Buying something that is "high performance" can be an attractive attribute in any purchasing decision. Most consumers understand the benefits of a high-performance car or sports drink. But when it comes to selling a new home, many builders miss the opportunity to talk to customers about high performance because unless prompted, many customers won't think or ask about it.
Randy Erwin, director of energy programs for Ryland Homes, believes that it is up to the builder to engage the customer on the benefits of quality, energy efficiency and comfort that come with a high-performance home.
"They don't know that they want to talk about performance," said Erwin at the Energy and Environmental Building Association's (EEBA) Excellence in Building Conference and Expo in Norfolk, Va. "They do when they buy a car; they do when they buy a computer, when they buy a stereo system or an IPod — but not when they buy a home."
Like a high-performance sports car, a high-quality home can offer buyers a lifetime of benefits. It works as a system with each component contributing to its overall efficiency, durability, safety and comfort. A high-performance home is designed and built to address concerns such as energy use and indoor air quality for the occupants, but also to consider natural resources such as water consumption and construction material use. Its builder respects environmental and economic impacts related to site selection and use local materials to reduce transportation costs and support local businesses.
