Energy efficiency is an important consideration when buying a new construction home. Beyond the purchase price, buyers want to understand how a home is designed to manage energy use, maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, and support predictable ownership costs.
Modern construction methods make it possible to reduce energy waste through insulation, windows, air sealing, and heating and cooling systems that work together. Independent testing also gives buyers something more useful than a broad promise: measurable home energy performance.
Here's how these features work, how to read a HERS Index score, and how to compare modeled energy costs for Allen Edwin Homes floorplans.
What makes a home energy efficient?
An energy efficient home is designed to use less energy to maintain comfortable indoor conditions. Its insulation, windows, ventilation, and mechanical systems help limit wasted heating and cooling.
Older homes may experience more energy loss through:
- Insulation that is missing, insufficient, or deteriorated
- Air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings
- Aging or inefficient heating and cooling equipment
- Older appliances and lighting
New construction provides an opportunity to address these factors through coordinated design and performance testing. The actual efficiency of any home still depends on its construction, equipment, maintenance, and use.
How can energy efficient homes help lower utility costs?
Reducing the energy needed to heat, cool, and operate a home can help lower utility costs. The amount saved varies by the home, energy rates, weather, and occupant habits.
High performance insulation
Proper insulation helps keep heated air inside during colder months and limits unwanted heat gain in warmer months. By reducing heat transfer, insulation can lower the workload on heating and cooling equipment.
Energy efficient windows
Modern windows can improve the thermal performance of a home while bringing in natural light. Features may include multiple panes of glass, Low E coatings, and improved seals. The exact specifications vary by home.
Engineered heating and cooling systems
HVAC equipment performs best when it is appropriately sized and designed for the home's layout. Efficient equipment and properly installed ductwork help deliver conditioned air with less wasted energy.
Air sealing and tighter construction
Air barriers, sealed joints, and careful installation around windows and doors can reduce uncontrolled air leakage. Blower door testing measures this leakage, providing an objective way to evaluate the building envelope.
What is a HERS Index score, and why does it matter?
The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index, developed by RESNET, provides a standardized measurement of modeled home energy performance. A HERS 100 reference home serves as the comparison point. Lower scores indicate lower modeled energy use relative to that reference home.
Allen Edwin Homes builds to RESNET Energy Smart standards and uses independent energy performance testing. In the company's January 2026 data, evaluated models had HERS scores ranging from 55 to 66, corresponding to approximately 34% to 45% less modeled energy use than a HERS 100 reference home. Testing for the evaluated models was conducted by Energy Diagnostics.
Compare your home's modeled energy performance
Select an Allen Edwin Homes floorplan to explore its modeled HERS rating and estimated energy costs compared with a HERS 100 reference home.
HERS Index score
Lower scores indicate lower modeled energy use.
Important: This is a comparison of modeled costs for the selected floorplan and the HERS 100 reference home, not actual utility bills or a comparison with current building code. Estimated differences are not guaranteed savings. The multiyear projection multiplies the current annual modeled difference by the selected number of years and does not account for changes in rates or usage. Costs vary by location, weather, plan selections, household use, and utility rates. Individual homes may differ from the modeled floorplan. Request the home's HERS rating information for its specific performance.
More consistent indoor comfort
Insulation, efficient windows, air sealing, and appropriately designed HVAC systems work together to help manage indoor temperatures and reduce drafts. Comfort also depends on system design and operation.
Support for indoor air quality
A well designed ventilation system helps bring fresh air into a tighter home. Filtration, moisture control, and regular system maintenance are also important to indoor air quality.
Long term performance
Thoughtful construction and proper maintenance can help building components and mechanical systems perform as intended over time.
How does Allen Edwin Homes build Energy Smart homes?
Allen Edwin Homes uses RESNET Energy Smart construction standards and independent testing rather than relying solely on claims about building materials. Buyers can review energy performance information when comparing a specific home or floorplan.
Every new Allen Edwin home also includes a 10-year third party structural warranty through Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC), with coverage subject to the applicable warranty terms.
Why should homebuyers consider energy efficiency when comparing new homes?
Monthly housing costs go beyond a mortgage payment. Energy performance can be one more factor to weigh alongside the purchase price, floorplan, location, and features. A documented HERS rating helps make that conversation more specific.
When comparing homes, ask whether energy performance is independently tested, what the HERS score represents, and whether the estimates reflect the specific home you are considering.
Frequently asked questions about energy efficient new homes
What is a good HERS score for a new home?
The lower the HERS Index score, the less modeled energy the home uses compared with the HERS 100 reference home. A score of 60 represents approximately 40% less modeled energy use than that reference. The best comparison is the rating and features of the specific homes you are considering.
What HERS scores do Allen Edwin Homes receive?
Evaluated Allen Edwin Homes floorplans in the January 2026 energy performance data received modeled HERS scores ranging from 55 to 66. Actual scores can differ by home design, options, and construction details, so ask for the rating associated with a particular home.
Who verifies the energy performance of Allen Edwin homes?
Allen Edwin Homes builds to RESNET Energy Smart standards and uses independent third party energy testing. Energy Diagnostics performed the testing for the evaluated models in the January 2026 energy performance data.
Is Allen Edwin Homes recognized by RESNET?
Yes. The official RESNET HERS Index website published an Allen Edwin Homes builder profile discussing the company's approach to HERS rated construction. You can also review RESNET's regional Energy Smart builder directory .
Does a HERS score of 55 mean the home uses 45% less energy than a home built to today's code?
No. A HERS 55 score represents approximately 45% less modeled energy use relative to the HERS 100 reference home. That reference is not the same as the minimum requirements of a current building energy code.
How much could an energy efficient new home save on utilities?
Utility costs depend on the home's size, location, equipment, energy rates, weather, and how the home is used. The interactive comparison above shows modeled cost differences for individual floorplans against HERS 100, not guaranteed savings or actual utility bills.
Can I compare HERS ratings for different Allen Edwin floorplans?
Yes. Use the floorplan selector in the interactive tool above to see the listed model's HERS score, modeled annual costs, and the difference from a HERS 100 reference. The tool also lets you view simple projections across 1 to 30 years using the same modeled annual difference.
How can I find the HERS rating for a specific home I want to buy?
Ask your Allen Edwin Homes Sales Counselor for the HERS information associated with the specific property. An individual home's rating is more relevant than a general floorplan estimate when comparing properties.
Explore energy efficient new homes in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio
Allen Edwin Homes builds new homes in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, with Move-In Ready and build to order opportunities where available. Compare floorplans, available homes, and Energy Smart information as part of your home search.
Ready to compare your options? Explore available Allen Edwin homes and ask about the HERS rating for a specific property.
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