New Homes

Building an ENERGY STAR Labeled Home

Before you start to build in the North Country, contact Community Energy Services to talk over making your new home Energy Star labeled. We will help you understand the process, recommend a builder or work with your builder and after completion, rate your home for ENERGY STAR certification. The ENERGY STAR label insures that your home is one of the most efficient, safe and comfortable homes built today. CES technical staff can also work with homeowners and builders to make recommendations for upgrades to improve any home you are planning.

An ENERGY STAR labeled home uses approximately 30% less energy than conventionally built homes. These savings come from a variety of energy-saving features, including increased insulation, high performance windows and doors, high-efficiency heating and energy saving appliances and lighting. Before certification, these homes are thoroughly tested for energy efficiency. We will make sure that the rooms and duct systems are free from air leakage and that no harmful gases are present.

An ENERGY STAR labeled home will actually save you money in the long run. Your initial investment may be slightly higher, but your monthly savings thanks to lower electricity and heating costs will continue paying you back for as long as you own your home. These savings can more than offset any additional mortgage costs.

Contractors and builders who build ENERGY STAR labeled homes may be eligible for financial incentives.

To find out more information, please call Ann Heidenreich at CES at 315-379-9466. She will answer your questions and provide information, including a list of builders in your area. You will also want to check out the NYSERDA website at www.GetEnergySmart.org

The ENERGY STAR Labeled Home program is funded by a System Benefit Charge (SBC) paid by North Country electric distribution customers of National Grid and NYSEG. NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975 to administer SBC funds and programs under an agreement with the Public Service Commission.

A Low-Cost ENERGY STAR Labeled Home

for the North Country

When the Raquette Valley Habitat For Humanity wanted to build a small, low-cost, energy efficient home in Rensselear Falls, New York, they came to CES for advice. We decided that the house would be ENERGY STAR labeled, two-story, easy to build and on a slab. It would be super-insulated (R-50 in attic, R-30 in walls, R-20 in the floor) and have passive solar features, such as ample south facing windows and a large heat mass. It would also have high efficiency ENERGY STAR® appliances and heating and hot water systems.

CES helped Habitat secure a $20,000 grant from NYSERDA to help with the planning, design and overseeing of this pilot project, the first Habitat house in the North Country to have an ENERGY STAR rating.

Erik Schulze, a local builder, came up with a simple workable plan for a 1150 sq. ft., two-bedroom home with an open floor plan for Habitat to build. CES technical director Scott Shipley performed the energy modeling. Through the work of many volunteers and by way of community donations from businesses and organizations, Jennifer Berbrich and her daughter were able to move into a lovely, new, super energy efficient home.

The total cost of the home (counting donated materials as if they were paid for) was approximately $35,000. Annual energy costs for heating, hot water, lighting and appliances are under $1,000, compared with twice that for a similarly sized energy code compliant home.

Building plans and guides are available for a nominal printing fee on request from CES.