Centex Corp. this month announced that construction is under way on Centex Energy Advantage homes Houston; Austin, Texas; and Charlotte, N.C. According to the Dallas-based production builder, Energy Advantage homes, an internal program, are up to 22% more efficient than comparable new houses built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. And when compared with a typical 10-year-old home, Energy Advantage models are up to 40% more energy efficient, says the company.In addition, “Every Centex Energy Advantage home will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from day one and cumulatively avoid thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emissions over time,” Centex director of sales and marketing Stephen Haines said in a statement. “These homes are good for the whole community, not just their owners.”
According to an NAHB Research Center study that Centex commissioned, each Energy Advantage home produces 1.78 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The suite of efficiency features are included as standard at no extra cost. Energy Advantage dwellings include:
A wireless energy monitor that provides real-time information about electricity usage and expense that can lead to a 4% to 15% reduction in electricity use
Whirlpool or KitchenAid brand Energy Star-qualified appliances
A 14-SEER Lennox high-efficiency HVAC system
Honeywell programmable thermostats
Low-E windows
R-38 insulation and Solar Board radiant-barrier roof sheathing
Compact fluorescent lights in high-traffic areas
A Viega Manabloc water-conserving plumbing system