Eco Smart Homes for Houston | Coventry Homes Build on Your Lot

Meeting ENERGY STAR® standards is just a first step for Coventry Homes, which goes beyond the program’s energy-efficiency measures by building all homes in the Houston area to the more stringent Environments for Living platinum-level mandates. A focus on indoor air quality and resource efficiency further elevates Coventry’s building program in Houston, resulting in healthy homes designed to last for generations.

Energy Savings

Every home Coventry Homes builds is certified through the Environments for Living® energy efficiency program, an initiative that moves beyond well-known ENERGY STAR® guarantees of energy efficiencies. On average, Coventry’s homes are up to 50 percent more efficient than homes built prior to year 2000 and 15 percent more efficient than the minimum mandates required through the ENERGY STAR® program. Among the energy-saving building standards Coventry Homes employs are:

Customized HVAC unit and duct sizing based on the number of windows and size of the home
A programmable thermostat/humidistat — perfect to keep Houston humidity under control
Roof ridge and soffit ventilation to keep the attic well-ventilated, meaning your home is more comfortable in the summer and guarded against moist air building up in the winter
A 16 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) A/C system that not only requires less energy to run, but is quieter than systems with a lower SEER
R-38 ceiling insulation that creates a barrier between outdoor and indoor air temperatures, providing some of the greatest energy savings in a home

Home Energy Rating System

Using a nationally accepted “Home Energy Rating System,” we conduct an analysis of our homes construction and energy efficiency to determine the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling your home. The lower the score, the less energy is required to heat and cool your home. Our Eco Smart energy efficiency program delivers one of the lowest energy usage scores available; even lower than Energy Star.

Indoor Air Quality

You’ll breathe easier knowing that your home is outfitted with 5-inch pleated high performance MERV 11 air filters that incorporate many of the best in air filtration technologies for higher indoor air quality. However, to ensure optimum air quality even further, each home goes through a thermal bypass assessment, which also includes a third-party analysis of the areas where air barriers are frequently missed, as well as an insulation inspection to make sure they are properly aligned with the air barriers.

Resource Efficiency

Engineered lumber is used for the subfloor joist and wall studs when possible. This decision adds value to construction due to the fact that engineered lumber is stronger, virtually defect-free and capable of supporting heavy loads over long spans. Since the engineered product requires less lumber, waste is minimized and fewer trees need to be cut down.

In addition, by-products from other production processes such as small chips or unusable bits of wood can be recycled and reused in engineered wood products, further minimizing the impact on the environment.

Verification

Coventry’s homes are certified by the EPA and the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). Coventry participates in RESNET’s Quality Assurance Program, which certifies homes through third-party inspectors. In addition, Coventry’s homes are built to Masco Corporation’s Environments for Living® Platinum Level energy-efficiency standards, which also meet the Department of Energy’s Builder’s Challenge program.

A Closer Look

Environments for Living® Certified

Recognized for energy efficiency and environmental sensitivity, each Eco Smart home is Environments for Living® certified with a written 3-year comfort and projected heating and cooling costs guarantee.

Every Home Individually Tested

Air leakage accounts for 1/3 of a home’s heating or cooling loss. Unlike other builders, the air ducts and building envelope of every home is individually inspected and tested for air leakage by an independent inspection firm to assure your home meets stringent energy efficiency and quality standards.

Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

HVAC UNIT AND DUCT SIZING

Each home in our Eco Smart Program has its own AC/Heating blueprint based on the number and size of windows, size of home, and other energy efficiency components such as insulation, ventilation, and equipment efficiency ratings. Based on all components working together as a system, we properly size the HVAC equipment using the acceptable industry standard Manual J according to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and EPA standards.

Programmable Thermostat Combination Humidistat

Because of excessive humidity in the Houston Metropolitan area, we control both the temperature and humidity levels in each home through the use of a temperature and humidity thermostat, providing greater energy savings and comfort. Being programmable, you control the temperature and humidity levels according to your schedule at home to dramatically lower your energy costs.

Energy Star Rated Appliances

Energy efficiency doesn’t stop with heating and cooling. To help maximize the energy savings for your home, Energy Star rated dishwashers, light fixtures, and ceiling fans are included to provide some of the highest levels of energy efficiency available today.

Roof Ridge and Soffit Ventilation

A well-ventilated attic keeps your home more comfortable in summer and guards against moist, heated air building up in winter. To optimize circulation and heat displacement, our homes are designed with a soffit and ridge ventilation system with baffles above soffit vents to prevent a decrease in available air flow.

16 SEER A/C System

By properly sizing and matching the evaporator coil to the condensing unit, our homes deliver an air conditioning system rated at 16 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating)

R-38 Ceiling Insulation

The barrier between the outdoor and indoor air temperature provides some of the greatest energy savings in a home. That’s why we install R-38 ceiling insulation in flat attic spaces exceeding the minimum standards of the Energy Star program.

Air Infiltration

To ensure a healthier indoor environment, we seal all plumbing, electrical, and other penetrations of walls and floors, as well as joints between building material, with polyurethane caulk to reduce air infiltration.

Construction/Exterior

We conduct several inspections throughout the construction process to ensure consistent quality standards and your peace of mind. An independent, third party inspector performs detailed inspections of the foundation (before and during the placement of concrete), structural frame, water intrusion (moisture prevention), air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and electrical. The inspector also performs the following inspections: insulation and attic ventilation, windstorm inspection, engineered floor joist system, final cosmetic appearance and the operation of mechanical systems and appliances. Every home site is surveyed for proper drainage. Additional municipal inspections are conducted where required. James Hardie masonry siding has a 30 year transferable warranty. Soffit and fascia have a 15 year-warranty and all three help prevent rotting and mildew from weather as well as lowers maintenance.

Wiring

State-of-the-art CAT5E and RG6 advanced wiring for communications and home entertainment on all phone lines.

Fully installed alarm system with optional monitoring for added peace of mind.>

Plumbing

FlowGuard Gold® plumbing system maintains water quality, is more energy efficient and results in reduced maintenance and greater reliability.

Exterior Paint

Solvent-free powder technology reduces volatile organic compounds.

Mildew resistant paint ensures less exterior maintenance.

Eco Smart

Eco Smart Homes in Houston