Abrazo Homes is proud to build new homes that have earned the Smart Saver label.

Smart Saver qualified new homes are substantially more energy efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Our Smart Saver qualified new homes are independently verified by a third-party Home Energy Rater to ensure they meet Smart Saver energy efficiency guidelines.

Our homes are better for the environment and better for you.
 
 
 

Benefits of owning an Smart Saver qualified Abrazo Home include:

• Third Party Verification-Don’t take our word for it…All Smart Saver qualified Abrazo homes are inspected to meet the EPA’s Energy Star 2.0 guidelines for energy efficiency. This exemplary performance is verified by an independent third party.
• Lower Utility Costs-Compared with standard homes, Smart Saver qualified Abrazo homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and hot water heating. Homeowners can expect to save about $200–$400 annually on their utility bills.
• More Comfortable/Quieter Homes-The energy-efficient features of Smart Saver qualified Abrazo homes keep out excessive heat, cold, and noise, and ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms-making these homes more comfortable to live in.
• Helping to Create a Better Future-By purchasing an Smart Saver qualified Abrazo home, you are joining millions of consumers who have changed to energy efficient new homes, helping our nation reduce our energy needs and building a cleaner environment for the future.

Features of an Smart Saver qualified Abrazo Home include:

• Effective Insulation-Properly installed insulation that meets or exceeds national code requirements helps achieve even temperatures throughout the house while using less energy. The result is lower utility costs and a quieter, more comfortable environment in your new Abrazo home.
• High-Performance Windows-Advanced window coatings help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. They also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furniture.
• Tight Construction and Tight Ducts-Attention to detail by sealing all holes, cracks, and seams in ducts and construction assemblies helps eliminate drafts, moisture, dust, pests, and pollen. This improves comfort and the quality of indoor air, while lowering maintenance costs.
• Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment-More efficient and properly sized heating and cooling systems use less energy, which reduces utility bills. These systems also turn on and off less frequently, removing more humidity and providing better comfort.
• Efficient Products-Your Abrazo home will also be equipped with ENERGY STAR™ qualified products – including light fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances – that offer additional energy savings.
• Independent Testing-While it’s easy to claim that homes are energy efficient, Abrazo Homes backs that up with verifications by an independent Home Energy Rater (HERs). The rater conducts on-site inspections and testing to verify the performance of the energy efficiency features in your Abrazo Home.

For more information on our Smart Saver new homes, contact us.

Green Home Shopping Tips

HERS – Home Energy Rating System
Among the multitude of different efficient construction initiatives (ENERGY STAR, Build Green NM, and LEED) out there, one thing you will consistently see and hear during your home search is a home’s HERS score.  The HERS program is a nationally standardized scoring system that is meant to give home buyers a consistent means of comparing one home’s efficiency to another.  It takes almost every aspect of the home’s construction and performance into account to formulate the score, including but not limited to: insulation, appliances, lighting, quality of the duct installation, orientation to southern sun exposure, and even how tightly constructed the home is.  Think of it as a home’s “miles per gallon” rating that we rely on during the car buying process.  Its primary goal is to help you determine (in construction terms) whether you’re buying a gas guzzling SUV that will cost you every time you go to the pump, or a money saving hybrid.

The Scoring System
The scoring system ranges from 0-150, but theoretically if a home were extremely inefficient it could even score higher than that range.  The lower the HERS score the better, with 100 being a typical new home built according to American building code standards in 2006.  The score is also meant to correspond to the percentage of efficiency – a HERS 75 home is 25% more efficient than a standard new home. Much has changed since 2006 – especially in Albuquerque, where we are more progressive than in many areas – so here’s a snapshot of what the scores really mean to you and your shopping experience.

120-150: This range is where most older homes (more than 5 years old) would score if they were tested by a certified home energy rater. The techniques and materials used when these homes were constructed perform as much as 50% worse than a standard home, and as much as 200% worse than an energy efficient new home. The key is that many older homes have never been tested, so if you are interested in shopping for an older home, be sure to request a HERS rating.  Would you purchase a new car without knowing its MPG?

85-120: This range is where most homes built in the past 5 years will lie.  Despite, the 100 benchmark for “new” homes in 2006, the reality is that if they were tested some would be better and others worse.  HERS scoring for new homes has only become common in recent years, so be sure to require any home you plan to buy be rated by a certified home energy rater.

60-85: This range is where that vast majority of Duke City residents should buy.  Despite the crafty selling tactics you might hear in your search, in 2010 Albuquerque adopted a new more stringent building code that requires every new home achieve at least an 85 HERS rating.  Most production homes under $200k will score between 70-80.  Keep in mind, this is a general range and there are always exceptions, but homes in this range will save you hundreds every year on utility bills.

50-60: Here is where things get interesting.  For a typical home to achieve this level of performance typically requires either Photo Voltaic (PV) solar panels or tankless water heaters, or both.  Achieving this score can add significant cost, but on occasion can still be attainable for less than $250k…but you’ll have to do your homework and make sure you’re getting the right information. Abrazo Homes offers both PV systems and tankless water heaters as optional equipment.

Below 50: Though rare, homes in this range are becoming popular in the higher end custom home market. Expect to pay well over $500k to achieve this level of energy efficiency.

In a nutshell, HERS is a wonderful thing and gives you another tool in your home search to compare homes that you’re interested in.  You’ll find that most resale homes do not have a HERS score, so we always recommend you request a rating be performed before you decide to buy.  Also, beware of suspicious claims.  A common term floating around is “heating and cooling costs.”  It is important for you to understand that this is unique terminology in the construction industry and does NOT mean your monthly “utility” costs.  Lastly, don’t let all of this overwhelm you…simply put, evaluate a home’s HERS score like you would its layout, as just another way to compare. Remember, the lower the score the better.