The program will also reduce the carbon footprint of a house built in one of its active lifestyle communities by 20 to 29 percent. Trilogy homes will be built with solar technology, green fiber recycled insulation, and wood from certified sustainable forests whenever possible; they will utilize weather-responsive sprinkler systems, motion and occupancy sensor lighting, and energy-efficient windows, air conditioning and appliances.
With an average energy and resource savings of 20 percent compared to conventionally built, non-green homes, Shea Certified Green homes exceed by approximately 30 percent the International Energy Code. Among the savings are reductions of 50 percent in the therms associated with heating water, 75 percent in kWh used for lighting, 40 percent in kWh used for clothes washing, and 41 percent in kWh used for dishwashing.
The CO2 that will be saved in Trilogy's anticipated production of 20,000 homes over the next 10 years, at just a 20-percent reduction, is the equivalent of 8,660,000 gallons of gasoline, 77,000 barrels of oil, 6,380 acres of carbon-reducing forest, and 3,180,000 propane cylinders used in home barbecues.
In contrast, the Home Builders Association of Northern California pledged last week to cut the amount of energy used in the houses it creates by 50 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by the year 2020. While this ambitious pledge exceeds California's current construction standards, Shea Certified Green will achieve these goals 12 years sooner.
"Our goal, from last quarter forward, is to build every Trilogy home to be more eco-friendly and more energy wise and efficient than those built by any other national builder," said Rick Andreen, President of Shea Homes Active Lifestyle Communities. "We intend to deliver this superior product without an astronomical premium - certainly more cost effectively than retro-fitting an existing home to Shea Certified Green standards."
"Trilogy by Shea Homes has made a multi-million dollar annual, ongoing commitment in operational and product changes to support this evolution in the company's building culture," said Andreen. "Trilogy communities are places where members celebrate life through exploration, connectivity and wellness. The Shea Certified Green standard is a natural extension of our commitment to caring about our community and our planet," he said.
Andreen noted that "the power of Shea Certified Green is that it aggregates small improvements that collectively make a big difference in how a home functions. Many homes functioning more efficiently will make a huge difference in the impact our communities have on the environment," he said.
The Shea Certified Green standards exceed by 50 percent those of the Environments for Living Certified Green Rating, a highly reputed program that has served as the benchmark by which builders measure their green performance.
"The Environments for Living program was a great start for us," said Andreen. "It opened our eyes. Then we quickly realized that new, higher standards were needed if we are truly going to make a difference. And making a difference is what drives us."
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