The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hosted the Housing Innovation Awards ceremony at the EEBA 2021 Hybrid High Performance Home Summit and honored 12 NAHB members for their leadership in the high-performance building space.

Award winners participate in DOE’s voluntary Zero Energy Ready Home program, where national requirements focusing on indoor air quality, energy efficiency and resilient design are independently verified by a third party.

DOE Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm highlighted the work of those building zero energy-ready homes.

“I am really here to tell you that we not only remain committed to advancing zero emissions and high-performance and high-quality homes, but that commitment is stronger than ever,” she said. “Right now, our buildings use roughly 40% of the nation’s energy, 75% of its electricity, and account for a little over a third of our carbon emissions. Through energy-efficiency improvements, we can eliminate waste, lower our bills, reduce pollution, make people healthier, and create tens of thousands of jobs.”

Builders were awarded for leadership in six categories:

“Ours is really a true partnership with our homeowners—one of the coolest things we do with these homes is monitor and balance various systems remotely to make sure everything is working as intended, which our customers really appreciate, particularly with solar on their roofs,” said Anthony Maschmedt, principal at Dwell Development, upon winning the Custom Homes on Spec category.

Dwell Development’s winning project features ENERGY STAR appliances, EPA WaterSense fixtures, an electric vehicle charging station, sustainably harvested wood elements, and highly recycled content for components such as countertops and cabinets. It also uses a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) to bring in fresh air since the building envelope is so airtight.

Two NAHB members were grand winners this year: Thrive Homes for the Production Homes category, and Martha Rose Construction in the Custom Homes on Spec category. 

Thrive boasts a 26% repeat buyer rate, which speaks to the quality and satisfaction that their clients have from living in high-performance homes. 

In the Abbott’s Alley net-zero project from Martha Rose, customers are able to have smoke-free air in their homes during fire season in Sedro Wooley, Washington.

NAHB member Insight Homes also won in a specialty category for most homes certified in one year, for the second year in a row. 

By participating in voluntary above-code programs such as zero energy ready homes, ENERGY STAR for homes and the National Green Building Standard (NGBS), NAHB said its members that certify are differentiating themselves in the marketplace and are contributing to the growing movement of homes that are designed to be more comfortable, energy-efficient, and healthier.

Additional NAHB members honored for their housing innovation include:

Innovation in Attached Homes

Philgreen Construction – Fort Collins, CO

Innovation in Custom Homes for Buyer (> 2,500 Square Feet)

TC Legend Homes – Bellingham, WA

Tim O’Brien Homes – Pewaukee, WI

Innovation in Custom Homes for Buyer (< 2,500 Square Feet)

BPC Green Builders – Wilton, CT

Deltec Homes and Old School Rebuilder & Co. – Asheville, NC

Innovation in Custom Homes on Spec 

Charis Homes – North Canton, OH

Dwell Development – Seattle

Martha Rose Construction – Sedro Wooley, WA

Red Tree Builders – Asheville, NC

Innovation in Production Homes

Insight Homes – Bridgeville, DE

McStain Neighborhoods – Denver

Thrive Home Builders – Denver

Click here for a full list of winners and to learn more about the Housing Innovation Awards,.