The EnergyValue Housing Award (EVHA) is the nation's preeminent energy efficiency award honoring builders who voluntarily incorporate energy efficiency into all aspects of new home construction. Builders submit detailed applications in any of five categories (Affordable, Custom/Demonstration, Factory-Built, Multifamily, Production) in one of three climate regions (Cold, Moderate, Hot). A panel of industry experts evaluates the applications and selects winners based on Energy Value, Design, Construction, Marketing and Customer Relations, and Energy Programs.
HISTORY
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Energy Subcommittee founded the EVHA program in 1996. Now in its 14th year, the EVHA has received 479 applications and honored 212 of those as EVHA winners.
The EVHA is funded primarily through the U.S. Department of Energy Building America program with additional support from private-sector sponsors.
BENEFITS OF APPLYING
Completing the application itself is a valuable self-examination tool. In addition, all applicants receive:
- A professional evaluation of their entries,
- Two complimentary passes to the EVHA Banquet during the International Builders' Show, and
- One year free single-user access to the BuildingGreen Suite (a $199 value)
A panel of industry experts thoroughly reviews each application and their comments are provided to each applicant in a written evaluation. Each applicant is invited to attend the EVHA Dinner Ceremony, a banquet honoring the EVHA winners, held during the International Builders' Show - the world's largest construction tradeshow. Each applicant also receives a free copy of the EVHA Winner Magazine - a compilation of best practices from the winners of the EVHA.
BENEFITS OF WINNING
EVHA winners gain marketing power, prestige, and join the ranks of the nation's energy-efficient elite.
- Winners can market themselves as EnergyValue Housing award-winning builders,
- Winners receive an award that can be displayed for consumers,
- Winners receive EVHA logos and customized press releases for local promotion,
- Winners are featured on the NAHB Research Center website,
- Design details of selected winners may be featured on the Building America website, NAHB's NBN Web site, in magazines, and in other national publications, and
- Select winners may be invited to share their success stories at workshops, educational programs, or conferences.
EVHA winners are unveiled at the EVHA Dinner Ceremony held during the International Builders' Show — the world's largest construction tradeshow. Winners receive a plaque they can display for consumers and use in promotional materials. Winners also receive resources such as logos and press releases to help market their achievements. Select winners are invited to share their success stories through various educational and outreach opportunities.
ELIGIBILITY
- All professional U.S. home builders and developers whose primary occupation is constructing homes and/or developing real estate are eligible for participation.
- Applicants need not be members of the NAHB.
- Previous winning projects are ineligible; however, previous winners may submit new or different homes.
- Submitted homes must have been completed after January 2006 and before application submittal.
APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITIES
Applicants must be willing to share information with other builders through magazines and NAHB Research Center outreach. Exceptions include proprietary information that must be clearly identified on application materials.
CATEGORIES
For all categories, builders should demonstrate the integration of energy efficiency into their general design, construction, and marketing practices. The award categories are as follows:
- 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.
- Factory-Built - Home built primarily in a factory. Can be HUD-code or modular. Does not include panelized construction.
- Multifamily - Homes built under the International Building Code or equivalent and must be three stories or less.
- Production - Home design, construction, and marketing practices replicated in multiple homes. Application information must be submitted for one specific home.
CLIMATE REGIONS
Winners in each category will be chosen from within the following climate regions:
- Cold Climate - Greater than 5,500 heating degree days (HDD).
- Moderate Climate - 3,000 to 5,500 HDD, or HDD less than 3,000 and cooling degree days (CDD) less than 2,000.
- Hot Climate - Less than 3,000 HDD and greater than 2,000 CDD.
The heating degree days (HDD, base 65°F) for your area can found by looking for the nearest city in the Annual Degree Days to Selected Bases 1971-2000 table from the National Climatic Data Center.
JUDGING PROCESS
A panel of energy-efficiency experts representing the disciplines of engineering, construction, design, and marketing will serve as judges. To determine winners, judges will consider all available information. Judges' decisions are final.
Judging will be based on the evaluation of criteria essential to the value of energy efficiency in new home construction. Applications will be measured relative to a threshold based on previous winners as well as other applications within a specific category and climate region.
Applications are grouped with other applications in the same category and climate region (i.e., Homes in the Affordable category and Hot climate region are judged together; homes in the Production category and Cold climate region are judged together.)
| Category | Climate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold | Moderate | Hot | |
| Affordable | Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
| Custom | Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
| Factory-Built | Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
| Multifamily | Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
| Production | Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Gold winner Silver winner Honorable Mention |
Applications with the highest total scores will be considered finalists. Finalists may also be judged on their relative energy performance as indicated by an energy analysis conducted by the NAHB Research Center. The energy analysis is consistent with the Building America's benchmark.
Based on the sole discretion of the judges, awards will be made in categories and regions where there are qualified applicants. Judges will also choose one overall winner, the EVHA Builder of the Year, who best represents energy value and the goals of the EVHA.
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 | 5% | 5% |
| Energy Value - This criterion examines what makes the home more energy efficient than code requirements or other homes in the local market. | 48% | 33% |
| Design - This criterion examines how energy efficiency is considered during the design process. | 20% | 20% |
| Construction - This criterion examines management methods and construction processes related to energy and resource efficiency. | 13% | 20% |
| Marketing and Customer Relations - This criterion examines how energy efficiency is incorporated into marketing and customer-relations efforts. | 12% | 20% |
| Energy Programs - This criterion examines your participation in voluntary energy programs, such as those run by utilities, ENERGY STAR, HERS ratings, etc. | 2% | 2% |
INSTRUCTIONS
To enter the EVHA, complete the EVHA Application Form. The application form entails filling-in-the-blank type questions, writing narratives, and attaching supporting documentation.
Narratives should be short, to the point, and relevant. They should describe practices while demonstrating your understanding of energy efficiency. Limit your response to one page per criterion.
Supporting documents include test reports, photographs, drawings, product literature, testimonials, awards, marketing pieces, and other supporting materials that illustrate features or describe details. Use original materials whenever possible. Videos and CDs may be included.
Submit three complete copies for each application, except only submit one set of at-scale floor plans. Applications should be bound and presently neatly. Insert supporting documents immediately following the section they pertain to.
Application materials will not be returned.
FEE AND DEADLINE
Entries must be postmarked by July 11, 2008. The entry fee for the EVHA is $100 per entry. A company may submit only one application in each category, for a maximum of five applications. A home entered under more than one category will be treated as separate entries. Please submit a separate entry fee and set of applications for each home and category. The fee and application materials are nonrefundable. Make checks payable to the NAHB Research Center.
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.org