His or HERS? If you’re seeking the best energy efficiency for your home, you’d unquestionably pick HERS. The HERS score (Home Energy Rating System)—a nationally recognized system of measurement used to grade a home’s energy efficiency—is better in terms of energy-saving value the lower it gets. Now one of R.E.A. Homes’ new builds in Ladue, Missouri, has landed among the elite HERS scores for large luxury homes, registering this jaw-dropping number: 19!
A standard new home is given a HERS rating of 100. That means our Ladue home, with its 19 HERS score, is 81 percent more energy efficient than the standard new home!
This opulent residence of approximately 9,000 square feet of finished space includes a lower level plus two master suites on the first floor. The second floor boasts three additional bedrooms and a bonus room, plus a loft. A four-car garage, geo-thermal HVAC, and solar panels bring extra value to the estate.
Hardly noticeable among the eye-catching details of the beautiful home are the energy features that ultimately fashioned the knockout HERS score of 19. Naturally, the spoils of such peak efficiency yield an impressive amount of annual savings in energy costs.
That sum, which includes the savings on heating, cooling, water heating, lights and appliances, comes in at the stunning total of approximately $1804.24 per year! Typical builders land between 85 and 100 on the HERS index; efficient builders log between 65 and 85, while platinum standard builders score below 50. Last year’s lowest HERS score, winner of the RESNET Cross Border Challenge between American and Canadian home builders, was a minus 23, recorded by a home in Connecticut.
Design plays a major part in the Ladue home’s high level of performance and livability. A complete thermal enclosure system is installed, with comprehensive air sealing, quality installed insulation, and high-performing windows. Then a comprehensive water management system to protect the roof, walls, and foundation is implemented—a process that includes flashing, a drainage plane, and site grading to move water from the roof to the ground, and finally away from the house. Water-resistant liquid applied to barriers on the foundation, and interior and exterior drain tile, keep the possibility of entering water to a minimum.
A high efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation system designed and installed for optimal performance, plus energy-efficient high-performance lighting and appliances that help decrease utility bills, complete this magnificent structure.
Innovative, super-efficient energy homes are just part of the building science, technology, and operations available to R.E.A. Homes—the only “100% ENERGY STAR committed” custom builder in St. Louis that’s creating luxury homes with superior energy efficiency.
