national program is committed to providing objective, third-party assessment, verification, and certification services to help builders. When applying for certification, homes are evaluated on:
- Energy efficiency improvements such as high levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows and energy-efficient appliances and lighting
- Water conservation measures such as water-efficient appliances and fixtures, filtration systems, and drought resistant or low-maintenance landscaping
- Resource conservation using materials and techniques such as engineered wood and wood alternatives, recycled building materials, sustainably harvested lumber, and more durable products
- Indoor environmental quality considerations such as effective HVAC equipment, formaldehyde-free finishes, low-allergen materials, and products with minimum off-gassing or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Site design planning such as minimizing disruption and preserving open space
- Homeowner education through manuals and operating guides
- Green business practices that adopt ideas from other industries for saving resources and money in the home office
Please visit our Awards Gallery to see our NAHB Green Certified homes.
Energy Star – This government-backed national program helps businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. All Tim O'Brien Homes feature Energy Star products including appliances, building products, heating and cooling products, lighting, and in our plumbing systems.
>> Renewable Energy isn't the only way to improve a home's energy efficiency. Take a look at the quality and performance that goes into every certified Tim O'Brien Home.
>> Building Healthy Homes
Ask about our Healthy Home Package that improves indoor air quality. Our innovative system is deal for anyone with allergies, respiratory concerns, and for people who want to breathe cleaner and healthier air inside their home.
>> Get inspired with our Photo Gallery
