Green Building

Why Buy a Green Home?

Green Building is a term that describes environmentally friendly construction. It includes many different aspects of the home, from planting shade trees to save energy to installing water efficient plumbing. But, while green building is driven by a desire to reduce the environmental impact of your home, it’s also good for you.

Energy Savings

Because of increase water and energy efficiency, you can save thousands of dollars over the life of your home.

Indoor Air Quality

Green homes feature improved air quality, which enhances their overall livability. Green builders reduce pollutants, and improve ventilations so your family can breathe easier.

Less Maintenance

Green homes are designed to minimize the amount of time and money required to maintain them.

Peace of Mind

From the energy and water efficiency, to reduced construction waste and the use of renewable materials, you can take pride in the fact that your home has less negative impact on the environment.

Cimarron Homes is proud to be one of the only area builders that obtains Home Innovation Research Labs National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Certification on every custom and production home built. As a result of following this practice for many years, we are pleased to be recognized as an NGBS Green Partner of Excellence.

Cimarron Homes is proud to be one of the only area builders that obtains Home Innovation Research Labs National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Certification on every custom and production home built. Cimarron chose to follow NGBS as a blueprint for building because it is the only green building rating system for homes approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as an American National Standard.

According to the Home Innovation Research Labs website, “Home Innovation Research Labs (formerly the NAHB Research Center) was founded in 1964 as a wholly-owned, independent subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Originating as a small product testing laboratory, we have since grown to become a full-service market research, consulting, product testing, and accredited third-party certification agency dedicated solely to issues related to the home building industry.”

The Home Innovation Research Labs website goes on to say, “Many builders claim their homes are green. Builders and sales agents may make all sorts of green claims. But without a Home Innovation Research Labs NGBS green certification, you have to take the builder’s word that the green features are installed correctly. Independent, third-party certification is your proof that a home or apartment building is, in fact, NGBS compliant.” See more here.

Cimarron recognizes NGBS as being the best of the best in green building and takes pride in being affiliated with the high standards of NGBS. Read on to learn why Cimarron recommends NGBS to anyone and everyone in the market for a new home.

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Greenfordable is Cimarron’s commitment to building HEALTHY, affordable green homes in all price ranges, from starter homes to dream homes.

To make our homes green, we follow practices that help reduce environmental impact, including site design and quality storm water management. Every Cimarron home exceeds ENERGY STAR® standards by using advanced framing techniques which allow for greater insulation coverage. We also install Low E energy efficient windows, water conserving showerheads, faucets and toilets, and green labeled carpet tested by the Carpet and Rug Institute for improved air quality. After construction, we provide each homeowner with a manual explaining proper operations and maintenance procedures to ensure that their green home, which was so carefully built, can also be operated in an environmentally responsible manner.

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Practices That Make Cimarron Green

Lot Design, Preparation, and Development
We follow practices that help reduce the environmental impact, such as site design, and constructing onsite storm water retention/infiltration features. As you tour our neighborhoods, you will notice the respect for the natural features Cimarron provides.
Solar Energy Systems
Every Cimarron Home has the option to select a solar photovoltaic system to offset a portion of the home’s electricity bill and reducing the total cost of ownership. Multiple system sizes are available and designed to fit every budget.
Energy Efficiency
All of Cimarron’s homes exceed ENERGY STAR standards. They are crafted with advanced framing techniques, tightly sealed ducts, air returns and attic insulation. We install Low E energy efficient windows and Aprilaire air filters that treat all the air in your home every time it circulates. These filters also last 1 to 2 years so you don’t have to change out your filter every month. We also use advanced techniques for sealing holes and cracks in the home’s envelope to eliminate energy waste.

Resource Efficiency
We create resource efficient designs and use resource efficient materials. We spend quality time researching the most efficient materials and their applications.
Water Efficiency
Cimarron uses Moen water conserving products including faucets that provide 32% water savings, low flow showerheads that provide 40% water savings, and high efficiency toilets that provide 20% water savings.
Indoor Environmental Quality
In addition to any above-mentioned applications, we use low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint and green labeled carpet certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute.
Operation, Maintenance, and Homeowner Education
All of our exterior materials are selected for their long-term benefits of stability, quality, efficiency, and low maintenance to the homeowner. Cimarron provides each homeowner with a manual that explains proper operations and maintenance procedures that assures that the green home that was so carefully built can also be operated in an environmentally responsible manner.

Features That Make Cimarron Green

Pressure Balancing True Returns: Properly cycles air in the home to allow for more efficiency and comfort.

Advanced Framing Techniques: (tight construction/tight thermal envelope.) Reduces the amount of building materials while maintaining the structural integrity of the home, and also allows for more insulation coverage.

MOEN 3rd party certified Water Conserving Products: We install low flow faucets; a 32% water savings, shower heads; a 40% water savings, and toilets; a 20% water savings.

Programmable Thermostats: They perform more efficiently for you. Just set it and leave it.

Aprilaire Air Filter: This high efficiency air filter replaces that 1-inch thick flimsy air filter that you have to replace every month. It permanently traps allergy causing pollen-sized particles (5 microns and larger) at the rate of 97% and permanently traps mold and spore particles at a rate of 70%.

Tightly Sealed HVAC Duct Work: You pay to heat and cool that air, why let it escape? Our properly installed energy efficient heating and cooling systems use less energy, which saves you money.

3rd Party Certified: It’s easy to claim our homes are green built and energy efficient, but we like to back it up with a third party inspection verifying the energy performance of our homes. You get both ENERGY STAR and NGBS Green Certification in your new Cimarron home!

Solar Energy

In line with our mission to provide high-performance green homes, Cimarron has partnered with Southern Energy Management to offer solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to lower our customer’s electricity bill.

How it Works

Solar panels are mounted to the rear or sides of the roof and convert sunlight into electricity, offsetting the power you’d otherwise need to buy from the utility. Any excess energy above your need is fed into the grid and you receive a credit against your monthly bill. The panels are aesthetically pleasing in all black, lie nearly flush with the roof and require only occasional rainfall (abundant in NC) to rinse off any debris or residue. They have an expected lifetime of 30 years.

Why Solar?

The cost of solar technology has fallen drastically in recent years and is now an affordable option within reach of the average homebuyer. Conveniently rolled into the mortgage, the average monthly energy savings exceeds the mortgage adder and can reduce your bill anywhere from 25% to 75% depending on system size. Should you move out of your home before the life of the system is up, the remaining value of your system will be appraised and increase the value of the home.

Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index

According to the RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) website (www.resnet.us/hers-index), the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured and it’s the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance.

To further explain, Chuck Perry, Program Manager of the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance (NCEEA) housed at Appalachian State University, states that the lower the HERS score, the better the performance of the home.

“The HERS score is to the housing industry what miles per gallon is to the auto industry,” says Perry. “The score identifies a specific number to give consumers a measurement on how to gauge the performance of a home. For example, the HERS score of a typical home built in 2006 is 100. The HERS score of homes currently built by Cimarron is in the low 60s. What this means is that Cimarron homes are 35% to 40% more energy efficient than a typical home built in 2006. Furthermore, Cimarron homes are roughly 20% more energy efficient than modern-day non-certified new homes. In either comparison, Cimarron building practices produce quite accomplished results.”

The HERS score is gaining significance to the point that it’s now included on MLS sheets, says Perry. As consumers become more educated in energy efficiency, they should inquire about HERS scores to make more informed decisions regarding a home’s long term energy costs. In order to determine the HERS score of a home, a builder must hire an independent third party home energy rater to perform testing governed by RESNET.

One such RESNET-certified home energy rating company is Southern Energy Management, based locally in Morrisville. “Southern Energy Management is proud to be a part of the Cimarron legacy,” says Jamie Hager, Green Building Specialist at Southern Energy Management. “Cimarron has been one of our strongest partners from the beginning, always exploring ways to create greener, more efficient homes focused on quality. They take particular care to vet products and services that have the greatest benefit for homeowners, utilizing strategies that truly make a difference in the durabilty, security, and performance of the home. We have been independently inspecting their homes for the Energy Star and the National Green Building Standards Programs for over 10 years, and watched them lead the shift in the housing market to the construction of better homes.”

The benefit to consumers in these smart building practices is simple: Substantial savings in monthly utility bills. Cimarron can save consumers approximately $1000 or more per year on power bills, dependent on home size. Who doesn’t want to save money?