WTOP's David Burd contributed to this story. Follow David and WTOP on Twitter.
FREDERICK, Md. - Homebuyers looking for energy-efficient homes have some new options in downtown Frederick. Nexus Energy Homes will complete 55 energy-efficient houses by the end of 2012.
They feature cost-saving, green technology, including solar panels, energy recovery ventilation and geothermal pipes that go 300 feet into the ground where it stays a temperate 55 degrees. This helps the heating system warm up faster and use less energy than systems that have to start up at the outside temperature.
An energy bill for a three-level, three-bedroom home can range from zero to $30, according to Nexus Homes. Most homeowners end up with a surplus of energy they can sell back to the power companies to make extra bucks.
Other features include double insulation, energy recovery ventilation and high efficiency heating and cooling. Fresh air is pumped back into the homes every 48 minutes where it goes through filters, keeping allergens stay out.
The houses also have energy-efficient appliances, and they have advanced monitoring systems that can be controlled by using an iPad supplied by the builder.
The homes range in price from $275,000 to $700,000 depending on size and model.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Friday, December 16, 2011
Centreville Home Could Make History
Is set to be Maryland's first free-standing net zero home
If construction of their Centreville home remains on schedule, the Whichards will move into Maryland's first free-standing net zero home by the end of January.
The home, which is currently under construction in the Three Creeks area of Centreville by Nexus Energy Homes, will generate as much energy as it uses, creating a net zero balance at year's end.
The finished product will be equipped with geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels, super-insulated building shells and environmentally conscious, or "green," building materials.
A broadcast engineer by trade, Michael Whichard appreciates both the technical and practical aspects of his new construction.
"I'm all about economics and efficiency. I'm always trying to find ways to do it better, faster and for less money. It's my job," said Michael Whichard, who currently works with American Forces broadcasting out of Ft. Meade.
His new home promises to meet all of those criteria and more.
BETTER
The home is constructed from the ground up with the most air-tight and efficient materials available, said Mike Murphy, construction division president for Nexus.
Traditional building techniques allow a house to breathe, which sounds good but creates a structure at nature's whim hot in the summer, cold in the winter and subject to air pollution.
The Whichards' foundation is structural insulated panels (SIP), made of rigid plastic foam sandwiched between structural boards. This provides twice the insulation and strength of a standard foundation.
The home is sealed tight with expandable spray foam at the rafters and in every nook and cranny.
"Energy efficiency is in the envelope of the home. We build the tightest envelope of any builder anywhere," Murphy said.
This would be a disaster in a traditional home because it would produce excess moisture, enough to destroy everything inside, Murphy said, likening the result to living in a steam room.
In the Whichards' home, air will be conditioned and filtered, creating a constant and pure flow of air.
"The rocket science of this home is how we properly ventilate it and push air throughout the home," Murphy said.
Solar panels to produce enough energy for the home's systems come standard.
A geothermal heat pump, high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system and pressurizing units sit in the conditioned attic space. Duct work servicing the systems is sealed with mastic, a liquid duct tape.
The system requires no more or less duct work than a traditional home, it's "just better," Murphy said.
He said maintenance of the system also is better than a traditional home. The HEPA filter is the only extraordinary requirement with filter replacement necessary every 12 to 18 months at a cost of about $110.
The payoff is the system still will be running perfectly after 25 to 30 years, since there is less strain than a traditional HVAC system.
Other standard features include Nexus Vision, a patented remote home control software, high efficiency windows and central vacuum.
With Nexus Vision, the Whichards can manage energy usage and other home administration from nearly anywhere.
High-efficiency wood windows, clad in vinyl on the outside for durability but left natural on the interior, are by preference of Murphy, who said for him, "wood is the only option."
The vacuum system is a necessity, as traditional appliances recycle dust and dirt back into the home.
FASTER
Michael Whichard said the most surprising thing so far is the speed at which his new home is going up. Even with a three-week delay due to Hurricane Irene, the home is on schedule for a five-month build out.
The Whichards signed the contract in June, broke ground in August and are still on track to close in January.
"I can build my homes faster because of the components I use," Murphy said. "The SIPs panels save 35 to 40 percent on labor alone. We are foundation to under roof in seven days."
Traditional construction takes 14 days from foundation to under roof, meaning the shell of the home is complete in 14 days, Murphy said.
"People say to plan for everything to take twice as long as it should with new construction. I can't believe how quick this process has been," Michael Whichard said.
CHEAPER
Time savings translates to cost savings, which means the Whichards were able to buy into their new 2,700-square-foot, three bedroom, two and a half bath, energy efficient, green home for $375,000.
Jeannie Whichard said this was a major consideration.
"I'm from the south, where $250,000 gets you a really nice home. Our dream was to live in a green home, and this makes it affordable," Jeannie Whichard said.
The price has gone up to around $420,000 now, due to modifications such as a mudroom for the Whichards' two large German shepherd-cattle, mixed breed dogs, plus additional storage areas for large quantities of belongings acquired through years of travel abroad.
Modifications in the kitchen include a raised dishwasher so Jeannie will not have to strain her already injured back to load and unload.
Although Jeannie is looking forward to these features specifically designed to her specifications, she is more anxiously awaiting a lifestyle free of allergens. She suffers from allergies of every imaginable kind, requiring two shots per week for the past 10 years. She has high hopes her suffering will at least lessen from an air-tight seal, conditioning and HEPA filtration system.
Standard in Nexus homes, there was no extra charge for this anticipated relief.
"Oh my gosh. All homes should be built like this," Jeannie Whichard said.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Maryland Clean Energy Center honors Nexus Energy Homes
Maryland Clean Energy Center honors Nexus Energy Homes
Star Democrat
Nov 18th, 2011
ROCKVILLE
Nexus Energy Homes and its leader, Paul Zanecki, recently were honored with the Maryland Clean Energy Center's Partnership Award.
The Partnership Award is presented to an individual, group or organization that has committed resources to encourage the success of the Maryland Clean Energy Center and its mission, or has facilitated successful partnerships between stakeholders in the state to advance adoption of clean energy products, services and technologies, as well as energy efficiency practices.
Nexus Energy Homes was awarded the honor for its "net zero energy" community that is being constructed in the city of Frederick.
Zanecki and his team have demonstrated that these kinds of homes are affordable at lower- and upper-income levels, and are building the homes of the future with the added value of related job creation and the deployment of renewable energy technology to generate clean power at the source of the demand, according to the press release.
Star Democrat
Nov 18th, 2011
ROCKVILLE
Nexus Energy Homes and its leader, Paul Zanecki, recently were honored with the Maryland Clean Energy Center's Partnership Award.
The Partnership Award is presented to an individual, group or organization that has committed resources to encourage the success of the Maryland Clean Energy Center and its mission, or has facilitated successful partnerships between stakeholders in the state to advance adoption of clean energy products, services and technologies, as well as energy efficiency practices.
Nexus Energy Homes was awarded the honor for its "net zero energy" community that is being constructed in the city of Frederick.
Zanecki and his team have demonstrated that these kinds of homes are affordable at lower- and upper-income levels, and are building the homes of the future with the added value of related job creation and the deployment of renewable energy technology to generate clean power at the source of the demand, according to the press release.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Ann Ashley
NEXUS EnergyHomes
ann.ashley@nexusenergyhomes.com
(410) 490-3675
Alan Cohen
Advanced Technology & Research Corp.
acohen@atrsolartech.com
(443) 766-7954
Ground-mount “Suntrackers” featured by ATR Solartech, NEXUS EnergyHomes at Maryland Clean Energy Summit – suited for homeowners and businesses
October 26, 2011, Baltimore, MD – Two ground-mounted “Suntrackers” are being exhibited jointly by Maryland companies ATR Solartech and NEXUS EnergyHomes at the Maryland Clean Energy Summit, which opens October 27 in Baltimore. These highly efficient ground-mounted units offer the homeowner a low cost and more flexible option for adding solar power to assist in meeting their home energy needs.
One Suntracker will sit next to the ATR and NEXUS booths (numbers 51 and 52) at the Baltimore Hilton-Inner Harbor exposition and another unit placed just outside the hotel will be actively tracking the sun and producing power. Both units have a pair of 235 watt panels (470 total) and incorporate an advanced GPS controller to track the sun and maximize the daily energy production. The devices, which are designed and manufactured in Maryland by ATR, are being produced with the assistance of a Maryland Energy Administration grant using federal stimulus funds. ATR is based in Columbia.
NEXUS EnergyHomes, which builds net-zero energy homes and is headquartered in Stevensville, recently became a Suntracker distributor. “We’re excited to be exhibiting our Suntracker here at the Clean Energy Summit with our new partner, NEXUS EnergyHomes,” said Dr. Jackson Yang, ATR’s CEO. “These compact and highly efficient devices will help homeowners and businesses replace fossil-fuel-based grid power with their own clean, renewable energy from the sun,” Yang said. “Every home owner has a desire to reduce energy costs. Partnering with ATR to distribute the Suntracker allows NEXUS EnergyHomes the ability to bring energy efficiency to home owners that are otherwise unable to retrofit their homes to meet net-zero standards.” said Ann Ashley, Nexus’ Sr. Vice President.
About NEXUS EnergyHomes
The NEXUS EnergyHome provides every home-buyer with the opportunity to own a home that meets NetZero Standards —a home that offers the ability be “off the grid” and produce as much energy as it consumes. After years of research and testing with the NAHB, and through NEXUS EnergyHomes’ complex construction process using proprietary designs, innovative materials, and the very best of modern technologies, NEXUS EnergyHomes is making a Revolutionary Change to the way homes are constructed in America. Simply put, NEXUS EnergyHomes is the first company to make these technologies work in perfect harmony in a single family home, and at a rate no different than other homes currently on the market.
NEXUS EnergyHomes builds custom homes throughout the Mid-Atlantic, and currently offers GeoSolar Communities in Frederick, MD, Three Creeks in Centreville, MD and Wisp at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Other community initiatives in negotiations include, Millville, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Northern VA. To learn more about our homes, please visit our website, www.nexusenergyhomes.com.
About ATR
Advanced Technology & Research Corp. (ATR) is a Maryland-based engineering firm with a 38-year history of excellence in military systems, robotics and automation equipment. Over the past three years, the company has developed a suite of solar power systems for small-scale commercial and residential applications. All ATR Solartech systems feature state-of-the-art sun-tracking technology for enhanced energy production from photovoltaic panels, mounts designed for vertical structures, small footprints and strong aesthetics. Produced in Maryland, ATR Solartech products include the ground and roof-mounted systems for clean energy production being exhibited at the Summit, distributed solar power generation systems for lighting and utility poles, solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations and the tracking solar components of hybrid wind-solar systems. For more information, please visit http://www.atrsolartech.com.
Contacts:
Ann Ashley
NEXUS EnergyHomes
ann.ashley@nexusenergyhomes.com
(410) 490-3675
Alan Cohen
Advanced Technology & Research Corp.
acohen@atrsolartech.com
(443) 766-7954
Ground-mount “Suntrackers” featured by ATR Solartech, NEXUS EnergyHomes at Maryland Clean Energy Summit – suited for homeowners and businesses
October 26, 2011, Baltimore, MD – Two ground-mounted “Suntrackers” are being exhibited jointly by Maryland companies ATR Solartech and NEXUS EnergyHomes at the Maryland Clean Energy Summit, which opens October 27 in Baltimore. These highly efficient ground-mounted units offer the homeowner a low cost and more flexible option for adding solar power to assist in meeting their home energy needs.
One Suntracker will sit next to the ATR and NEXUS booths (numbers 51 and 52) at the Baltimore Hilton-Inner Harbor exposition and another unit placed just outside the hotel will be actively tracking the sun and producing power. Both units have a pair of 235 watt panels (470 total) and incorporate an advanced GPS controller to track the sun and maximize the daily energy production. The devices, which are designed and manufactured in Maryland by ATR, are being produced with the assistance of a Maryland Energy Administration grant using federal stimulus funds. ATR is based in Columbia.
NEXUS EnergyHomes, which builds net-zero energy homes and is headquartered in Stevensville, recently became a Suntracker distributor. “We’re excited to be exhibiting our Suntracker here at the Clean Energy Summit with our new partner, NEXUS EnergyHomes,” said Dr. Jackson Yang, ATR’s CEO. “These compact and highly efficient devices will help homeowners and businesses replace fossil-fuel-based grid power with their own clean, renewable energy from the sun,” Yang said. “Every home owner has a desire to reduce energy costs. Partnering with ATR to distribute the Suntracker allows NEXUS EnergyHomes the ability to bring energy efficiency to home owners that are otherwise unable to retrofit their homes to meet net-zero standards.” said Ann Ashley, Nexus’ Sr. Vice President.
About NEXUS EnergyHomes
The NEXUS EnergyHome provides every home-buyer with the opportunity to own a home that meets NetZero Standards —a home that offers the ability be “off the grid” and produce as much energy as it consumes. After years of research and testing with the NAHB, and through NEXUS EnergyHomes’ complex construction process using proprietary designs, innovative materials, and the very best of modern technologies, NEXUS EnergyHomes is making a Revolutionary Change to the way homes are constructed in America. Simply put, NEXUS EnergyHomes is the first company to make these technologies work in perfect harmony in a single family home, and at a rate no different than other homes currently on the market.
NEXUS EnergyHomes builds custom homes throughout the Mid-Atlantic, and currently offers GeoSolar Communities in Frederick, MD, Three Creeks in Centreville, MD and Wisp at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Other community initiatives in negotiations include, Millville, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Northern VA. To learn more about our homes, please visit our website, www.nexusenergyhomes.com.
About ATR
Advanced Technology & Research Corp. (ATR) is a Maryland-based engineering firm with a 38-year history of excellence in military systems, robotics and automation equipment. Over the past three years, the company has developed a suite of solar power systems for small-scale commercial and residential applications. All ATR Solartech systems feature state-of-the-art sun-tracking technology for enhanced energy production from photovoltaic panels, mounts designed for vertical structures, small footprints and strong aesthetics. Produced in Maryland, ATR Solartech products include the ground and roof-mounted systems for clean energy production being exhibited at the Summit, distributed solar power generation systems for lighting and utility poles, solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations and the tracking solar components of hybrid wind-solar systems. For more information, please visit http://www.atrsolartech.com.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
NEXUS wins award and is nominated for Builder of the Year!
NEXUS EnergyHomes will receive an EnergyValue Housing Award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center for being one of 17 of the nation's most energy-conscious builders and remodelers. Additionally NEXUS has been nominated for the 2012 Builder of the Year Award in the category of “New Homes” to be revealed in February 2012 at the 17th Annual EnergyValue Housing Awards during the International Builders Show.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
September 2011 NEXUS News
North Pointe
Since the North Point model home opened, sales and lot deposits have scaled at unprecedented rates – far greater than originally predicted. In one day, on September 10, during Frederick’s annual festival, In the Streets, Nexus received 5 lot holds! A continuation of this “One Home a Week Sale’s Pace” will Sell-Out all available Nexus EnergyHomes at North Pointe in Frederick, MD before the end of next year. Within slightly over 3 months, that equates to a total of 15 lots on hold and/or under contract. If you think a first time homebuyer tax credit is good, on the first home that closed, these buyers are scheduled to receive $15,909 in Federal Tax Credits and $3750 in State Grant monies! That means they should get $19,659 back just for buying a NEXUS EnergyHome, and little to no utility bill!! It is likely you will not find any other home builder in America that is currently matching this value from a home nor match our sales velocity.
The profile of the North Pointe home buyer is varying. The profiles range from a Professor and Nurse, Downsizers from Montgomery County, First Time Home Buyers, Middle-Aged Couples and a Newspaper Publisher from New Hampshire. The only theme that seems to exist amongst these home-buyers is their desire for practicality and deletion of utility costs. The growth rate at North Pointe is unparalleled for these times, and far exceeds that of other builders.
Three Creeks
The buyers of the first home at Three Creeks, the Wichard family, are moving from Texas to Maryland to work at Fort Meade. We have the foundation and plumbing ready, and expect the SIPS (Structurally Insulated Panels) to arrive and be up in two weeks. They are very excited to live in a Nexus home and are pleased with the progress. We thank the Queenstown Bank of Maryland for extending, in these difficult lending times, the full construction loan for this Grayson/Corsica type house.
Nexus Capital, LLC
As virtually every business person knows, obtaining constructions loans for residential building companies, or even small business loans, has become a time consuming and often futile exercise. As most bankers will tell you, loan applicants need not apply so long as regulators continue to put unrelenting pressure on those institutions to dispose of or charge off existing real estate loans. It is difficult during these regulatory times to convince a bank to lend when they are being told to reduce their portfolio of real estate loans.
Because this situation clearly impacts Nexus’s ability to “scale up” to meet buyer/market demand, a demand that has been created and is increasing rapidly even in the current housing recessionary period, Nexus’s officers have decided to innovate a financial product. This Product, Nexus Capital, represents a construction loan solution for the EnergyHome market and an opportunity for our shareholders, friends and family to obtain low risk, fixed returns on their money similar to financial instruments such as Certificates of Deposit (CD’s) or Money Market Accounts. The major difference is the amount of the return! Without substantial overhead, carrying costs or debt, and controlled investment standards, Nexus Capital is structured to return 6% interest on its certificates or Units of deposit.
Compared to a bank’s . 3% or .4% returns on savings accounts or CD’s, Nexus Capital Units are an investment that benefits EnergyHome growth and flexibility, while providing outperforming returns to its Unit Owners. Should anyone be interested in learning more about Nexus Capital, LLC, please feel free to contact us.
Cross-Marketing Agreement
An agreement has been drafted, which will benefit both land owners and Nexus EnergyHomes, allowing for joint marketing initiatives to sell our products. Nexus and our partner land owners will work together by allowing Nexus to market “to be built” Nexus EnergyHomes on their lots. Nexus and its sub-agents and/or representatives will be permitted to offer and display marketing material including, but not limited to MLS/internet listings, brochures and/or other documents and plans to prospective home buyers. By way of the cross-marketing agreement, the Listing Brokers agree to allow Nexus and our sub-agents and/or representatives to market “to be built” Nexus EnergyHomes on the lots, even though the marketing materials may be through another real estate broker who is marketing for Nexus. This is a great example of Nexus teamwork and the types of people or organizations we select as partners.
Future Projects
In addition to our array of projects already in the pipeline, we are currently negotiating the potential to partner at Vint Hill in Fauquier County, Virginia (www.vinthill.com). Moving forward, Nexus would enter in the role of residential building partner, in a much larger planned “mixed-use” community, akin to a small town that will include; a shopping village, winery, theatre, farmer’s market and deli, amongst many other things.
In Summary
As we close in on the last quarter of 2011, Nexus is proud to announce; the extraordinary sales achievements reached in Frederick, the founding of the innovative Nexus Capital, LLC, a Financial Instrument, which allows us to fund our own expanding construction needs, while offering outstanding returns to the funds contributors. And we are certainly pleased to highlight the addition of another fantastic community in which to set Nexus roots.
Since the North Point model home opened, sales and lot deposits have scaled at unprecedented rates – far greater than originally predicted. In one day, on September 10, during Frederick’s annual festival, In the Streets, Nexus received 5 lot holds! A continuation of this “One Home a Week Sale’s Pace” will Sell-Out all available Nexus EnergyHomes at North Pointe in Frederick, MD before the end of next year. Within slightly over 3 months, that equates to a total of 15 lots on hold and/or under contract. If you think a first time homebuyer tax credit is good, on the first home that closed, these buyers are scheduled to receive $15,909 in Federal Tax Credits and $3750 in State Grant monies! That means they should get $19,659 back just for buying a NEXUS EnergyHome, and little to no utility bill!! It is likely you will not find any other home builder in America that is currently matching this value from a home nor match our sales velocity.
The profile of the North Pointe home buyer is varying. The profiles range from a Professor and Nurse, Downsizers from Montgomery County, First Time Home Buyers, Middle-Aged Couples and a Newspaper Publisher from New Hampshire. The only theme that seems to exist amongst these home-buyers is their desire for practicality and deletion of utility costs. The growth rate at North Pointe is unparalleled for these times, and far exceeds that of other builders.
Three Creeks
The buyers of the first home at Three Creeks, the Wichard family, are moving from Texas to Maryland to work at Fort Meade. We have the foundation and plumbing ready, and expect the SIPS (Structurally Insulated Panels) to arrive and be up in two weeks. They are very excited to live in a Nexus home and are pleased with the progress. We thank the Queenstown Bank of Maryland for extending, in these difficult lending times, the full construction loan for this Grayson/Corsica type house.
Nexus Capital, LLC
As virtually every business person knows, obtaining constructions loans for residential building companies, or even small business loans, has become a time consuming and often futile exercise. As most bankers will tell you, loan applicants need not apply so long as regulators continue to put unrelenting pressure on those institutions to dispose of or charge off existing real estate loans. It is difficult during these regulatory times to convince a bank to lend when they are being told to reduce their portfolio of real estate loans.
Because this situation clearly impacts Nexus’s ability to “scale up” to meet buyer/market demand, a demand that has been created and is increasing rapidly even in the current housing recessionary period, Nexus’s officers have decided to innovate a financial product. This Product, Nexus Capital, represents a construction loan solution for the EnergyHome market and an opportunity for our shareholders, friends and family to obtain low risk, fixed returns on their money similar to financial instruments such as Certificates of Deposit (CD’s) or Money Market Accounts. The major difference is the amount of the return! Without substantial overhead, carrying costs or debt, and controlled investment standards, Nexus Capital is structured to return 6% interest on its certificates or Units of deposit.
Compared to a bank’s . 3% or .4% returns on savings accounts or CD’s, Nexus Capital Units are an investment that benefits EnergyHome growth and flexibility, while providing outperforming returns to its Unit Owners. Should anyone be interested in learning more about Nexus Capital, LLC, please feel free to contact us.
Cross-Marketing Agreement
An agreement has been drafted, which will benefit both land owners and Nexus EnergyHomes, allowing for joint marketing initiatives to sell our products. Nexus and our partner land owners will work together by allowing Nexus to market “to be built” Nexus EnergyHomes on their lots. Nexus and its sub-agents and/or representatives will be permitted to offer and display marketing material including, but not limited to MLS/internet listings, brochures and/or other documents and plans to prospective home buyers. By way of the cross-marketing agreement, the Listing Brokers agree to allow Nexus and our sub-agents and/or representatives to market “to be built” Nexus EnergyHomes on the lots, even though the marketing materials may be through another real estate broker who is marketing for Nexus. This is a great example of Nexus teamwork and the types of people or organizations we select as partners.
Future Projects
In addition to our array of projects already in the pipeline, we are currently negotiating the potential to partner at Vint Hill in Fauquier County, Virginia (www.vinthill.com). Moving forward, Nexus would enter in the role of residential building partner, in a much larger planned “mixed-use” community, akin to a small town that will include; a shopping village, winery, theatre, farmer’s market and deli, amongst many other things.
In Summary
As we close in on the last quarter of 2011, Nexus is proud to announce; the extraordinary sales achievements reached in Frederick, the founding of the innovative Nexus Capital, LLC, a Financial Instrument, which allows us to fund our own expanding construction needs, while offering outstanding returns to the funds contributors. And we are certainly pleased to highlight the addition of another fantastic community in which to set Nexus roots.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Washington Post - In Frederick, aiming to build ‘green homes’ that don’t break the bank
By Christine MacDonald, Published: August 12
Anyone paying attention to the “green building” market knows that most of the eco-friendly abodes that have proliferated across the country in recent years have been million-dollar trophy homes.
But the developers of the new North Pointe neighborhood in Frederick are taking things in the other direction: They’re building energy-efficient townhouses and duplexes geared toward middle-class buyers. The 55 homes start in the mid-$200,000s, but will offer the kind of “green bling” usually found in more upscale models: solar panels, geothermal heating and a sophisticated computer system to help manage energy usage.
Green homes come in many varieties. Some simply have ecofriendly features, such as recycled flooring or low-flush toilets. Others are tightly sealed boxes that the aim to conserve energy. All these types of homes have popped up throughout the Washington region. In the District, an ambitious $700 million project under construction at the site of the city’s former convention center plans to offer a mix of offices, shops and homes — including green roofs on all the residential buildings. In Bethesda, there’s a super-insulated “passive house” built to a German green home standard, which claims to require only 10 percent of the energy it takes to heat and cool a conventionally built house. Add to that the Frederick development, which also claims energy-efficiency feats.
Builders have been trying to corner the green market for years, and green homes have gained some traction in the past decade. The market in residential green building increased from $7 billion in 2005 to between $12 billion and $17 billion last year, according to McGraw Hill Construction’s most recent Green Outlook report. Yet, these types of homes still remain far from mainstream, and many who track the industry are still waiting for a big break.
“Everyone says that once the industry emerges (from the current housing crisis), housing will be reinvented and there will be no other way but green,” said Rick Schwolsky, editor-in-chief of the construction industry magazine EcoHome.
North Pointe, which stretches across a three-block expanse of Frederick’s historic district, aims to be one of the first “net zero” communities in this region, meaning its homes are designed to produce as much electricity as they consume.
For starters, the homes will be built with a tight envelope (walls, roof and basement), which should reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool them. The walls are made of structural insulated panels, essentially two pieces of super-strong recycled wood filled with nearly seven inches of insulation. A foam that expands to 70 times its size is sprayed on the rafters and bandboards, for more sealing and insulation.
Each home has roughly 20 solar panels, mostly on the rooftops, that absorb energy from the sun and convert it to electricity. During the day, when a family is at work or school, the panels generally produce more energy than the home needs. That energy is fed into the electric company’s power grid, and a meter on the home tracks the transfer. At night, the energy is credited back to the household, said Mike Murphy, executive vice president at Nexus EnergyHomes, which developed North Pointe.
“You will be using the credit from the energy you put on the grid earlier in the day,” said Murphy, a former project manager at Toll Brothers, one of the nation’s largest home builders. “So essentially, you’re not paying for the energy you’re using in the evening. It’s a give and take with the energy all year long. At the end of a 12-month period, the give and take equals zero in terms of the net cost of the energy.”
Hence the term “net zero.”
Other potential savings: Home buyers can recoup part of the cost of the solar and geothermal systems by applying for state and federal tax credits. For instance, the development’s 2,700-square-foot model home is eligible for $17,000 in rebates, said Michael Muren, the community’s sales manager.
Since the community’s model home opened in June, another home has been built. Seven buyers have put down deposits, Muren said. Five are under contract and will break ground soon. If sales continue at the same rate, construction of all 55 units could be complete within about 18 months, he said.
But the success of any green home or commercial building ultimately hinges on the upfront calculations about the habits and needs of the people who use them.
In the commercial setting, the nation’s leading green building certification program — known as LEED — has been dogged by allegations that some buildings it approved have failed to deliver the projected energy savings. In New York, four design and construction professionals made similar claims in a lawsuit filed against the group that administers the certification program.
Brian Uher, co-owner of Amicus Consulting Services, a Kensington firm that specializes in green building, said builders are only estimating a structure’s future energy usage. The actual usage could be off by 10 to 20 percent. Skilled workmanship and correct installation are also key, he said.
“There’s no magic here,” Uher said. “It’s all about quality control.”
At North Pointe, the developers used computer software to estimate how much energy each house would require, right down to the number of loads of laundry that a typical family washes in a month to the number of lights they switch on — or forget to switch off. The idea was to try and gauge how much energy a family uses and how much solar energy would be needed to offset that.
To encourage homeowners to be more mindful of their energy usage, each North Pointe home comes with its own private Web site, behind a firewall, that owners can use to track how much energy they use — “like a miles-per-gallon meter for your house,” said John Spears, an investor in Nexus who helped develop the system. From a smartphone or laptop, homeowners can even turn off the lights or sprinklers when they’re away.
But “if they install 15 plasma TVs or add a beauty salon in the basement, I can’t control that,” Murphy said.
North Pointe is part of a broader effort to revitalize the area. Frederick’s housing authority, which owns the land on which the homes will be built, agreed to defer payment for the land as each sale is finalized, which helped defray costs and keep asking prices down, Murphy said. It didn’t hurt that the land was previously developed — with roads, sidewalks and lights in place — so that construction of the homes could begin immediately.
On top of all that, Nexus adjusted its profit margins to make the numbers work and leaned on its subcontractors to do the same, Murphy said. Economies of scale worked in the company’s favor. Building communities, as opposed to just one home, helps tighten up the numbers, he said. Nexus plans to build hundreds of net zero homes in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Another reason the community’s prices are relatively low, Murphy said: “Solar costs about half of what it did a few years ago.”
Christine MacDonald is a freelance writer for the Washington post.
Anyone paying attention to the “green building” market knows that most of the eco-friendly abodes that have proliferated across the country in recent years have been million-dollar trophy homes.
But the developers of the new North Pointe neighborhood in Frederick are taking things in the other direction: They’re building energy-efficient townhouses and duplexes geared toward middle-class buyers. The 55 homes start in the mid-$200,000s, but will offer the kind of “green bling” usually found in more upscale models: solar panels, geothermal heating and a sophisticated computer system to help manage energy usage.
Green homes come in many varieties. Some simply have ecofriendly features, such as recycled flooring or low-flush toilets. Others are tightly sealed boxes that the aim to conserve energy. All these types of homes have popped up throughout the Washington region. In the District, an ambitious $700 million project under construction at the site of the city’s former convention center plans to offer a mix of offices, shops and homes — including green roofs on all the residential buildings. In Bethesda, there’s a super-insulated “passive house” built to a German green home standard, which claims to require only 10 percent of the energy it takes to heat and cool a conventionally built house. Add to that the Frederick development, which also claims energy-efficiency feats.
Builders have been trying to corner the green market for years, and green homes have gained some traction in the past decade. The market in residential green building increased from $7 billion in 2005 to between $12 billion and $17 billion last year, according to McGraw Hill Construction’s most recent Green Outlook report. Yet, these types of homes still remain far from mainstream, and many who track the industry are still waiting for a big break.
“Everyone says that once the industry emerges (from the current housing crisis), housing will be reinvented and there will be no other way but green,” said Rick Schwolsky, editor-in-chief of the construction industry magazine EcoHome.
North Pointe, which stretches across a three-block expanse of Frederick’s historic district, aims to be one of the first “net zero” communities in this region, meaning its homes are designed to produce as much electricity as they consume.
For starters, the homes will be built with a tight envelope (walls, roof and basement), which should reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool them. The walls are made of structural insulated panels, essentially two pieces of super-strong recycled wood filled with nearly seven inches of insulation. A foam that expands to 70 times its size is sprayed on the rafters and bandboards, for more sealing and insulation.
Each home has roughly 20 solar panels, mostly on the rooftops, that absorb energy from the sun and convert it to electricity. During the day, when a family is at work or school, the panels generally produce more energy than the home needs. That energy is fed into the electric company’s power grid, and a meter on the home tracks the transfer. At night, the energy is credited back to the household, said Mike Murphy, executive vice president at Nexus EnergyHomes, which developed North Pointe.
“You will be using the credit from the energy you put on the grid earlier in the day,” said Murphy, a former project manager at Toll Brothers, one of the nation’s largest home builders. “So essentially, you’re not paying for the energy you’re using in the evening. It’s a give and take with the energy all year long. At the end of a 12-month period, the give and take equals zero in terms of the net cost of the energy.”
Hence the term “net zero.”
Other potential savings: Home buyers can recoup part of the cost of the solar and geothermal systems by applying for state and federal tax credits. For instance, the development’s 2,700-square-foot model home is eligible for $17,000 in rebates, said Michael Muren, the community’s sales manager.
Since the community’s model home opened in June, another home has been built. Seven buyers have put down deposits, Muren said. Five are under contract and will break ground soon. If sales continue at the same rate, construction of all 55 units could be complete within about 18 months, he said.
But the success of any green home or commercial building ultimately hinges on the upfront calculations about the habits and needs of the people who use them.
In the commercial setting, the nation’s leading green building certification program — known as LEED — has been dogged by allegations that some buildings it approved have failed to deliver the projected energy savings. In New York, four design and construction professionals made similar claims in a lawsuit filed against the group that administers the certification program.
Brian Uher, co-owner of Amicus Consulting Services, a Kensington firm that specializes in green building, said builders are only estimating a structure’s future energy usage. The actual usage could be off by 10 to 20 percent. Skilled workmanship and correct installation are also key, he said.
“There’s no magic here,” Uher said. “It’s all about quality control.”
At North Pointe, the developers used computer software to estimate how much energy each house would require, right down to the number of loads of laundry that a typical family washes in a month to the number of lights they switch on — or forget to switch off. The idea was to try and gauge how much energy a family uses and how much solar energy would be needed to offset that.
To encourage homeowners to be more mindful of their energy usage, each North Pointe home comes with its own private Web site, behind a firewall, that owners can use to track how much energy they use — “like a miles-per-gallon meter for your house,” said John Spears, an investor in Nexus who helped develop the system. From a smartphone or laptop, homeowners can even turn off the lights or sprinklers when they’re away.
But “if they install 15 plasma TVs or add a beauty salon in the basement, I can’t control that,” Murphy said.
North Pointe is part of a broader effort to revitalize the area. Frederick’s housing authority, which owns the land on which the homes will be built, agreed to defer payment for the land as each sale is finalized, which helped defray costs and keep asking prices down, Murphy said. It didn’t hurt that the land was previously developed — with roads, sidewalks and lights in place — so that construction of the homes could begin immediately.
On top of all that, Nexus adjusted its profit margins to make the numbers work and leaned on its subcontractors to do the same, Murphy said. Economies of scale worked in the company’s favor. Building communities, as opposed to just one home, helps tighten up the numbers, he said. Nexus plans to build hundreds of net zero homes in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Another reason the community’s prices are relatively low, Murphy said: “Solar costs about half of what it did a few years ago.”
Christine MacDonald is a freelance writer for the Washington post.
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