We are elated to announce that we have earned our sixth Sustained Excellence Award, a prestigious national award at the highest level of the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard of recognition.
In 2006, Chinburg was the first in New Hampshire to commit to building 100% of our homes to Energy Star™ Standards. We earned our first national Energy Star™ Partner of the Year Award in 2016 and continued to raise the bar in home performance standards year after year. After two years, our consistent commitment earned us the Sustained Excellence Award, making Chinburg the only builder in this category in New England and one of only 12 builders recognized at this level nationwide in 2022.
What goes into Energy Star rating?
To receive the Energy Star™ rating, the home must meet a rigorous set of requirements, and be inspected by an independent 3rd party. The rater is involved in evaluating the project from original construction plans to a final blower door test that all contribute to a score that indicates whether the home meets or beats the standards. Chinburg works with GDS Associates Engineers and Consultants out of Manchester, NH to evaluate our homes.
What does it mean for Homeowners?
The benefits of an Energy Star™ home include: lower energy costs, more comfortable temperature consistency in the home, lower carbon footprint, better sounds attenuation, reduced carbon footprint, increased ventilation and air flow, and reduced exposure to environmental toxins. After closing, the homeowners receive their own customized report which indicates their HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score, and how that translates into energy cost savings and lowered carbon emissions.
Why does Energy Star Matter in the grand scheme?
New Hampshire is on a growth trajectory with over 10,200 new residents having moved to the State between July 2021 and July 2022, according to a report by the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy.
According to the New Hampshire Department for Business and Economic Affairs report, “While the number of housing units permitted by municipalities in 2021 is an increase over the number of units permitted in recent years, it continues to fall short of what is needed to meet the demand of New Hampshire’s workforce and to continue our state’s economic growth. There is a need for 66,538 new housing units by 2030, including 59,934 new year-round housing units to accommodate projected population growth and put the state on a path towards a balanced market (5% rental vacancy rate and 2% ownership vacancy rate) by 2040.”
In 2021 the Energy Star™ program introduced its multi-family new construction standards which Chinburg pursued and exceeded in two new projects, resulting in 142 new apartments with Energy Star™ recognition. These included Brewery 145 in Portsmouth, NH and Scenic Salinger in Rochester, NH.
On average, Energy Star™ homes are 55% more energy efficient than homes built to code. On average homeowners also save an average of 30% on their energy costs annually.
According to Jennifer Chinburg, “Our commitment to the Energy Star program has been a key feature of our green building commitment. We know that we are building in a responsible manner that impacts the long-term environmental integrity of our state as well as makes a difference in the quality of the homes and the costs of energy to those homes. It just makes sense, feels great, and is the right thing to do.”
Karen Breen, the Sales Manager who spearheads the program at Chinburg, said, “This is one of the reasons that I love what I do. To help build dream homes that are also better for the homeowners and for the overall health of our community is a win, win.”
For more information on the Energy Star program, and why it matters, visit our Energy Star page here.
