Matt Silva is on the cutting edge of building technology. As founder of Portsmouth-based Profile Homes, Silva is focused on “high-performance home design and building science.”
The immediate differentiator in Profile’s business model is the ability for customers to build their home online using 3D technology. But Silva is also committed to building net zero and being part of the New Hampshire ENERGY STAR® Homes, New Construction Program.
“It’s a good program to take advantage of,” Silva says. “You don’t lose money making a home more energy efficient.”
New homes that earn the ENERGY STAR label have to meet a higher set of standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and verified by a third-party Home Energy Rater that include:
- A complete thermal enclosure system with comprehensive air sealing, quality-installed insulation and high-performance windows.
- A high-efficiency Heating, Ventilation and Cooling system.
- A comprehensive water management system to protect roofs, walls and foundations from moisture damage.
- Energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
“You’re doing a disservice to your customer in the long run if you are not in the program,” Silva said. “When it comes to re-sale, you will be competing with homes that are far superior if they are in the program and you’re not. That’s a big part of why we’re building that way.”
ENERGY STAR-certified homes have shown, on average, to be 15-30% more efficient than homes built to standard code. Being energy efficient is at the core of Profile Homes. By building net zero, the homes produce as much energy as they use on an annual basis.
Silva and Profile Homes were featured in a Forbes Magazine article in 2018. It explains the Profile approach to net zero as homes “configured to generate more solar power than they use in the summer, spring and fall, which results in energy credits from the power company. In the winter, when the house is using more power than it generates, homeowners fall back on those credits to cover their utility bills.”
Kate Peters, Eversource’s energy efficiency spokesperson, says more builders and homeowners such as Profile Homes are embracing the value – and savings – of being part of ENERGY STAR Home Program and participating in the NHSaves Drive to Net Zero competition.
Eversource, Liberty Utilities, New Hampshire Electric Co-op and Unitil power the NHSaves programs.
Each program comes with incentives. A home that successfully completes the ENERGY STAR Homes Program can lead to rebates up to $4,000 and certification incentives of $1,300 per home, while the winner of the Drive to Net Zero competition is awarded $5,000. Silva says he uses the incentives from his homes that complete the ENERGY STAR Homes Program to provide continuing education for his employees.
“The incentives certainly are significant for the homeowner and the builder, but it is the end result – having a home that is more energy efficient – that really makes a difference,” Peters says. “The savings are significant and the value it adds to a home is incredible.”
Click here to learn more about the ENERGY STAR Homes Program and the incentives available for your next project.
Find out how you can be part of the ENERGY STAR Homes Program. Contact the partnering utility in your area.
Eversource
Michael Loughlin
603-634-2022
michael.loughlin@eversource.com
Liberty Utilities
Horizon Residential
603-369-4834
nhsaves.com@horizonres.com
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
Kurt Campbell
603-536-8672
campbellk@nhec.com
Unitil
Ben Stephenson
603-513-7436
stephenson@unitil.com