What is a High Performance Home (HPH)? They used to be called High Efficiency homes. Many people don’t really understand exactly what it means or the benefits of owning a high performance home until they’ve lived in one. So what really is a high performance home and what should you consider when building one?
The Energy Act 2005 defines a ‘high performance building’ as one that “integrates and optimizes all major high-performance building attributes, including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance, and occupant productivity.”
Keep on reading to find out the benefits of a High Performance Home.
What are the basic benefits of high performance homes?
Owners will:
- have less maintenance;
- have lower ownership costs;
- have improved comfort and better health;
- have environmentally friendly homes;
- have lower utility bills; and
- realize greater value!
It is important for owners to be educated about the HERS Ratings.
Are home buyers willing to pay for it?
- 65% of new homebuyers will pay $7,500 for energy efficient features/products.
- 82% of new homebuyers will pay $5,000 for energy efficient features/products.
- 91% of new homebuyers want energy efficient products IF they provide savings on utility bills.
- 97% of new homebuyers want lower operating costs!
The way the house is built dictates 85% of the owner’s utility costs!
Some keys to successful selling:
- Recognize that this isn’t a pitch, it’s a dialogue.
- Make the message conversational.
- Don’t assume that the customer understands you.
- Share what you know and why it is important to you.
- Educate your customers.
- Be a resource for information … or others will be.
- Sell “Cost Per Square Foot” instead of “Price Per Square Foot”.
This table demonstrates some of the possible benefits of owning a High Performance Home:
As an owner, you care about energy and environment!
- >50% of households knowingly purchased at least one ENERGY STAR qualified product in the last 12 months.
- 73% of consumers believe that “a product that is better for the environment” is a somewhat to very important consideration when purchasing an appliance or other energy-consuming product.
- 72% of adults “make a special effort to look for products that are energy efficient.”
- 89% of consumers agree that they are concerned about the environment.
- 93% of consumers agree that saving energy helps the environment.
- 94% of consumers believe that each of us has a responsibility in our energy use and we can make a difference!
Purchasing new construction? Questions you should be asking your home builder:
- Are you building high performance homes?
- Do you conduct HERS Ratings on every home?
- What are your HERS Index Scores ? (Anything above 70 is not high performance.)
- What energy efficient / high performance features are included in your homes?
- What should my customer expect to pay in utility costs every month?
Want to know more?
Do you need more information on High Performance Homes? Please feel free to contact me! I can be reached at 719-321-0800, or agentsusanna@gmail.com.