Sandstone development introduces energy-efficient homes
State officials joined developers of Sandstone, a new, single-family home residential community near Ellendale, to showcase green building and energy-efficient construction methods. Officials say the development exemplifies Gov. Jack Markell’s initiatives to create jobs, while simultaneously reducing the state’s carbon footprint.
Delaware State Housing Authority Director Anas Ben Addi helped to break ground Sept. 23, for the development of nearly 50 lots.
The community describes itself as making luxury affordable, while some of the homes qualify for the housing authority’s First Time Homebuyer and down-payment assistance programs.
“Affordable housing is not only the price of the home, but the cost to maintain it as well. Keeping energy costs low not only helps the homeowner financially, but also the environment by reducing the amount of energy needed,” said Ben Addi.
Sandstone is off Jefferson Road just outside Ellendale and minutes from downtown Milton. The community is built around a garden park with fountains and has walking paths for residents. Homes are priced from $239,000 to $300,000. Lots are priced below $100,000.
Sandstone President Terrance Babbie says many homes can be built using what he called ultra-green construction, including 98 percent efficient tankless water heaters, advanced framing, insulated and conditioned crawl spaces and Home Energy Rating System (HERS) certification – a system that uses software to test a home’s energy efficiency. State officials and developers gathered in a recently sold home to kick off the groundbreaking.
“We feel energy efficient homes are true value,” said Babbie. “We are extremely pleased with the exceptional energy performance of this home and the benefits it will provide to these first time home buyers,” he said. Babbie said Sandstone homeowners can expect to save up to 50 percent on their energy bills.
The goal of Colter Construction Inc. is to follow the federal government’s Building America method of new construction – building net zero homes that can generate as much energy as they need by 2010. Net zero energy homes are designed to operate separate from energy-supply grids and can be self-sustaining homes that provide their own energy.
Building America is an industry-driven research program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced building energy technologies.
Colter Construction Inc. is also working with Massachusetts-based Building Science Corp., a consulting firm that promotes self-sufficient building and energy efficiency.
Chris Parmele of Dow Chemical, also working with the developers, says that because of insulation, annual utility bills average $1,400 a year per home in the Sandstone development.
Energy Services Group’s Ed Minch said he scanned the home to determine where heating and cooling might be lost.
The home, he said, has a HERS rating of 49, which means its owners will pay $520 a year for heating and air conditioning. The owners also used the state housing authority’s First Time Homebuyer and down-payment assistance program to afford the new home.
Ben Addi said Sandstone was a great match with the governor’s initiatives by melding sustainable-energy homes and affordable housing in Delaware.
He reminded those who gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, that until Dec. 1, the federal government is also offering an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
