Green Homebuilder Program Promises Savings

The SmartCommand Dashboard from GE is a touchpanel that displays household energy consumption. Intended to help families curb their energy usage, the device is a standard feature in GE’s new ecomagination homes.

By following “green” guidelines from the moment the foundation is poured, homebuilders can save a bundle with GE’s new program.

GE is putting its money where its mouth is. The well-known maker of household appliances has launched a new homebuilding program that will enable homeowners to save at least 20 percent on their energy bills.

Developers and builders in the nationwide program must follow strict green home construction and design guidelines and provide homebuyers with a variety of energy-efficient products and systems to create a living environment that’s more comfortable and energy-efficient than that of a standard home.

Homes built to GE “ecomagination” specifications are designed to also achieve at least a 20 percent savings on household indoor water use and produce at least 20 percent fewer emissions of CO2, SO2 and NOx than industry-accepted homes. GE is so confident of the savings that it has collaborated with Masco Contractor Services to provide homeowners with performance guarantees.

For example, if more energy is used to heat and cool a home than was specified through the Masco Environments for Living (EFL) guarantee, Masco will pay the difference. Also, should the temperature anywhere in the house be off by more than three degrees from the thermostat setting, EFL will work with the appropriate parties to identify the cause and correct it free of charge.

Like most greens homes, ecomagination residences boast tight construction, fresh-air ventilation, improved insulation, efficient heating and cooling equipment, humidity control and other special construction features, per Masco’s EFL standards. However, GE really pushed the building envelope. “We felt it was important to back up our high-performance homes with high-performance, energy-efficient products,” says Patrick McElhaney, ecomagination business development manager for GE Consumer’s and Industrial division.

Standard in every home is GE’s new SmartCommand Dashboard. This interactive, wall-mounted touchpanel provides homeowners with current and historical feedback on their energy and water consumption. To make the information even more meaningful and useful, the Dashboard converts the data into dollars so families can view exactly how much money they’re saving. “[The Dashboard helps] families understand how well their home is performing and behaviors they could change to make a difference in their energy consumption,” McElhaney continues. Homeowners also have the option of upgrading the SmartCommand Dashboard so they can control lighting, thermostats and intercom stations conveniently from the touchscreen.

Another standard feature in an ecomagination home is an energy-efficient lighting package. At least 50 percent of the home’s standard socket lamps will utilize GE EnergySmart compact fluorescent bulbs, which consume up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

Finally, every ecomagination homeowner receives a suite of GE Energy Star appliances, including a refrigerator, dishwasher and front-load clothes washer.

Read about other environmentally friendly home technologies in our Green Blog.