Friday, August 24, 2012
Ball Homes is proud to be among a handful of Lexington builders to participate in a brand new Energy Smart rating system by RESNET, a leading national network of independent energy raters that promotes energy efficiency. As a participant in this program, each and every Ball home will be inspected and tested to ensure that it meets the criteria of having the title of an Energy Smart home.
After each home has been tested, RESNET will give it an individual rating certificate that shows the home's HERS rating index. This index is the industry's standard by which a home's energy efficiency is rated and its energy performance is calculated. Each home's HERS score will help buyers project energy costs and compare with other homes in the area. It also estimates the annual energy savings compared to the average existing home. The lower the score, the more energy efficient the home.
The current industry standard for home efficiency on the HERS index is a score of 100. Ball Homes is committed to going above and beyond that standard. Our new homes have consistently averaged a score between 75-85 for each home. That is a 15%-24% difference! Compared to the average existing home with a HERS index of 130, the same Energy Smart home will save 45% to 54% in energy costs, which amounts to hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year!
Better scores are achieved by thorough sealing and insulating to reduce holes and cracks in the home's "envelope," improved blocking to restrict the flow of unheated or uncooled air, and better insulation practices. Since the energy rater is involved throughout the construction process, the home can be tested and checked as it is being built, and best practices are assured.
Each Energy Smart home is individually inspected and tested by a certified home energy rater using a thermal bypass inspection checklist for such features as tightness of construction and ducts, high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and effective insulation and blocking. Homes also undergo a final blower door test to evaluate and improve air leakage into the home, and a duct blaster test to locate and seal any leakage in the HVAC system.
Energy Smart homes mean lower utility bills, more comfortable homes with more consistent temperatures between and across rooms, and improved indoor air quality. More efficient energy use also means environmental benefits for everyone, including reduced air pollution generated by the production of energy at power plants.
Ball Homes’ commitment to this program not only shows our stance on energy efficiency and conservation, but also our focus on building quality homes!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Ball Homes has been proudly building homes for Kentucky families since 1959. Founded by Don and Mira Ball and now operated by the second generation of the Ball family, we are proud to be recognized as a consistent leader among builders in our area. Ball Homes has been honored to have been voted Lexington's Favorite Builder by Lexington Herald-Leader's Reader's Choice Awards every year since 2008. BUILDER'S magazine has ranked Ball Homes as one of the nation's top 100 builders annually since 1998 and among the top 50 in 2007.COLOR web size.jpg)
As a family owned and operated business, we are proud to offer quality homes at an attainable price. We understand that building a home is a major step in people’s lives. We want to make that transition as easy and stress-free as possible. We stand by our quality workmanship, great customer care, and a solid reputation. We offer many different styles of floor plans to meet the needs and lifestyles of today's homebuyers.
From starter homes to townhomes, Ball Homes provides personalized options and superior quality to a diverse group of people. With over 30 subdivisions across Central and Western Kentucky and Knoxville, homebuyers can have the confidence and security of knowing that when they build with Ball Homes, they will be getting superior service and a quality home.
We want to welcome you to our new blog. We hope that the material you find here will be informative and enjoyable. We strive to be an integral part of our communities, so sign up to get regular updates from this blog and our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Contact us to build your dream home today!