Houston's Zander Homes Raising the Green Standard of Home Building

    HOUSTON, TX, November 19, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Not all homes are created equal. No need to overanalyze that statement, because not all homebuilders are equal.

With so many homebuilders scouring the Greater Houston-area, they nearly seem the same; but there is a big difference between the same and average. Most homebuilders are satisfied with being average because that's where their competition is. One new homebuilder, however, has risen above average and is setting the new standard for homebuilding in Houston.

Zander Homes has been in the business of building homes in the Houston-area since 2010 and is pushing the limits to what the standard for new homes should be.

As the nation and the world continues to become more environmentally conscious, Justin Henry, founder and owner of Zander Homes, believes potential homebuyers want more from their biggest investment. This is why most of what other homebuilders offer as energy-efficient upgrades, Henry has decided to make standard.

"It all derives from a desire to do what's right," he said. "Sometimes companies cannot or will not do what's best due to time or cost restraints, or the profits precede all other decisions that they make. I made a commitment to provide a quality home at value to all of our homeowners."

With more than a decade of professional experience in the industry, this entrepreneur has ushered in a new vision to homebuilding and has worked hard to make certain each Zander home offers families the option for a healthier living environment. Zander Homes doesn't just meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star program. It surpasses them by taking the extra steps required to meet the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index requirements.

The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) developed the HERS Index, which is now the industry standard for how a home's energy efficiency is measured. According to the Department of Energy (DoE), new homes use 30% less energy than older homes. The standard energy usage for Zander Homes is 70% less than older homes, which for a single-family home approximately 2,500-square feet in size could cut annual energy costs by more than $1,000.

Henry said the first thing homebuyers look for in terms of energy efficiency is savings, while many others are comforted knowing the products and systems in their new home are of high value and quality to ensure a longer lasting output. He added that it is not just the homebuilders who are getting smarter about homes, but homebuyers as well.

"With a world of knowledge at your fingertips, today's consumers try to not only be conscious about costs when making decisions, but how it will impact the environment, their local community, and the next generation to come," Henry said. "By constructing homes with the big picture in mind, we can now create a cleaner and friendlier indoor environment in your home."

Henry compares shopping for a house to shopping for a car. The first two things a buyer looks for is style and price. After that, it comes down to MPG. The best way to gauge a home's "MPG" is through today's most effective and nationally accredited system, the HERS Index.

Much like gas is the second most expensive aspect of owning a car, energy costs are the most expensive aspect of owning a home after the mortgage. Imagine cutting energy costs by nearly half. With a Zander home, it's more than a possibility.

In order for a home to qualify as an Energy Star home, its rating must be at least 85, which is only 15% more energy efficient than older homes. Standard new homes are awarded a 100 on the HERS Index. A rating of 70 is 30% more energy efficient than the standard home. Zander Homes built in the Houston-area have an average HERS Index score of 60, making them 40% more energy efficient than Energy Star homes.

"Our homes are our safe havens," Henry said. "Sadly, this is not the case for most homes in America today. We all know that energy costs and consumption has skyrocketed, as well as various byproducts and chemicals seeming to creep into everything from our clothing to food. But with today's technologies and innovations, we can reasonably subdue energy costs, indoor allergens and contaminants, while increasing the lifespan of our home and its systems."

The reason why Zander Homes are so energy efficient in an area that demands so much energy from a home is because Henry decided his homes needed to be built for the Houston climate. The weather is commonly hot and humid year-round, and according to him, being energy efficient all starts with creating a proper building envelope for your home.

That envelope means each Zander home comes standard with ICYNENE whole house spray foam insulation; double-pane, low-E, vinyl windows; tankless water heaters; and 95% (AFUE) HVAC units.

But what do each of these systems or materials do to make a home more energy efficient and green?

- ICYNENE Whole House Spray Foam Insulation - seals leaks while insulating, and lowers the average home energy loss by 40%. It not only meets the DoE requirements, it also helps keep out pollutants and allergens.

- Double-Pane, Low-Emissivity (Low-E), Vinyl Windows - helps reduce unwanted heat and unwanted UV rays, while the frames create an excellent resistance value (R-Value), which is the resistance a material has to heat flow.

- Tankless Water Heaters - unlike traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters only heat when needed and can last up to 20 years.

- 95% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) HVAC Units - the standard for new homes is 80% AFUE, which means the furnace converts 80% of the fuel it burns into heat, while the other 20% is lost through the chimney. At 95%, our HVAC Units enable the furnace to be more energy efficient, which saves homeowners more money.

These are just some of the reasons why Zander Homes is listed on the National Association of Home Builders' directory as one of the Certified Green Professional (CGP) builders within a 25-mile radius of downtown Houston.

As much as Henry loves finding new ways to pull ahead of the competition by making his homes even greener, it's really about the satisfaction he gets from making new homeowners' dreams become a reality.

"I enjoy the reactions of our homeowners who are enjoying the benefits of all the science and technology that is in their new home," he said. "The challenge of designing great homes with outstanding products and benefits at a value is an awesome feeling."

Visit ZanderHomes.net to find out all of the green possibilities.

Zander Homes developed itself as a second generation homebuilder in the residential construction Industry. My father started in the construction industry when he was a young man, building up the means for his new family as I followed in his footsteps. I started out at as a 12-year-old kid, picking up trash on job sites, neatly stacking material, and occasionally driving a nail into some piece of lumber.

While at that time it just seemed to be some extra cash, I was learning invaluable lessons in hard work. With my understanding and responsibilities of construction growing overtime - I continued to develop my understanding of homebuilding throughout my college years. Upon graduation, I started my managerial career with a prominent national homebuilder.

Since the beginning of my professional career in residential construction, I have climbed the corporate ladder through hard work and self sacrifice. I have learned well from other experienced leaders and I still use continuing education today to help pattern my craft into a business that helps build your dreams into today's reality!

Justin Henry - Owner

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