Judging by the number of EPSTM rated homes on this year’s Southern Oregon Tour of Homes, the hot new trend in homebuilding is energy efficiency. EPS, developed by Energy Trust, is an energy performance score that gives homebuyers an inside look at the energy impact of a newly built home and how much it costs to operate.
Mahar Homes is the largest custom homebuilder in the Rogue Valley and has multiple EPS rated homes on this year’s tour. The company has been involved in many major projects across the Rogue Valley, including Summerfield in East Medford, custom homes in Saddleridge and the retirement community Veranda Park.
“When considering building efficient homes, we wanted to pass along value to the customer,” said Michael Mahar, Partner and Owner of Mahar Homes. “It is also a great benefit long-term to the environment, power grid and overall balance of the community.”
EPS rated homes include energy-saving features such as high-performance windows and insulation, top-quality lighting, energy-efficient appliances, water heating, heating and cooling equipment and more.
“We wanted to implement better building practices resulting in lower utility bills for our customers and smaller environmental impact,” said Mahar. “It was an area where we thought we could be a leader in the community and enhance the overall scope and understanding of something we felt would be a true benefit to all our customers.”
The Builders Association of Southern Oregon coordinates the home tour each year. Not every home is EPS rated, but the number of efficient homes continues to grow. Since the debut of the EPS rating in 2009, well over 16,000 homes across Oregon have been built to EPS standards.
“Model homes and home tours like the Southern Oregon Tour of Homes provide a perfect opportunity to experience EPS firsthand,” said Katie Wallace, residential spokesperson, Energy Trust. “Prospective homebuyers can step inside and see the many features that help EPS rated homes deliver benefits like healthy indoor air quality, increased comfort, durability, efficient performance and low energy costs.”
Energy Trust also has a Smart Homebuyer Checklist that can help homebuyers start a conversation with builders and real estate professionals about the aspects of a home that affect its level of energy efficiency and its score. The checklist outlines key energy-saving features so shoppers know what to look for and what questions to ask.