Smart Home Features

An Energy Rating Index (ERI) measures a home’s energy efficiency and determines if it meets standard guidelines. This measurement is the national standard for assessing the energy efficiency of a home. A lower score means the home is more energy efficient. A certified, third-party Home Energy Rater from TexEnergy Solutions evaluates our homes during the energy audit. 

Our average Energy Rating Index (ERI) scores very well at 59. 

There are many variables that impact the ERI score and classify our homes as energy efficient:

Ventilation | Fresh Air

• Our Fresh Air ventilation uses an inline fan that amounts to 1/10^th less energy used than conventional mechanical ventilation. It also helps reduce indoor pollutants and contaminants to provide a healthier indoor living environment.


• With our air system, we average 2.2 air changes per hour (ACH). We are heating and cooling only air in livable indoor areas, making this system much more energy efficient. 


• A tight home is an energy efficient home, and new code requirements call for tighter homes. Texas requires 4 ACH or better in our region and we average almost half of our homes at 2.2 ACH.


• Our bathroom exhaust systems use lower amounts of energy, are quieter, and reduce humidity.

Insulation | Cool Attics

• Our most energy efficient feature in each home is simple. We use fully encapsulated Spray Foam Insulation on all interior walls and on the underside of roof decking. 

• Homes with Spray Foam Insulation are considered to be significantly tighter homes and have less air leakage than typical homes.


• Conventional attics can heat upwards of 140 degrees in the summer, but with spray foam encapsulated attics, we hover at around 80 degrees or less. 


• Our HVAC duct work is placed in air-conditioned spaces, rather than in hot, unregulated areas of the home.


• The cool air in the ducts don’t heat up before air is delivered to the home. 

HVAC Systems | Water Heating System | Smart Thermostat

• Our homes come with a Rheem Tankless Water Heater (per plan), which is an on-demand water heater that only uses energy when its needed. Our systems are generally 20% to 30% more efficient than traditional 50-gallon water heater tanks and has an Energy Factor (EF) of around .82, when most regular water heaters tanks are around .60 EF.  


• We use an HVAC system with high-efficiency 16-seer matchups, two-stage A/C, 96 AFUE furnace, and a 96% efficient variable speed furnace. The key to energy efficiency is designing each system uniquely per address (ACCA Manual J, D, and S), by correctly matching the cooling equipment functionality to the size of the space it works within. 


• Energy efficient, double-paned, Low-E insulated windows come standard in our homes.

Lighting | Fixtures | Appliances

• We install high efficiency LED flush mount lights throughout our homes, per plan. 


• Dusk-sensing guide lights require less energy output and are placed in hallways at secondary bedrooms, per plan.


• Our dishwashers are rated ENERGY STAR to help with water conservation and energy efficiency.


• With our low-flow bathroom water fixtures, we measure an efficient 1.5 gallons per minute and our low flow toilets measure 1.28 gallons per flush.