Building Science – Southern Energy Management

What Does Net-Zero Look Like in North Carolina?

Lindsay Brecheisen — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 21:14:05 +0000

We are thrilled to showcase Array, one of our Zero Energy Blueprint partners and the first 100% net-zero community in North Carolina. Situated in Orange County, Array boasts a charming 12-lot neighborhood, with more than half of its land dedicated to open spaces, encompassing scenic walking trails, community gardens, and inviting gathering areas. We have been collaborating closely with Array's developers since 2019. To support them in achieving their net-zero and sustainability goals, we took charge of consulting on community sustainability standards, providing energy modeling for the homes, along with the implementation of solar technology.

As a net-zero community, Array ensures a perfect equilibrium between energy production and consumption. Array embodies everything Southern Energy Management (SEM) values in a community: a deep-rooted passion for the environment and the land, and the conviction that we can coexist harmoniously with nature, not just simply occupy it.

Let's dive in and explore Array and the awesome development duo behind North Carolina's first-ever 100% net-zero community!

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Meet Our Spring Shine On Champ from KB Homes

Taylor Fearrington — Thu, 18 May 2023 13:57:52 +0000

As a team centered on leading the change, we believe it is important to shine a light on the people around us focused on impactful solutions. Keep reading to meet this season's Shine On Champion!

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Meet Our Fall Shine On Champ from Habitat for Humanity Charlotte

Kyle Schultz — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:54:39 +0000

As a team centered on leading the change, we believe it is important to shine a light on the people around us focused on impactful solutions. Keep reading to meet this season's Shine On Champion!

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ENERGY STAR Or DOE Zero Energy Ready: What Can You Qualify For?

Jamie Hager — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 20:37:26 +0000

As you may already be aware, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was recently signed into law, extending the 45L Tax Credit for energy-efficient single-family new construction homes. The qualification process for homes is tied to the certification of two high-performance home programs – ENERGY STAR for Homes ($2500/home) and the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program ($5000/home). But what does it take to qualify for these programs? What spec changes may or may not be needed? In this blog, we will outline the basic requirements for each program and the next steps to help your homes achieve certification.

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Top 5 Air Sealing Tips To Save Time And Money

Taylor Fearrington — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:15:36 +0000

Beyond meeting certificate requirements for programs like ENERGY STAR or ecoSelect, you can expect air sealing to offer higher building performance. For many builders, an effective (or more effective) air sealing strategy may help achieve the tighter blower door requirements for rebate programs like Duke Energy’s HERO Code.

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45L Tax Credit: Single-Family Guide For More Money Back

Taylor Fearrington — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:06:00 +0000

As you may have heard, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was recently signed on August 16th. This means several exciting things for the clean energy world – like increasing the Solar Tax Credit (ITC) to 30% and extending the existing 45L Tax Credit for energy-efficient single-family and multifamily homes for the next 10 years! Learn more about how the 45L Tax Credit can impact single-family home builders in this article.

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Meet Our Summer Shine On Champ from DR Horton

Lindsay Brecheisen — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 20:03:00 +0000

As a team centered on leading the change, we believe it is important to shine a light on the people around us focused on impactful solutions. Keep reading to meet this season's Shine On Champion!

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Update on ENERGY STAR 3.1

Taylor Fearrington — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 14:09:22 +0000

ENERGY STAR will be transitioning to a new version of the program – ENERGY STAR 3.1 – in many states at the start of 2023. Several states, like North Carolina and South Carolina, will be required to use version 3.1 for single-family homes permitted on or after January 1, 2023. The primary difference between the current and previous versions is the requirement for a higher-performing Energy Rating Index (ERI) target. In this article you'll learn more about the requirements and what’s next.

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The Need for HVAC Quality Assurance

Emil de Jong — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 15:26:07 +0000

With the vast majority of HVAC systems not being installed to their maximum potential, coupled with the fact that most comfort complaints are HVAC related, there is tremendous potential to ensure quality design and installation prior to home occupancy.

A poorly installed HVAC system may lead homeowners to believe that their system is undersized because it is not meeting their heating and cooling requirements. Assuming a good HVAC design was done, this may not be a sizing problem at all. In fact, based on many studies, this is much more likely an installation issue. Whether it be excessive duct leakage, improper air flow, or improper refrigerant charge, there is an opportunity to assess all these steps before handing over the keys. Learn about the HVAC Grading process and how it can improve your home’s performance.

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Crawl Space Risks and Best Practices in North Carolina

Lindsay Brecheisen — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:37:00 +0000

Topics in this Article 01: Vented vs Sealed 02: Sealed Benefits 03: Strategies & How To 04: Impact & Incentives TOPIC 01 Vented vs Sealed Crawl Spaces Let’s be real — not many of us invite our friends over and say, “let’s go check out the crawlspace.” They are areas that are historically dark, dank, […]

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