Cornerstone to Offer First Environments For Living Homes in Treasure Valley

Homebuyers to Receive Guarantee on Energy Used for Heating and Cooling

Contact
Travis Tindall/Josh Kinney
Cornerstone Custom Homes Insulation Group
208-713-0506 / 208-713-0504

NAMPA, Idaho, June 20, 2003 - Cornerstone Custom Homes Inc. will be the first Idaho builder to offer homes constructed under the Environments For Living program, which prescribes state-of-the-art specifications for energy efficiency created by top experts in the field of Building Science. The first home built under the program will be featured in the upcoming Parade of Homes in June. Cornerstone, which builds 15 to 20 homes per year in the Treasure Valley area, expects to construct all future homes under the Environments For Living program.

Buyers of the new homes will receive the Environments For Living two-year limited guarantee* on energy used for heating and cooling. This provides an estimated annual amount of energy (BTUs) needed to heat and cool the home and, if heating and cooling usage exceeds the estimated usage each year, the homeowner receives 100 percent of the difference in cost. Homeowners also will receive a two-year limited guarantee* on "comfort" - promising that the temperature at the center of a room will not vary more than 3 degrees from the thermostat set-point for that room.

In addition, the specifications of the Environments For Living program qualify the homes for the ENERGY STAR® designation, which requires them to be at least 30 percent more energy efficient than homes based on the 1993 Model Energy Code (MEC).

Cornerstone's new homes under construction include a 1832 sq. ft. home with a golf course view in the Greens at Ridgecrest subdivision. The home features 9 ft. ceilings, custom cabinetry and woodwork, hardwood and tile flooring, extensive tile work, gas fireplace with custom mantle, faux painting throughout, ENERGY STAR® appliances and lighting and a covered back patio. The amount of energy used for heating and cooling will be guaranteed which, based on current rates, is estimated at an average $39.00 per month. (6795 E. Greens Drive, Nampa, ID 83651.)

Also under construction is a 1442 sq. ft. house is situated next to a large common area in the Greens at Ridgecrest gated community. The home features 9 ft. ceilings, custom shaker style cabinetry and woodwork, 12-inch crown molding in the entry and master bedroom, hardwood and tile flooring, original tile designs, gas fireplace with a tile hearth and shaker style mantle, ENERGY STAR® appliances and lighting, and a large storage area above the garage. The amount of energy used for heating and cooling will be guaranteed which, based on current rates, is estimated at an average $31.00 per month. (6784 E. Greens Drive, Nampa, ID 83651.)

"Energy costs have risen over the past few years, and we believe homebuyers in the Treasure Valley area are going to be looking more closely at energy efficient features," said Josh Kinney, of Cornerstone Custom Homes.

"We believe consumers will find the energy guarantee very appealing and they will appreciate that we are going the extra mile in terms of quality and customer satisfaction," he added. "We know from talking to home owners that a lot of people have comfort problems in their existing homes, such as rooms that are always too cold or too hot. By offering a comfort guarantee, the consumer knows we have addressed those issues because we're backing up the promise."

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 than homes not built to the program specifications. The program establishes requirements for tight construction and high-performance thermal systems, fresh air ventilation, balanced air pressure, internal moisture management features and combustion safety.

A plan review is conducted for each new model to help builders determine the steps required to meet the program requirements. Homes are performance-tested and evaluated through random testing by trained and certified contractors.

The Environments For Living program was developed through the collaborative efforts of Masco Contractor Services and Advanced Energy Corporation, which provides training, certification and consulting to the program. According to John Tooley, senior building scientist with Advanced Energy and one of the country's leading experts in the field, the science behind building energy-efficient homes has evolved into a complex discipline.

"There are a number of factors that influence how energy efficient a new home will be," said Tooley. "It's a result of how all the various components in a home work together as a system. Equally important, it is important to understand how the interaction of those components not only impact energy efficiency but also durability, air quality and safety."

"A house is an interactive system, made up of many different parts. Change any part, and you impact the whole," said Tooley. "That's a key premise behind the discipline known as Building Science."

According to Cornerstone Custom Homes' Travis Tindall, by applying the principles of Building Science, Cornerstone will offer new homebuyers energy efficient homes that are also state-of-the-art and offer benefits such as fresh air ventilation.

Tindall said Cornerstone will meet Environments For Living specifications and offer new homebuyers in Treasure Valley added assurance that their homes feature the latest thinking in Building Science. The homes will meet specific criteria in the following areas:

• Tight construction - providing a tight shell and air-sealing the thermal envelope, to keep warm/cool air inside and keep out unwanted drafts.
• Fresh air ventilation - bringing fresh air into the home in a controlled manner, to maintain beneficial air exchange rates and dilute indoor contaminants and everyday pollutants.
• Improved thermal systems -installing improved insulation systems and energy efficient windows, to enhance energy-efficient performance.
• Correctly installed HVAC - correctly sizing and installing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, to improve the performance of equipment and minimize duct leakage.
• Pressure balancing - installing returns, transfer grills and/or jump ducts to make sure all rooms are pressure balanced, to manage air flows and achieve balanced temperatures (comfort) throughout, and avoid drawing air from unwanted areas.
• Internal moisture managemen t- properly using vapor barriers and vapor retarders, so that moisture naturally passing through building assemblies is allowed to dry, and making sure fans vent to the outside.
• Combustion safety - adding CO detectors and making sure all combustion appliances within the conditioned space of the home are sealed or power vented, to address backdrafting and potential buildup of carbon monoxide.

About Cornerstone Custom Homes Inc.
When Josh Kinney and Travis Tindall formed Cornerstone Custom Homes their goal was to build homes that were safe, durable and offered the latest advances in building technology. Cornerstone Custom Homes builds both custom and model homes and is recognized within the industry for the quality of their product and their sound business practices. Both graduates of Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Josh in Business and Travis in Mathematics, they developed a strong sense of community long before they opened their doors for business. That sense of community is the driving force that pushes them to learn and implement new techniques that bring homeowners a better place to live.

About the Environments For Living Program
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 the largest insulation, fireplace and guttering subcontractor in the world. With more than 325 locations in the United States and Canada, the company combines hundreds of top-grade building products with installation services provided by 14,000 trained and fully-insured professionals.

*For complete details about the limited guarantees, call toll-free 866-912-7233.

Return To Top

Return to EFLBuilder.com