Authentic Custom Homes To Offer First Environments For Living Homes In Texas Hill Country

Homebuyers to Receive Guarantee on Energy Used for Heating and Cooling

Contact
Harry E. Craig III
Authentic Custom Homes
830-816-7100

Charles Kelley, Mike Kuykendall
Williams Insulation
210-684-0740

BOERNE, Texas (May 24, 2004) - Authentic Custom Homes Inc. by Israel Pena will be the first builder in the Texas Hill Country to offer homes constructed under the Environments For Living program, which prescribes state-of-the-art specifications for energy efficiency, indoor air quality and other features, created by top experts in the field of Building Science. Authentic Custom Homes is a full-service design-build firm that builds 15 to 20 homes annually in the Texas Hill Country. The company has been building in the area for 20 years.

The first home being built under the program, which is offered through Williams Insulation, is located in the Village Oaks subdivision in Boerne. The two-story, 3,000-square foot home has four bedrooms and three baths, with unique design features including custom cabinets, wood molding and stained concrete floors.

The home includes a three-year limited guarantee* on the amount of energy used for heating and cooling, which is provided under the Environments For Living program. The estimated average heating and cooling cost is $70 per month based on annual usage of 10,838 kilowatt hours.

The Environments For Living program uses the principles of Building Science to help builders construct homes that are more energy efficient, comfortable, durable, healthier and safer - as compared with homes not built to the program specifications. The Environments For Living program establishes requirements for tight construction and high-performance thermal systems, fresh air ventilation, balanced air pressure, internal moisture management and combustion safety. A plan review is conducted for each new model to help builders determine the steps necessary to meet the program requirements, and homes are performance-tested and evaluated through random testing by trained and certified contractors.

Williams Insulation provided insulation services as well as coordinating the plan review, conducting performance evaluations - such as duct blaster and blower door tests - and consulting with other subcontractors on meeting the program requirements.

"New homebuyers are conscious of energy costs and we expect those features to appeal to consumers in the Texas Hill Country, along with the environmental benefits of resource efficiency," said Harry E. Craig III, director of sales for Authentic Custom Homes. "In addition, the Environments For Living program provides an extra measure of quality control," he said.

About Environments For Living
The Environments For Living program is a Building Science initiative sponsored by Masco Contractor Services, Inc. (MCS), a subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS). MCS is among the largest insulation, fireplace and guttering subcontractors in the world. With more than 375 locations in the United States and Canada, the company combines hundreds of top-grade building products with installation services provided by 16,000 trained and insured professionals. For additional program information, visit

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