You don’t need a million dollars to buy an energy-efficient home in La Plata County – in fact, less than half a million will do.
New home construction, particularly in the Three Springs subdivision, has been booming with affordable, energy-efficient homes.
Max Hutcheson, a broker-associate with the Wells Group of Durango, said the cost of the sustainable features are built in to the price of the homes.
“Seventy-five percent of the homes in Three Springs are priced under $360,000,” Hutcheson said. “As a neighborhood, the goal is to provide an energy-efficient home at a reasonable price.”
One of the energy-efficient homes for sale he showed The Durango Herald on Monday was valued at $324,900.
The Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County has been working with SilverPick Contracting Inc. to provide affordable Energy Star-certified homes to county residents.
Jaaron Mankins, CEO of SilverPick, has taken on the task of building the homes because it seems silly not to, he said. The cost of building them isn’t too large, and, in the end, people save money.
The initial investment for a contractor to build an energy-efficient home is about $5,000, Mankins said. But, he said, a homebuyer will save anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 in utilities in one year, meaning the buyers will soon make their money back and then some.
The majority of people looking at buying these homes are first-time homebuyers, retirees and people looking for minimal yard maintenance, Hutcheson said. The homes have minimal grass for water-conservation purposes.
Some of the energy-saving features in the homes include on-demand water heaters, fluorescent light bulbs, insulated window panes and whole-house ceiling fans. Insulation also can make a world of a difference when it comes to cutting utility bills, Mankins said.
With a brand-new home, buyers can pay for additional energy-efficient features.
Clients can request stucco on the exterior of their home, which is more energy efficient than concrete. One to two inches of foam is typically used to line the inside of the wall, he said. Also on the list of possible upgrades are high energy-efficiency window frames (also filled with foam) and in-floor hydronic-heat systems, which are more efficient than in-floor furnaces.
Hydronic-heat units use hot water to heat the home, rather than heating air and blowing it into the house, he said.
Those upgrades can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $12,000.
“Stucco is a pretty expensive upgrade, but it holds up better in the long run,” he said.
Mankins also had a buyer with severe allergies. He installed a HEPA filtration system in the home. HEPA filter systems are often used in hospitals because they have more surface area and can remove more pollutants from the air, he said.
Energy efficieny is evaluated on a Home Energy Rating System. The lower the rating – on a scale of 0 to 150 – the more energy efficient the home.
New houses built to city code generally score a HERS rating of 100.
A score of 10 or lower is the ultimate goal when it comes to total energy efficiency, Mankins said. However, SilverPick and the other five building companies working in Three Springs are making above-average progress. Being Energy Star partners, they build homes that are 30 percent more efficient than the city’s requirement – a minimum HERS score of 70.
The city code requirements are based on International Energy Conservation Code standards that are not quite as up to date as they could be, he said.
If the city ups its home-building standards, then all Energy Star certified contractors will still be required to stay 30 percent above the city’s minimum requirements.
SilverPick strives to build homes with a HERS rating that is 40 to 60 percent more efficient than the minimum requirements, he said.
Energy efficiency isn’t just available to new homebuyers, either.
An energy auditor can help homeowners decide what steps can be taken to increase a house’s or a mobile home’s energy efficiency,
4CORE is one of the nonprofits operating in La Plata County that promotes resource-savvy solutions within the community.
Teresa Shishim, program manager at 4CORE, said there are cash incentives available for homeowners and businesses that want to make sustainable upgrades to homes and businesses.
The city of Durango is offering a $100 discount for a residential assessment provided by 4CORE, she said. Additionally, residents can get a $500 discount if they go ahead with any recommended upgrades.
Atmos customers can receive a $150 discount off a residential assessment, and AmeriGas customers can receive a $50 rebate.
The downside is that the evaluations and upgrades tend to be pricey.
An evaluation for a home of less than 1,000 square-feet will cost about $450, 1,000- to 3,000-square-foot homes cost about $550 while homes 3,000 square feet and above can cost $650. The prices do not include the cost of any recommended upgrades.
However, if you can afford the initial cost, you will save money in the long run.
“We call that a return on investment,” Shishim said.
Energy-efficient upgrades aren’t great just for the environment. They can promote health and safety, too.
Additionally, 4CORE offers educational classes for low-income residents about how to improve their air quality, she said. The agency also offers mobile home weather assessments and upgrades.
A homeowner’s handbook with information about green building is available online at www.greenbuildermedia.com
The nonprofit is working with local banks to provide a helping hand to residents who may be falling short on cash.
First National Bank of Durango offers loans for people who are looking to make sustainable improvements to their homes.
Steve Emrich, vice president and business banking officer with First National Bank of Durango, said a handful of residents have applied for the HomeRx Loan.
The loan provides financial assistance to homeowners looking to make energy-efficient improvements and to replace old water lines, he said.
Building a home with energy-efficiency in mind helps minimize the depletion of natural resources.
“It’s something that I do and will continue to do,” Mankins said.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
On the Net
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