Pittsville Homes Receives Wisconsin Energy Star Homes Certification Pittsville Homes Strengthens its Commitment to Energy Efficient Construction |
Madison, WI (July 9, 2002) - In a commitment to even greater energy efficiency, Pittsville Homes, a manufacturer of modular home in Pittsville, WI (Wood County), had its first home certified by the Wisconsin Energy Star Homes program. Staff members from the program designed a construction procedure for modular homes and then followed a home from Pittsville's factory floor to on-site completion by the builder. Now, this construction procedure is available to all builders of modular homes who want to have their homes certified by Wisconsin Energy Star Homes.
Pittsville Homes has manufactured quality modular homes for more than 25 years and has provided customers a way to save time and money when investing in a new home. "We always knew we built quality homes," said Dan Timmerman, service manager for Pittsville Homes. "Now, we can offer our customers the Wisconsin Energy Star Homes stamp of approval." Pittsville Homes' customers will benefit by purchasing a well constructed home that offers comfort, durability, safety and energy efficiency.
The company manufactures modular homes that are sent to a building site in two-to-six pieces. Then, Pittsville's "builder/dealers" finish the construction process. The Wisconsin Energy Star Homes program will work with Pittsville Homes to train in-plant Quality Assurance personnal and to certify third part "modular consultant" who will verify that installation practices and components that go into each modular home will meet Wisconsin Energy Star Homes' energy efficiency standards. These modular consultants serve as a technical resource to the builders of modular homes.
The company decided to participate after attending a seminar describing the benefits of the program. "We realized that we were already meeting most of the program's standards," said Timmerman. "So we didn't have to make many manufacturing changes al all." The Wisconsin Energy Star Homes Program, which is modeled after the national Energy Star Homes program, evaluates homes during and after construction to ensure they meet specific certification criteria. These criteria were established with Wisconsin's unique climate in mind. "Wisconsin Energy Star Homes require stringent building standards that result in comfortable, safe and durable homes that are, on average, up to 25 percent more efficient than homes built to Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code," said Dave Kinyon, special projects coordinator for Wisconsin Energy Star Homes. "In the past, buyers of modular homes did not have this opportunity to pruchase a factory-built home that has gone through the same certification process as homes built entirely on a construction site. Now they do."
Modular homes have closed cavity construction, meaning they arrive at the building site with the framing and insulation already covered with drywall. For accurate perfomance testing and certification, Wisconsin Energy Star Homes' consultants need to see the material behind the drywall so, for modular homes, consultants will monitor efforts in the factory to verify that Wisconsin Energy Star Homes standards are met. Once each modular home has been completely assembled at the homeowner's lot, it will be performance tested and certified. The testing, which includes an air leakage and mechanical ventilation system test, guarantees that all components of the home are performing at high efficiency levels for each family.
A home that passes final certification offers its owner the assurance that the home is draft-free, has fewer moisture and condensation problems, and better indoor air quality. It also offers safer use of the heating system, air conditioner, water heater and fireplace because they are vented to the outdoors. Wisconsin Energy Star Homes is sponsored by Wisconsin Focus on Energy, a public-private partnership offering energy information and services to energy utility customers throughout Wisconsin. The goal's of this program are to encourage energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, enhance the environment, and ensure the future supply of energy for Wisconsin. For information about Focus on Energy servics and programs, call 1-800-762-7077 or visit www.focusonenergy.com. |
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