Second generation homebuilder Mike Baptist describes Haven Properties’ decision to build all homes to ENERGY STAR standards as “an evolution we couldn’t stop.” Once the Atlanta builder of semi-custom homes began differentiating his company from the Atlanta area’s thousands of builders through environmentally friendly and healthier construction, one new construction technique led to another. Now, every home Haven builds meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR requirements. Their record is so impressive that ENERGY STAR named them 2006 Builder Partner of the Year.

better construction begets even better construction

A self-described “old construction guy,” Baptist says he found himself building homes in 1993, when he founded Haven Properties, basically the same way his family had built them 50 years prior. “We were building to code. Our homes were every bit as good as anybody else’s,” said Baptist.

When the company began looking for ways to differentiate their homes from the competition, Baptist first focused on building distinctive exteriors and making neighborhoods more welcoming. Even now, Haven’s updates on Craftsman influences are community standouts.

In the late 1990s, awareness of indoor air quality and the dangers of mold made Baptist and his building team realize that far more than surface changes were important to excellent construction and the health of homeowners. Haven began implementing green building technologies, later making a commitment to build all homes to the standards set by the EarthCraft House program.

“As we looked at all the things we were doing [for EarthCraft], it would lead us to see what we would need to do next,” said Baptist. Before he knew it, he was building an ENERGY STAR-qualified home in 2001.

“We didn’t [build ENERGY STAR] for the marketing; we did it because it’s what we should do. We never got it certified and didn’t even tell the customer we had done it.”

Within the year, Haven Properties had made a commitment to build all new construction to meet or exceed ENERGY STAR requirements. As they became more involved with green construction, they found themselves more involved with building officials, too. Their tighter homes were held to a different standard of testing for “unusually tight construction.” “Once you get into the science of the house, you realize you need to do this to compensate for that,” said Baptist. “One change led to another.”

Now, Haven exceeds ENERGY STAR and EarthCraft standards on every home because planning is based on the most difficult scenario – the home with the worst foundation and the worst orientation. Even as ENERGY STAR requirements become more stringent, as they did with the implementation of new rules in July 2006, Haven finds itself already a step ahead in meeting new requirements.

evolving construction techniques

Over the years, Haven Properties’ energy efficient, environmentally friendly and healthy construction methods have evolved to include the following:

Direct Vent Water Heaters and Furnaces: One of the changes Haven made early in their switch to energy efficiency was to direct vent water heaters and furnaces to keep carbon monoxide out, a concern because of the very tight construction. Haven uses 90+ AFUE high-efficiency gas furnaces, which must have direct vent. ENERGY STAR requires only 80+ AFUE. Similarly, Haven installs 14 SEER efficient air conditioning units, while code requires only 13 SEER.

Controlled Air Intake: Haven Properties homes intake fresh air for 10 minutes of every hour. The air is filtered through a four-inch pleated filter, which traps up to eight times the contaminants of standard filters, according to the manufacturer. Plus, the temperature and moisture content of the air are measured to maintain constant temperatures and humidity levels in the homes.

Formaldehyde-Free, Energy Efficient Insulation: Homes are insulated to ENERGY STAR standards with insulation that uses an acrylic binder. This eliminates binder-related formaldehyde emissions during the manufacturing process and off-gassing of formaldehyde into homes. Plus, Haven Properties includes wood framing studs next to all poured concrete foundation walls and installs insulation between them. This extra measure ensures a completely insulated heating and cooling building envelope, and makes it easier to finish a basement later.

Measures to minimize water intrusion: Haven Properties waterproofs basements, whereas codes require basements to be damp proof. Other measures to keep out moisture and outside air are Dow’s Sill Sealer weather seals and range hoods by Vent-a-Hood or Bosch (depending on neighborhood) vented to the exterior.

Passive Radon Ventilation: Though not related to ENERGY STAR requirements, passive radon ventilation is a measure that Haven Properties takes pride in. Soil gases are vented to the exterior of each home through a PVC pipe that extends from the slab to the roof, keeping families healthier.

Programmable Thermostats: Each HVAC system has a programmable thermostat so families can choose the comfort levels and energy savings to fit their lifestyles.

The Cleaner Kitchen: Haven’s most recent addition to their healthy homes is The Cleaner Kitchen. Beginning last summer, every new home constructed by Haven has Silestone hard-surface countertops with MicroBan microantibacterial inhibitor, which is manufactured into the quartz kitchen surfaces by Silestone USA.

telling people about energy star

Once Haven Properties was building every home to ENERGY STAR standards, the need to tell people about the extra measures became more obvious. Tori Ewing, Haven Properties’ vice president of corporate communications, stepped into the role in 2004. She has made sure that ENERGY STAR and EarthCraft construction are key elements in all corporate materials, from websites and advertisements to press releases and brochures.

Under her guidance, Haven Properties has undertaken additional programs to promote the ENERGY STAR message. In the fall of 2006, Haven committed to getting 1,000 people to take ENERGY STAR’s “Change A Light, Change the World” pledge, in which they promise to replace one traditional light bulb with an energy efficient one. Marketing efforts have focused on educating the people of Atlanta on the positive impacts small steps can have on the environment. Partly due to Haven’s efforts, Georgia led the nation in “Change A Light, Change the World” pledges.

“The marketing aspect is an important part of our success,” said Baptist. “As far as selling homes goes, we lose the benefits of the energy efficiency and environmental benefits when customers aren’t educated. It’s hard for the buyer to appreciate the concept of all we do because its sum is greater than the parts.”