Tips on Completing a Winning Application

The EVHA is not just a program, it is also a process. Every year, at least one non-winning past applicant has returned as a winner. "The EVHA has really changed what I do and the way I think and has made a difference, and I can tell you it will do the same for you and your customers," says Orlo Stitt, winner of 16 EnergyValue Housing Awards, including the 1999 EVHA Builder of the Year, and 2006 and 2008 EVHA People's Choice Award.

The following tips are compiled from EVHA winners, administrators, and judges to help you prepare a winning EVHA application. These tips follow the outline of, and should be used in conjunction with, the EVHA application form. Contact Debra Sagan, Program Manager at at 800-638-8556 x6210 with any application questions; NAHB Research Center staff members are here to help you through the application process.

General Information

Completeness. It is important to submit a complete application with correct information in order to demonstrate that you understand your product. Make sure your entry has addressed all of the questions in the application.

Returning applicants. Different judges review applications every year. Do not assume this year's judges know your company's reputation. Write as if the judges know nothing about your EVHA history and thoroughly complete every question.

Question not applicable. If a section does not apply to you, leave it blank.

Narratives. Judges are looking for a description, even if there is seemingly nothing to report. For example, if you are building on an infill lot you might have oriented the home according to the original development, leaving you with few options pertaining to solar orientation. If there were limitations to optimal site design, include a discussion on the barriers that were faced. The discussion demonstrates your company's consideration for site conditions, even though there may not have been opportunity to incorporate the techniques in this project.

Supporting Documentation. Attach supporting materials where suggested. All things being equal, the application with the proof will win.

Be sure that supporting documentation is consistent with information reported on the EVHA application form or explain discrepancies.

Binding the application. Consider using tabs or other section dividers to make it easy for the judges to navigate your submittal.

Category. Enter the project in the appropriate category/categories. Understand the differences between the categories and know where you are in terms of the types of homes you are building.

• Affordable - Home targeted for customers at or below local Metropolitan Statistical Area's (MSA) median income, or first-time home buyers. Non-profit home builders are encouraged to submit applications.
• Custom - Home designed and built to owner's specifications or as a "one-off" speculative project.
• Multifamily - Homes built under the International Building Code or equivalent and which are three stories or less.
• Production - Home design, construction, and marketing practices replicated in multiple homes. Application information must be submitted for one specific home.
• Retrofit - An existing residence that has been significantly retrofitted, remodeled, or renovated with specific focus on energy included such as energy upgrades or energy improvements.

Climate Region. The heating degree days (HDD, base 65° F) and cooling degree days (CDD, base 65° F) for your area can be found by looking for the nearest city in the Annual Degree Days to Selected Bases 1971-2000 table from the National Climatic Data Center.

• Cold Climate - Heating Degree Days (HDD) greater than 5,500.
• Moderate Climate - 3,000 to 5,500 HDD or HDD less than 3,000 and CDD less than 2,000.
• Hot Climate - HDD less than 3,000 and CDD greater than 2,000.

Judging Criteria

Judges will evaluate applications on the criteria below. Note that homes in the "Custom" category are weighted differently than homes in all other categories; less emphasis is placed on "Marketing" and "Customer Relations" and more on "Energy Performance."

Evaluation Criteria	Weight of Scores
	Custom Category*	All Other Categories
*Application Completeness: This criterion examines whether all required materials are submitted and whether all referenced supporting documents are furnished.	5%	5%
1. Energy Value: This criterion examines what makes the home more energy efficient than code requirements or other homes in the local market.	48%	33%
2. Design: This criterion examines how energy efficiency is considered during the design process.	21%	21%
3. Construction: This criterion examines management methods and construction processes related to energy and resource efficiency.	13%	20%
4. Marketing & Customer Relations: This criterion examines how energy efficiency is incorporated into marketing, customer relations and customer education efforts: presentation of energy efficiency financing opportunities: the use of incentives and rebates to promote energy efficiency.	7%	15%
5. Energy/Green Building Programs: This criterion documents the certification of the EVHA entered home in energy/green programs, such ENERGYSTAR, Builders Challenge, Local and National Green building programs, etc.	6%	6%

1. ENERGY VALUE. These criteria examine what makes the home more energy efficient than code requirements or other homes in the local market. Sections 1.1 and 1.2 account for a large portion of the points available in the scoring process: 48% of the total for the custom category, and 33% of the total for all other categories.

1. Energy Value Statement. Describe how energy efficiency adds value to your homes. Make it clear to the judges that you "walk the walk." It is helpful to include your mission statement, the energy values you are committed to, and the energy efficiency information about your company that you convey to your customers.
2. Energy Performance. Make sure that the appropriate technical person completes or reviews the energy performance section to ensure that numbers and units of measure are meaningful to the judges. For example, make sure the person that knows about the home's windows and understands U- and R-values and SHGC is reviewing the section on windows. Correct information reflects your company's knowledge about energy efficiency.

   • House size: This section is for information purposes only. A home that uses smart design to reduce its size (and, hence, overall energy consumption) may be ranked higher than a larger home in order to break a tie score.

   • Exterior Doors with less than 50% glazing area: Judge's value R-value of exterior doors.

     R-value is the measure of the resistance of material to heat flow; the higher the number, the greater the resistance to heat flow. U-value is the measure of the thermal conductivity of a material, or the inverse of R-value (1/R), the lower the number, the greater the resistance to heat flow.

   • Windows and Exterior Glass Doors with more than 50% glazing area: Windows are rated according to climate and specific house design.

     Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of radiation falling on a window that is transmitted through the glass as heat. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, the higher the number, the more heat the window transmits. The desirable SHGC may be high or low depending on the climate and window orientation. For example, a south-facing low SHGC window would be favored in a cooling climate. See the Efficient Windows Collaborative for detailed information about climate-specific window selection at www.efficientwindows.org.

     You can retrieve U-value and SHGC information from the NFRC label found on most windows. Otherwise, the manufacturer should have printed information about your windows. Include manufacturer's specifications if NFRC ratings are not available.

     Although usually apparent on the site plan, consider showing the cardinal direction directly on your elevations to help judges quickly see which directions windows are facing.

   • Foundation Walls and Floor: For example, if you have a hybrid house with a crawl space and slab and some below grade slab, make sure all the information is included. Judge's value climate-specific design and, even in mild climates, judges like to see insulated slab edges.

     List R-values only for materials intended to insulate.

   • Above-Grade Walls: Judges value not only overall R-value, but also techniques to reduce thermal bridging, such as insulated foam sheathing, optimum value engineering or advanced framing techniques, and innovative wall systems such as SIPs and ICFs.

   • Flat Ceiling: Again, judges value overall R-value and techniques to reduce thermal bridging mentioned above.

   • Cathedral or Vaulted Ceiling: Judges value overall R-value and techniques to reduce thermal bridging.

   • Ducts: Judges place a high value on placing ductwork in conditioned space and sealing all joints with mastic or aluminum tape. Placement of ductwork is becoming increasingly important for the efficiency of new homes, as the building shell becomes better insulated and sealed.

     Most EVHA winners place the majority of ducts in conditioned space. If the ductwork is located in a hot ventilated attic in the cooling climate, or a cold vented crawlspace in the heating climate, your home is not going to score as well as a home with all ducts within the conditioned space.

     One EVHA judge described a home's thermal distribution efficiency as "low-hanging fruit," meaning there are low or no cost techniques to mitigate duct energy losses. A Builder's Guide to Placement of Ducts and HVAC Equipment in Conditioned Spaces and A Builder's Guide to Residential HVAC Systems, are good references.

     Builders who use ACCA Manual D for duct system design typically score well. Third party certification is a powerful verification tool. Include any reports generated from duct leakage tests. More information on duct leakage tests can be found on the ToolBase website.

     Duct area (or Duct surface area) - Duct surface area is a measure of the amount of duct that is exposed in some environment, and is used in calculations that measure conduction losses. Duct surface area is one data point used in the REM/Rate energy analysis software program.

     For square ducts: Surface x Length, where Surface = Height x 2 + Width x 2

     For round ducts: 2 pi R x Length

     Be sure to keep units consistent when computing.

     If you are unable to provide measurements of the duct surface area, the NAHB Research Center will use default values equal to 10% of the floor area for ducts in unconditioned spaces and 5% for ducts in conditioned spaces.

   • Air Infiltration: Again, third-party testing is highly valued, include any results from blower door tests. Test results from EVHA winning homes are typically 4 ACH50 or less.

     A blower door test is one way to measure air infiltration, or "leakiness," of a home. A specialized fan is placed in an exterior doorway and pressurizes (or depressurizes) the building. The fan has gauges that measure how many times in one hour the entire volume of air inside the building leaks to the outside, also known as air changes per hour (ACH). The higher the ACH, the more leaky the house.

     Higher ACH = Leakier house

   • Lighting: EVHA applicants are increasingly using more energy efficient fixtures and designs in their winning homes. Some EVHA winners design fluorescent lighting into the building by using architectural features such as under and over countertops, and incorporate ENERGY STAR or fluorescent fixtures or compact fluorescent bulbs.

   • HVAC and Water Heating: Judges are looking for a systems approach to home design. "Build it tight, ventilate right" is a motto used by one EVHA winner. That winner also tied this concept into the narrative of the customer relations section by writing about how they educate their customers on this concept.

     The best practice is to perform an ACCA Manual J calculation for loads, and an ACCA Manual S calculation for equipment.

     Note in your narrative if the HVAC and water heating equipment are ENERGY STAR rated. The application form does not prompt you to enter this information.

     Applications that discuss how tight the home is, but don't discuss mechanical ventilation, will score lower than those that discuss both.

     If you do not install air conditioning, explain why and the analyses that made you come to that conclusion.

     You can retrieve most efficiency information (AFUE, SEER, HSPF) from the EnergyGuide label found on most equipment.

     Heating
     Heating efficiency of furnaces is measure by their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). Furnaces range between 78 and 97 AFUE. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace.

     Heating efficiency of heat pumps (heat pumps are used instead of a separate furnace and central air conditioner) is measured by their Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). Heat pumps range between 6.8 and 10.2 HSPF. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heat pump.

     Cooling
     Cooling efficiency of central air conditioners is measured by their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). Central air conditioners range between 10 and 16.4 SEER. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the central air conditioner.

     Water Heating
     Efficiency of water heaters is measured by their Energy Factor (EF). Gas water heaters range between 0.5 and 0.7 EF; electric water heaters range between 0.78 and 0.99 EF. The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. This number is not required on the EnergyGuide label, but can often be found on a separate tag next to the label.

   • Appliances: ENERGY STAR appliances are a way to boost your application. If you do not supply appliances, discuss this in the application. Also discuss how you educate the homeowner as to what types of appliances they could purchase to help their home function more energy efficiently.

     You can retrieve most energy use information (kWh/yr.) from the EnergyGuide label found on most equipment.

     The American Council for An Energy Efficient Economy provides a list of The Most Energy-Efficient Appliances on their website at http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/mostenef.htm.

   • Additional Energy Features: Include a list of features that add to the efficiency of the home but that have not been listed already, including programmable thermostats, radiant barrier roof decking, etc.

   • Energy Impact: Include fuel bills or energy use for the home when possible. Judges favor applications with this type of supporting documentation. Discuss customer testimonials here, and also in the marketing section 4.3 (there judges would favorably score customer testimonials relating to energy efficiency).

2. DESIGN. These criteria examine how energy efficiency is considered during the design process. This section accounts for 10% of your total score.

1. Building Design. Judges highly value a preconstruction energy analysis that leads to design decisions based on cost to energy value. For example, one applicant invested in better windows with a low SHGC, allowing them to reduce the air conditioning size by ½-ton, which produced a net savings to the builder and a monthly energy savings to the occupants. Another applicant discovered, during the design stage, that moving all of the ducts into the conditioned space allowed them to downsize the furnace.
2. Building-to-Site Relationship. Judges are looking for a description, even if there is seemingly nothing to report. For example, if you are building on an infill lot you might have oriented the home according to the original development, leaving you with few options pertaining to solar orientation. If there were limitations to optimal site design, include a discussion on the barriers that were faced. The discussion demonstrates your company's consideration for site conditions, even though there may not have been opportunity to incorporate the techniques in this project.

3. CONSTRUCTION. These criteria examine management methods and construction processes related to energy and resource efficiency. This section accounts for 13% of your total score for custom category and 20% for all other categories.

1. Construction Methods. This is a good place to discuss quality assurance and total quality management programs. Discuss who is responsible for quality control on the jobsite and during the design stage, and discuss how inspections are conducted. Diagnostic testing is critical. Blower door and duct blaster tests are helpful in verifying that systems meet applicable standards. Be aware of these tests and hire someone who can provide these services and provide feedback to you and your crew.
   
   Judges are also looking for a systems engineering approach to building a home where all systems are connected. For example, do the framers, electricians, and other subcontractors know where the ducts are going?

4. MARKETING AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS. These criteria examine how energy efficiency is incorporated into marketing and customer-relations efforts. This is where you start thickening your application. Include as much of your marketing portfolio as possible. This section accounts for 12% of your score if you are applying in the custom category, and 20% in all other categories.

1. Marketing. Describe how you inform your buyers about the importance of energy efficiency. If you do not do a lot of marketing, explain why. For example, one affordable home builder constructed homes for occupants on a waiting list. The company, which did not need to market its homes, included an explanation in the narrative.
2. Financing. Discuss any innovative financing for energy efficient homes that your customers have used. If your customers do not typically qualify for EEMs, or innovative products are not available in your market, explain so.
3. Customer Relations.

5. ENERGY PROGRAMS. These criteria examine your participation in voluntary energy programs, such as those run by utilities, ENERGY STAR, HERS ratings, etc. This section accounts for 5% of your score. Although it only accounts for 2% of your score, a strong participation in energy programs could be the determining factor between your application and another.

1. Participation in Energy Programs. There are many local energy programs run by local utilities, ENERGY STAR, Building America, local home builder associations, and others. Detail your participation in these formal and even informal programs.
2. Don't just list what programs you participate in, but discuss why the program is important to the goals of your company.
3. This section can also include your company's own energy programs. Perhaps you offer guaranteed energy bills through your company or another local program. Such guarantees also fit well in the marketing section. For example, one builder guaranteed the occupants entire energy bill. The builder has only paid one nominal claim to a couple that kept their house at 84 degrees. However, the builder received a lot of publicity out of this service.
4. Also include any other awards you have won or applied for. Even if you applied for an award and didn't win, it demonstrates your company's commitment to achieving a higher level of energy efficient construction.

Application Help

Contact the program manager with questions.

Debra Sagan, EVHA Program Manager
NAHB Research Center, Inc.
400 Prince George's Boulevard
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774-8731
tel. (301) 430-6210 or (800) 638-8556 x6210
fax. (301) 430-6180
dsagan@nahbrc.com

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