Gabriel Homes
Gabriel Homes makes verified energy performance part of its commitment to quality construction, with every home receiving an independent HERS® rating. Through inspections and testing conducted throughout the building process, the company helps ensure that its homes meet energy efficiency standards while giving homebuyers greater confidence in how their homes are designed to perform.
In partnership with Midwest Energy Consultants, Gabriel Homes identifies cost-effective solutions to meet and exceed building requirements while maintaining its energy efficiency goals. The company also incorporates the HERS rating process into conversations with homebuyers, helping them understand the importance of energy performance alongside the other features of a new home.
In this month’s RESNET® Builder of the Month Q&A, the Gabriel Homes team discusses the value of independent verification, the role its HERS Rater plays in quality assurance, and what homebuyers should consider when evaluating the energy efficiency of a new home.
What is special about a HERS® rated home?
The homes we build are inspected and tested by an unbiased 3rd party energy rater to verify how the home performs.
Why should consumers ask for the HERS index score on homes they are shopping for?
The consumers should ask for the HERS index score to be able to determine the efficiency of the home. This helps the customer understand their energy consumption and what they can expect from their bills for easier budgeting after the purchase of the home.
Why does your company choose to have their homes HERS rated?
It is another step in our process in building a quality/energy efficient home that is backed by a certificate and offers an added layer of quality assurance.
Why should consumers expect energy efficient homes?
With the rising costs of utilities, the consumer should seek a high performing home that is comfortable and has a transparent understanding of how the home will operate based on its construction methods and materials.
How many homes does your company build with HERS ratings every year?
Every home we build is verified with a HERS Rating.
How do you market HERS rated homes?
We take pride in discussing our HERS rated homes and the process that we require in all of our homes with all of our customers.
How do your customers feel about HERS rated homes?
After learning about our HERS rating process, the customer is satisfied with knowing that their home goes through multiple inspections and testing throughout the build process.
What rating company do you work with, and can you talk about how working them helps to achieve your goals of building energy efficient homes?
We use Midwest Energy Consultants. They are the best in KC and are so easy to work with. They ensure that our energy efficiency requirements are upheld.
What specific value has your HERS Rater brought to your projects?
They work together with our staff to come up with cost-effective ways to meet and exceed the building requirements.
