Cambridge to Offer First Environments For Living® Homes in Charlotte, Brook Valley Subdivision Set to Open October 1

Homes Feature a Limited Guarantee for Heating and Cooling Energy Use

Contact

Mike Waddell
Cambridge Homes
704-847-2533 ext 3011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 20, 2002) - The new Brook Valley subdivision, built by Cambridge Homes of Charlotte, will be the first homes in the region constructed under the Environments For Living program, which prescribes requirements for energy efficiency and tight construction created by some of the nation's top Building Science experts.

The Brook Valley subdivision, located in Union County on Wesley Chapel Stouts Road, west of Old Monroe Road, includes 252 lots and will feature amenities such as a swim club and "tot lot" playground for children. The homes range in price from $154,000 to $252,000, on 66-foot and 85-foot lot sizes.

The Brook Valley homes will feature 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. Estimated heating and cooling costs for Brook Valley models range from $37 per month to $48 per month.

Homebuyers 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 to the twin guarantees, the requirements and testing that are part of the Environments For Living program automatically qualify these homes for the EPA ENERGY STAR designation because they are at least 30 percent more energy efficient than homes based on the 1993 Model Energy Code (MEC). In addition, they exceed the IECC 2000 (International Energy Efficiency Code – by at least 15 percent.

The Environments For Living program uses the principles of Building Science to help builders construct homes that are more energy efficient, more comfortable, more durable, healthier and safer. The program establishes requirements for tight construction, fresh air ventilation, improved insulation systems, energy-efficient windows, correctly sized HVAC equipment, balanced air pressure, internal moisture management 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 some of the country's leading Building Science experts, including Raleigh-based 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. And it's not just about the use of certain building materials, products and mechanical equipment. It's about how all those materials, products and equipment work together as a system.

Equally important, Tooley says the interaction of all the various components in a new home may not only impact energy efficiency but also durability, indoor air quality, and safety.

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

According to Cambridge, all homes in the Brook Valley subdivision will be built to Environments For Living gold-level standards, as follows:

• 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 management – 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 Cambridge Homes
Named Charlotte's "Best Home Value" by Charlotte's Best Magazine two years in a row, Cambridge Homes has long been a leader in energy-efficient building practices. In new home communities throughout the Charlotte area, Cambridge Homes combines technologically advanced features and energy-efficient construction with award-winning new home designs. Cambridge Homes has its own Mortgage Company and a team of friendly professionals to help simplify the home-buying experience. For information, visit www.cambridgehomesusa.com

About the Environments For Living Program
The Environments For Living program is a Building Science initiative sponsored by Masco Contractor Services (MCS), Inc., 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 bundles hundreds of top-grade building products with installation services provided by 14,000 trained and fully-insured professionals. For program and guarantee information, call 866-912-7233.

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