SRP PowerWise Homes™ build confidence
Every penny counts when you're in the market for a new home – which is exactly why energy efficiency should be top-of-mind.
Through SRP PowerWise Homes, SRP is pleased to partner with Phoenix and Valley homebuilders to establish a new standard for affordable, energy efficient homes.
SRP PowerWise Homes is part of SRP PowerWise, a comprehensive and multifaceted program designed to educate consumers about the benefits of energy efficiency.
SRP PowerWise Homes are specially designed to save energy and money in Arizona's hot, dry climate. You can benefit in the following ways:
- A Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index of 90 or lower. This means that PowerWise homes are at least 10% more efficient than homes built to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
- High performance windows and improved frame assemblies help keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer. They also assist in blocking damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpet and furnishings.
- Electric heat pumps rated at 13 SEER or better.
- During construction, homes are randomly selected to undergo inspections for insulation, duct and home air leakage seals.
View a helpful glossary of energy terms relevant to home construction.
SRP PowerWise Homes require not only high-efficiency heat pumps and furnaces, but also sealing the building envelope – including exterior walls, doors, windows and air distribution ducts – to minimize waste and leakage. The resulting package works together as a total system, specifically designed to lower energy use.
Energy-efficient homes are more then just a trend. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million homes are expected to earn an energy-efficient rating similar to the SRP PowerWise program. By choosing an energy efficient home, you can be confident that it will have an increased valued feature when the time comes to sell.
Participating SRP PowerWise Homes builders are reputable professionals with an excellent record of constructing quality homes that customers value and desire.
To qualify for the program, builders must submit architectural plans, including materials and specifications, to a designated SRP PowerWise Homes account manager. The builder or air-conditioning contractor must also supply SRP with calculations used for the sizing of heat pumps and air conditioners.
Each SRP PowerWise Homes account manager is a Certified Home Energy Rater, as recognized by the National Association of State Energy Officials and the Residential Energy Services Network. The account manager then performs computer simulations of the information to determine HERS score. HERS is a nationally standardized system for rating the energy-efficiency of residential buildings.
If you'd like more information about SRP PowerWise Homes, please send an e-mail to powerwisehomes@srpnet.com.
You can also find out more about our previous energy efficient home program SRP Certified Homes.
Remember that getting the proper size and a quality installation is essential to getting the most from your new equipment. When replacing HVAC equipment, bigger doesn't always mean better. If the unit is too large for your home, you will be less comfortable and might actually have higher utility bills. Oversized equipment will operate in short run cycles, not allowing the unit to reach efficient operation and remove humidity from the air — resulting in an uncomfortable home.
Your contractor should determine the right size for your HVAC equipment by using ACCA/ANSI Manual J or an equivalent sizing calculation tool that takes into account specific information about your home.
