Energy Efficient

A Category One homes specifies the energy efficient construction which we use at Verndale Custom Homes. Category One homes lower energy consumption, and better manage moisture levels and air quality. Verndale Custom Homes have always been Category One homes, ever since the Minnesota Department of Public Service decided to categorize new home construction. We've always cared about energy efficiency, even before the government said everyone should.

Verndale Custom Homes, as Category One homes, all share certain traits.

• A continuous air-vapor barrier (most often a polyethylene sheet) that runs between the insulation and the interior of the home. This barrier keeps indoor moisture from penetrating insulation and damaging its effectiveness. It also keeps heated or cooled air from being leaked to the outdoors. Additional sealing techniques are applied to prevent air leakage at such key locations as ceiling light fixtures and heating and cooling ducts.
• A continuous layer of insulation that separates the interior of the home from outdoors. Insulation should be in these key locations --basement walls, exterior walls, floors above cold spaces, and ceilings below cold spaces.
• Controlled, mechanical ventilation that provides continuous fresh air to all habitable rooms.
• Measures that protect the foundation from moisture and soil gas penetration. These include landscape grading to direct water away from the foundation and foundation drainage as required by the building code.

In addition to being Category One Homes, Verndale Custom Homes are Energy Star Homes. Energy Star Homes use 30% less energy to heat, cool and heat water than even most Category One Homes. The results are that Energy Star homes save the environment, and save you money. Energy Star Homes accomplish this using a number of energy efficient home features.

• Improved Insulation
• Advanced Windows
• Tightly-Sealed Ducts
• High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling
• Reduced Air Infiltration

Owning an Energy Star home makes good financial sense for a number of reasons. The most obvious is the reduced utility bill, but this transfers to another, more surprising way Energy Star helps your finances. Becky Eckelman, spokesman for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has said, "Purchasing an energy-efficient, newly constructed home is a definite bonus to homeowners. The lower utility bills resulting from an energy-efficient home can help homeowners reduce their overall monthly payment outlay, and make them feel more comfortable if their house payment is increasing. As a lender, I've worked with many customers who felt they can comfortably afford a larger house payment because they know their utility bills will be low. They're really doing themselves a favor by building and energy-efficient home." Bottom line...Energy Star = better mortgage.