Before you purchased your first home, you probably studied up on common terms like mortgage principal and annual percentage rate. But now that you’re a wiser version of your younger self, ready to buy your second, third, or fourth home, it’s time for another kind of vocabulary lesson… With fall approaching, get into the “back-to-school spirit” with a little Homeowner Lingo 101, presented by your professors at Green Key Village!
Our net-zero, energy-efficient homes in Central Florida are designed to create as much renewable energy as the amount that’s typically consumed each year — which means you’ll receive net-zero energy bills while feeling comfortable all year-round and leaving a carbon-free footprint. If you’re ready to go green and live your happiest and healthiest life yet, here are a few key terms that explain our commitment to energy efficiency:
Terms for Energy Efficient Homes
R-Value: R-value is a measurement of how well a material or assembly resists heat transfer. An assembly with high R-values means it is more energy efficient because it will keep heat outside in the summer and inside in the winter. More information on the R-values of a Green Key Village home will be posted in an upcoming blog!
U-Factor: U-factor is the inverse of R-value. Generally, windows and doors are rated with U-factors. Lower U-factor means more energy efficient.
Glazing: Glazing refers to all glass area on the exterior of the home (windows, glass doors, etc.)
HP (Heat Pump): A heat pump uses electricity to “pump” heat either into or out of the home. By using electricity to move heat instead of simply heating resistance coils, heat pumps effectively achieve efficiencies of greater than 100%.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor): The heating efficiency of a heat pump is measured by its HSPF, which is a ratio of the heat output to the electricity input. Higher HSPF means more efficient heating. For typical heat pumps, HSPF = 7.7. Green Key Village heat pumps have HSPF ratings of 9 or higher.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating): The cooling efficiency of an air conditioning system is measured by its SEER. Higher SEER means more cooling power per kW of electric input. Typical air conditioners are 13 SEER, whereas Green Key Village air conditioners are 15 SEER.
HP WH (Heat Pump Water Heater): A heat pump water heater uses the same technology as a heat pump that heats and cools your home. These are especially effective in hot climates because they use heat from inside the home to heat water for showers, etc.
EF (Energy Factor): The energy performance of a hot water heater is indicated by its energy factor. The energy factor considers heat loss from the hot water tank as well as inefficiencies in the fuel-to-heat conversion process. The higher the EF, the less money you will spend on water heating. Typical water heaters have EFs in the range of .65 to .95. Green Key Village homes are equipped with heat pump water heaters, which achieve energy factors of 2.4.
ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator): An energy recovery ventilator cycles inside air with outside air to keep air quality inside the home high. Unlike most ventilation systems, it transfers heat between the ingoing and outgoing streams to reduce energy loss. Green Key Village installs a Carrier ® ERV that is matched and synchronized to a Carrier® Air Handler.
ACH (Air Changes Per Hour): ACH is a measurement of how “leaky” a home is. A home built to the IECC 2009 Standard allows 7 ACH, which means the entire air volume of the house exchanges with outdoor air 7 times every hour. Green Key Village homes have ACH measurements of 2.5 ACH or less, which means less heat, moisture, and allergens can seep into the house in the summer. ACH is measured with a “Blower Door Test,” where an energy technician fastens a large fan to the front door to depressurize the house and measures the flow rate through the fan.
Test and Balance: Testing and balancing is when a qualified HVAC technician measures temperature, flow rates, rotational speeds, etc. to ensure that an HVAC system is performing properly. A tested and balanced HVAC system will operate more efficiently and will deliver even and balanced air flow across the home. Green Key Village provides a Test and Balance on each of its homes.
HERS Index: The HERS Index is a measure of how efficient a home will perform as a system. A home with a HERS Index of 100 will perform similarly to a home built to code in 2006. A lower HERS Index means a home that uses less energy, and a HERS Index of 0 indicates that a home will be close to net zero. Green Key Village homes achieve HERS ratings from 0 to a -18.
For more information on our net-zero homes, please call 352-314-0126. From all of us at Green Key Village, we hope you enjoyed our class… and happy fall! ®