The only way to ensure that your new home will be truly energy-efficient is through a comprehensive plan review by a professional energy expert. A home is a complex system of interactions between the thermal envelope, the mechanical systems, the home's features and the local environment. A thorough review takes all of these parameters and their interactions into account to determine the overall performance of the home.

ReGroup uses advanced computer-modeling software programs to review your current design for energy-efficiency, as well as to determine the most cost-effective strategies for improving it by eliminating common problems associated with new home design. We review and provide suggestions for multiple aspects of the home including:

ReGroup's expertise is not limited to conventional home design. We work with, and can model, all types of construction materials such as structurally insulated panels (SIPs), insulated concrete forms (ICF's), straw-bale, adobe, and many more. If you are considering using an alternative to traditional stick-frame construction, ReGroup can provide annual and 30 year energy savings for multiple types of building materials, providing calculations that will help you to make the most cost-effective and environmentally-conscious decisions about how to construct your new home.

Services

Code Compliance, Energy programs and Tax Credits

Services designed to input house plans (preferably in electronic format such as CAD) into a computer model of the home in order to comply with codes, energy efficiency programs, or tax credits. Our team will work with you to find the best alternatives to meet the requirements for each program or code if your plan does not pass.

Plan Review - Starting at $200

• Estimated Annual Energy Usage
• Estimated design loads for heating & cooling equipment
• Code compliance (IECC, MEC & ASHRAE 90.2)
• Energy Star & EPA 2005 Tax Credit compliance
• Projected Home Energy Rating (HERS)

Green Building Consulting and Financial Analysis

Services designed for custom home builders, architects and homeowners who would like to push the envelope of green building. Your consultant will work with you to create design scenarios and model each one. Each scenario will include an estimated life-cycle cost and payback analysis based on potential energy savings.

Initial Model Creation - See Plan Review Fees above

Alternative Scenario Analysis $200

This consulting service will include the following value added features:

• Life Cycle Analysis
• Payback Analysis
• Detailed energy analysis for each scenario
• Report of findings and best alternatives

Alternative Building Systems

Alternative building thermal envelope systems can be evaluated, such as:

• SIP's
• ICF's
• Straw Bale
• Adobe