According to the United States Department of Energy, South Carolina ranks fourth in the nation in total residential electricity consumption. Much of the usage is attributed to high heating and cooling costs – a demand that is easily lowered with energy efficient home construction and use of green building materials. At Crescent Homes, we recognize the need for environmentally friendly houses that save big on costs without sacrificing convenience or the amenities that buyers expect in North Charleston homes for sale. That is why we are committed to delivering high performance homes with each and every purchase. We pledge that every home we build in the Indigo Palms community of North Charleston is guaranteed a HERS rating of at most 75. We back up our promise with a certified HERS inspection from an independent rater for every home.

What is a HERS Rating?
A HERS Rating is an assessment of a home’s energy efficiency. The Home Energy Rating System is the standard by which certified third-party HERS raters gauge overall energy performance, assigning a number grade that reflects the results of a thorough inspection. Generally, a higher HERS rating represents a less energy-efficient home and a lower HERS rating represents a more energy-efficient home. According to the Residential Energy Savings Network - the non-profit organization responsible for developing the Home Energy Rating System - a HERS rating on a home is comparable to the miles per gallon on a car. Knowing these numbers before you buy gives you an idea of your month to month operating (utility) costs.

HERS Inspections
During a HERS inspection, an independent inspector certified by the Residential Energy Savings Network visits a home and conducts a series of tests and observations about the property. Although every home is different, some of the main components the inspector examines are the exterior walls, attic, foundation, water heating system, insulation, ductwork, windows, thermostat, HVAC system, ceilings, roof and crawlspaces. Even details like the ratio of windows to walls are taken into account during the inspection. The inspector always examines the building envelope to ensure there are no gaps or voids that could allow excessive amounts of air to escape from the home. Often this is done using a thermal bypass inspection and/or a blower test to determine how much air can escape through ductwork and doors.

North Charleston Homes for Sale with Low HERS Ratings
The only way to know the true energy performance of a home, as well as estimate monthly energy costs, is to obtain an official HERS rating for the property. Buyers can often approximate a high or low HERS value simply by knowing the year a home was built. Information available from the U.S. Department of Energy reveals that the majority of new construction throughout the country attains a HERS rating of approximately 100. Although these numbers are not ideal, it is better than the average HERS rating of resale homes, which is currently 130. Keep in mind that a home with a HERS rating below 100 does not reach that achievement without purposeful construction elements and a detailed plan for minimizing long term energy usage.

Energy Guarantee
Crescent Homes is known for green building practices for the modern homeowner. Although we could easily meet industry standards by building properties with HERS ratings of 100, we choose to go above and beyond the norm by promising HERS ratings of no more than 75 on every property we build. A HERS rating of 75 is 25 percent more efficient than a comparable new home with a HERS rating of 100. That means that for every $150 that other homeowners are paying in energy usage, our buyers are saving approximately $35. The money saved adds up to significant savings in the long term. We are currently building HERS rated properties in beautiful Indigo Palms just 20 minutes from downtown. We do not randomly sample homes, but instead test each property for energy performance. If you are in search of an affordable energy efficient home in North Charleston, contact us at Crescent Homes today. We’ll schedule a tour of one of our model homes at your earliest convenience, and one of our helpful home representatives can help you start living green the easy way!

SOURCE
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/residential.cfm/state=sc

For more information about Indigo Palms or the North Charleston, SC area, email us at info@crescenthomes.net.

Indigo Palms
8400 Loggers Run
North Charleston, SC 29420
410.562.4939