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Home Energy Efficiency Maximized Again Through 2019 RESNET Cross Border Builder Challenge

Mar 7, 2019

 

The award winners of the 2019 RESNET Cross Border Home Builder Challenge, which helps promote the utilization of the HERS®  Index have been announced by Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET, and Paul Duffy, President of the Canadian counterpart Canadian Residential Energy Services Network (CRESNET) at the 2019 RESNET Building Performance Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“With over 2.4 million homes rated in the US, the HERS® Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is now being measured in the US and Canada. It’s also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance” noted Steve Baden.

“The RESNET Cross Border Challenge is a friendly competition between American and Canadian Home Builders to determine just how energy efficient builders can build,” noted Paul Duffy.

This was the 6th year for the awards at the RESNET Conference. There were a total of 11 builder awards presented for this year’s competition; five were based on having the lowest HERS® score for their specific category, sponsored by Power-Pipe® Drain Water Heat Recovery System, two were special President’s awards based on a fleet of HERS® new home ratings, sponsored by Icynene – Lapolla and two were Net Zero awards including PV Solar applications sponsored by Dow. In addition, the Enbridge Innovation Award sponsored by Enbridge Gas Distribution was presented to the winner and the runner up. This international award went to the builder in the US or Canada that HERS® rated a home demonstrating energy/resource innovation in new home construction.”

The 2019 Cross Border Challenge award winners are:

RESNET President’s Award
The winner is Lennar Minnesota for having 81% of their homes built in 2018 with a HERS® Index Score under 54.

Pictured above, from left to right: Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY Energy Inc., Chairman of the Cross Border Builder Challenge Committee; Steve Baden, RESNET Executive Director; Matt Gingrich, Board President and Eric Boyd representing Lennar Minnesota.

CRESNET President’s Award
The winner is Empire Communities, Ontario for having for having 81% of their homes built in 2018 with a HERS® Index Score of under 52.

Pictured above, from left to right: Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY EnergyInc., Chairman of the Cross Border Builder Challenge Committee; Paul Duffy, Board President; Tim Campanale representing Empire Communities and John Godden, CRESNET.

Other 2019 Cross Border Builder Winners include:

  • Net Zero American Builder – TC Legend Homes, Washington with a HERS® Index Score of -25
  • Lowest HERS® Index Score American Custom Builder – Vetting/Wolf Home, Minnesota with a HERS® Index Score of 32
  • Lowest HERS® Index Score American Production Builder – Lennar Minnesota with a HERS® Index Score of 42
  • Lowest HERS® Index Score Canadian Production Builder – Empire Communities, Ontario with a HERS® Index Score of 38
  • Lowest HERS® Index Score Canadian Mid Production Builder – North Star Homes, GTA with a HERS® Index Score of 36
  • Lowest HERS® Index Score Canadian Custom Builder – Royalpark Homes, GTA with a HERS® Index Score of 26
  • Net Zero Canadian Builder – Campanale Homes, Ottawa with a HERS® Index Score of 0
  • Enbridge Innovation Award – Rosehaven Homes, GTA for their “total water solution”
  • Enbridge Innovation Award runner up is Greenhill Contracting, New York for heat pump ventless dryer.

Winners in all Lowest HERS® score categories each won a free Power-Pipe® Drain Water Heat Recovery System from Renewability Energy Inc as part of their awards. The Power-Pipe® Drain Water Heat Recovery System is a leading technology for reducing water heating costs for homeowners, yet increasing the water heating capacity within the house. The Power-Pipe® can help builders reduce their HERS® score between 1-3 points depending on climate zone and efficiency of the unit selected.