Building America Overview

Building America works with members of the home-building industry to produce quality homes that use less energy without costing more to build. Building America employs two principles in working toward this goal. 

• It views the house as a system and then looks at re-engineering that house; this is in contrast to making isolated changes in one part of the house. 
• It brings together all segments of the housing industry: designers, builders, developers, financial institutions, materials suppliers and equipment manufacturers. Through communication and analysis, problems are identified and solutions are developed.

Goals

1. Design and construct more energy efficient homes 
2. Reduce construction costs to provide more affordable housing 
3. Improve comfort 
4. Improve health and safety and indoor air quality 
5. Increase resource use efficiency
6. Increase building durability

Key Strategies

Building America has developed key strategies that focus or direct its work. These strategies reflect general decisions about how the goals will be accomplished but leave the specific details open-they are performance-based wherever possible. Different materials and methods may be selected and yet still be consistent with the strategies and goals.

1. Building Enclosure Leakage must be controlled to less than 2.5 square inches per 100 feet of building enclosure. This strategy and specific performance target are critical to accomplishing the program's goals. 
2. Pollutant Control accomplished through a combination of 
   1. Source Control - decreasing pollutant source strength reduces needed removal rate 
   2. Controlled Mechanical Ventilation - dilutes pollutants 
3. Building Durability requires a building enclosure designed to exclude moisture and to promote drying should it get wet.

Advantages to Builders

Building America houses use less energy to heat and cool than standard houses - that's good for the homeowner, the environment and our nation's energy balance. Building America houses are more comfortable and more durable - again this benefits the homeowner. But what is in it for the builder? At this point you're probably wondering how much more will it cost you per house to meet Building America's standards? Well, it depends on a lot of variables such as your current construction practices. Below are some of the cost variables and factors involved in switching to the Building America way.

• Better windows, more efficient furnaces and air conditioners, more insulation and sealing the holes in the envelope cost more, but
• Because of these changes the air conditioning unit can be downsized and therefore costs less.
• With smaller air handlers less air flow is needed so ductwork can be downsized and simplified and costs less.
• Better moisture management means fewer callbacks and saves money.
• Fewer warranty problems => happier homeowners.
• Happier homeowners => more referrals to the builder.
• More referrals => easier sales => more profit.
• Predictable heating and cooling costs facilitates energy guarantees; in some markets this translates to more sales.
• One of the intangible costs is the effort usually required to implement the necessary changes. Most people are not happy to have to change how they do things.

But don't just take our word; check out the Building America Case Studies to find out what some actual builders and their customers have to say.

The table below lists typical cost tradeoffs for several climates. For more detailed information go to The Building America Program: Systems Engineering for Resource and Energy Efficient Homes.

Cost Summary By Climate Type