Building America

Building America is a Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored private/public partnership that develops energy solutions for American homes. The goal of the program is to make “zero energy” homes – homes that require no net off-site energy over the year to operate – a practical, cost-effective reality by 2020.

Building America Logo Since 1995, Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) has headed the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) under DOE's Building America program. Besides SWA, CARB’s roster includes an expanding list of large and medium-sized production home builders and major industry suppliers. CARB provides home builders and developers with state-of-the-art design, engineering and testing to help them raise the energy performance and resource efficiency of their homes at little or no added cost. The Consortium has reduced energy consumption by at least 30% in several thousand homes, with the numbers expanding steadily. The team works with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory using a "build, test, rebuild, retest” methodology to develop the optimal cost-effective solution to each home design, community, region, and climate zone.

CARB is always looking for builders interested in moving towards the “zero energy” goal by combining excellent design and efficient technologies with renewable energy systems. CARB is currently working with builders to target energy savings of at least 40% to 70% over the Building America Benchmark which is based on the International Energy Conservation Code. CARB is also expanding its role to include multi-family low-rise housing, and factory-built housing, and is researching advanced mechanical and electrical systems for production homes. Through Building America, SWA can offer:

Architecture and engineering design services
Energy modeling
Performance Optimization
Cost-benefit analyses
Value-engineering
Design support
Construction support

When homes are completed, CARB typically works with builders to perform commissioning and testing to make sure things are working as designed, to evaluate advanced systems, and to inform the design of future projects. CARB prov ides uniquely builder-oriented assistance to improve energy performance and resource efficiency. By incorporating the builder’s cost and marketing goals, CARB insures that innovations will be adopted throughout the builder’s product line. In addition, CARB works with builders to ensure that measures are in place to maintain quality assurance.

SWA is a fully accredited architecture and engineering firm and has been a leader in high-performance, efficient, and sustainable building for over 30 years.

If you are interested in participating in the Building America Program, please contact Dianne Griffiths at dgrif@swinter.com.

For more Building America information on online, visit:
www.buildingamerica.gov
www.carb-swa.com

For our CARB Newsletter, visit:
www.carb-swa.com/carbfax.html

Projects:

Rural Development, Inc., Colrain, MA

Maryland Energy Administration Energy Efficient and Green Technology Building Template Guide

Current CARB partners:

Team Members

Davis Energy Group

Steven Winter Associates, Inc.

NewPort Partners LLC

Builders/Developers

Actus Lend Lease
Grupe Homes
Lennar Homes
Granite Bay Holdings
K2 Urbancorp
Kit Carson Development
Mercedes Homes
Meritage Homes
Paragon Homes
Rural Development, Inc.
Scandia USA
Shastan Homes
Struever Bros Eccles & Rouse

Manufacturers

Advanced Energy Products
BASF
Certainteed
DOW
Georgia Pacific
Home Automation, Inc.
Johns Manville
Old Castle
Speakman
SunPower
UltimateAir
Whirlpool

Agencies/Utilities/Universities

Local Government Commission
Maryland State Energy Office
New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
Structural Insulated Panel Association
University of Florida Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC)
Western Massachusetts Electric Company