The Environmental Benefits of SIPS

1). Federal Incentives for Residential Projects - View the full information here. 45L qualifies residential projects for up to $5000 per dwelling unit to the builder. Energy modeling with approved software is required, and details for applying/receiving 45L is outlined in the link above.

2.) Regional & State Incentives - The Database of State Incentives for Renewable s & Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information for U.S. state, local, utility incentives for choosing to build with energy efficiency.  Visit the link above and enter your building site zip code for specifics.

1). Federal Incentives for Commercial Projects - View the full information here. 179D qualifies commercial projects for up to $5/sf to the owner or building designers. This credit may  also be taken every 3-4 years. Energy modeling with approved software is required, and details for applying/receiving 179D are outlined in the link above.

2.) Regional & State Incentives - The Database of State Incentives for Renewable s & Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information for U.S. state, local, utility incentives for choosing to build with energy efficiency.  Visit the link above and enter your building site zip code for specifics.

Yes. The energy efficiency criteria varies. The scale of the tax credits or deduction could be less than the maximum offered based on actual energy performance. View the sliding scale range, and criteria for earning different residential & commercial incentives here. 

Choosing SIPS offsite construction and building with high energy efficiency can also help owners qualify for an Energy Efficient Mortgage. An EEM takes into account the cost savings that accrue to the homeowner as a result of lower utility bills. The value of utility savings is used by the lender to provide more favorable financing terms to the borrower, such as a better debt-to-income qualifying ratio that enables the borrower to qualify for a larger loan amount and incentives homeowners to build with high energy efficiency.  

To obtain an EEM a home must be energy rated through a lender approved program (Energy Star, Net-Zero Energy, LEED, Passive, etc)  or the borrower must have a energy assessment or rating (known as HERS Rating) before financing is approved. Energy certified programs or an energy assessment verifies for the lender that the home is energy-efficient or will be energy efficient after energy efficient improvements are completed, and provides the lender with the estimated monthly energy savings and the value of the energy efficiency measures — known as the Energy Savings Value. EEMs are sponsored by federally insured mortgage programs (FHA and VA) and the conventional secondary mortgage market. Lenders can offer conventional EEMs, FHA EEMs, or VA EEMs. Learn more about the different mortgage types from Energy Star.

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. It’s also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance.

To calculate a home’s HERS® Index Score, a certified RESNET HERS® Rater does an energy rating on your home and compares the data against a ‘reference home’– a designed-model home of the same size and shape as the actual home, so your score is always relative to the size, shape and type of house you live in.

Each assessed home receives a performance score (the HERS® Index Score) from a scale of 0 to 150. With HERS, the lower the score, the more energy-efficient the home, and every one-point fluctuation represents a shift in the property’s energy efficiency by 1%.

The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that a typical resale home scores 130 on the HERS® Index while a home built to 2006 energy efficiency standards scores 100.

A home with a HERS® Score of 0 qualifies a home to be Net-Zero Energy, which means the home produces as much energy through renewable resources, such as solar panels, as it consumes. Most Net-Zero energy homes must have an extremely energy efficient building envelope to best use and conserve the energy generated with renewable sources. Which is why many Zero Energy projects are built with Premier SIPS.

A home with a HERS® Index Score of 70 is 30% more energy efficient than the RESNET Reference Home.

A home with a HERS® Index Score of 130 is 30% less energy efficient than the RESNET Reference Home.*

View the full HERS rating scale to learn how a HERS score can affect your energy costs, and other potential incentives from RESNET here.

Each of the sustainable construction methods pay off primarily because they offer little to no heating, cooling, or operational costs for the life of the building. 

A Zero Energy building is one that generates more energy than it consumes. Eliminating fossil fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions (CO2).  The building is made as air-tight and well-insulated as possible and uses highly energy efficient heating and cooling systems, hot water system and appliances. After all the energy saving measures have been taken, sufficient solar electric panels (or another renewable energy generation option) are added to balance the amount of energy produced with the amount of energy used over the course of a year. 

A Zero Energy Ready building is one that is built to the same energy saving standards as a zero energy home and has the roof space and all the fixtures installed ready for solar installation However, the solar panels and inverter are not installed at the time of construction. It is energy efficient enough to operate independently when a renewable solar energy source is added.Team Zero from the Energy Efficient Building Alliance is a wonderful resource for learning more on Zero Energy Construction. 

Positive Energy Buildings take Zero Energy to the next level and are able to generate more energy than needed operate the building. Positive energy buildings often sell power to local utilities, or offer a surplus of energy to help operate neighboring homes & communities. The pioneers of Positive Energy construction are wonderful partners of Premier SIPS. Our portfolio offers many case studies of Positive Energy projects.

A Net-Zero Building incorporates all of the principles of a Net Zero Energy building and also does not drain freshwater supplies or fill landfills and oceans with waste.