2004 Media Releases & Alerts

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kimberly Warren

2005 EVHA Judging Complete - Expert Judging Panel Finds Exemplary Practices!

November 23, 2004, Upper Marlboro, Md. - Judging for the 2005 EnergyValue Housing Awards (EVHA) program is complete! A panel of energy-efficiency experts representing the engineering, construction, design, and marketing fields served as judges and evaluated applicants based on their homes' energy value; design; construction methods and processes; marketing and customer relations efforts; and their ability to demonstrate an understanding of how all parts of the home come together in a whole-house systems design approach.

The caliber of this year's applicants proved to be more exceptional than the judges had ever witnessed. Within the "energy elite" builders selected as winners of this year's awards, some of the best practices included climate-specific selection of equipment and systems, efficient air sealing and duct practices, pre-construction energy analysis, and excellent Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) scores. Winners not only focused on well-integrated systems design, but also the use of high efficiency equipment and construction techniques. Also, the judges noticed things that used to be relatively obscure in energy-efficient homes, such as high efficiency lighting and independent energy testing, have now become the differentiating factors among EVHA winners. Last year's EVHA winners had an average HERS of 92, which is 60 percent more efficient than the Model Energy Code. This year, applicants met and exceeded those marks, and set themselves apart in additional ways that added value to their businesses, their customers, and the environment.

This year's EVHA Awards will be presented at the 2005 International Builders' Show (IBS) in Orlando in the affordable, custom/demonstration, factory-built, production, and multifamily categories for hot, moderate, and cold climate regions. The ceremony is always an entertaining and educational gala that includes networking opportunities with EVHA judges, winners, and sponsors.

The EVHA is coordinated by the NAHB Research Center in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). To obtain information on the EVHA, visit www.nahbrc.org/evha or contact the EVHA via email.

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11/04

The NAHB Research Center, located in Upper Marlboro, Md., promotes innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of homes and home building products. Created over 40 years ago as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the NAHB Research Center has established itself as the source for reliable, objective information and research on housing construction and development issues. Through its various testing and certification services, the Research Center seal is internationally-recognized as a mark of product quality and an assurance of product performance.

NOTE TO EDITORS ON STYLE USAGE: To identify this company and its work correctly, first reference should be "NAHB Research Center." If clarification of the acronym is necessary, the phrase, "a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)," can follow. In subsequent mentions, "Research Center" is the only acceptable and accurate alternative reference.