Why Beazer Homes' Energy Series Homes Is a Big Deal
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When it comes to efficiency, Beazer Homes’ Energy Series projects are keeping the company at the front of the pack.
For Beazer Homes, over the past four decades, it’s been about energy—as in, how to build a house that is as energy efficient as possible. The Atlanta-based company’s communities, found in 13 states (Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), are, in the words of Luke Wissmann, division president for Beazer Homes in Sacramento, California, “designed with cutting-edge, energy-efficient features.”
Those energy efficiency elements provide big benefits for homeowners. “With better home performance, homebuyers can save money on energy bills, enjoy improved air quality for healthier living, and live more comfortably in their homes,” Wissmann adds.
A Beazer Energy Series READY home, such as this one from the builder’s Willow at Winding Creek project, is Energy Star certified, Indoor AirPlus qualified and designed to be up to 50 percent more efficient than a typical new house. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
The company has developed a reputation for constructing homes that are ahead of current standards. In 2024, Beazer became the nation’s No. 1 builder of the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH), under its Single Family National Program. It’s also the first U.S. national homebuilder to publicly commit to having every single-family home built to ZERH program standards by the end of 2025.
According to DOE’s website, ZERH is a high-performance home that is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home’s annual energy use. Each home meets rigorous efficiency and performance criteria and is verified by a qualified third party as part of the certification process.
To be a certified Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH), a single-family dwelling must include numerous energy efficiency elements, including Energy Star appliances, electric readiness and safe building materials. CREDIT: U.S. Department of Energy
3 Facets of Energy Savings
Beazer fine-tunes the ZERH program with its all-electric Energy Series homes, which the company has been gradually rolling out nationwide over the past few years. There are three variations of these houses: STAR, PLUS, and READY. STAR homes are ENERGY STAR certified, Indoor AirPlus qualified, and rigorously reviewed by third-party inspectors. According to Beazer, STAR homes perform better than homes built just to energy code requirements.
PLUS homes receive enhanced construction features to deliver a tighter, more-efficient home. In addition to being Energy Star certified and Indoor AirPlus qualified, PLUS homes have higher-performing low-E windows, HVAC equipment and ductwork in conditioned spaces, and more.
READY homes are among the most energy-efficient homes built today, the company notes. These are Energy Star certified, Indoor AirPlus qualified and, according to the DOE, designed to be 40-50 percent more efficient than a typical new home. READY homes also receive behind-the-wall preparation for easy addition of a solar energy system.
“A Beazer team is hyper-focused on including premium materials and high-caliber construction processes designed to increase performance and efficiency,” the company notes. “A READY home defines what it means to build ahead of standards and expectations.”
Making Energy Series READY Homes Work
The Energy Series READY homes have a subcategory, READY Plus Solar. These homes are ZERH certified and are so energy efficient that most, if not all, of the annual energy consumption of the home is offset by solar, according to the company. Select READY Plus Solar homes come with solar panels preinstalled; non-Plus Solar dwellings can be easily upgraded at the owner’s cost.
Rooftop solar panel systems can be paired with a power storage system which uses one or more batteries to hold solar-generated energy. The stored energy can keep a home online during an outage, and it helps cut the cost of using the house’s preinstalled electric vehicle charger.
This type of integrated system “aims to provide a seamless, aesthetically pleasing, and energy-producing solution for homes,” according to Beazer. There are also a number of unique out-of-sight design elements that improve home performance and maintain ideal temperatures, giving homeowners control over their comfort, and saving them money on energy costs.
These include use of R-49 insulation—compared to code standard R-30—which provides superior environmental temperature control for very hot or cold climates; a rheia HVAC/duct system for optimal airflow distribution; and 2-by-6 framing (as opposed to 2-by-4), which allows for use of more insulation and results in better energy efficiency.
Wall plug outlets are rectangular instead of the traditional oval, which nearly eliminates an airflow gap that makes a ventilation system less effective at cleaning the air of dust, allergens and other pollutants. As a result, air within a Beazer home only needs to be refreshed about 1.5 times per hour, compared to the building standard of 4 air changes per hour. Energy use drops by about 63 percent.
Beazer Homes also utilizes DuPont’s complete Tyvek Weatherization System, including Tyvek HomeWrap, to enhance energy efficiency and provide a barrier against the elements.
There are also the expected power savers, including electric heat pumps and induction stoves, Energy Star certified appliances, Aero Barrier air-sealing technology that prevents energy-wasting leaks, smart thermostats, and LED lighting.
Some Beazer Energy Series READY homes, such as this one at the Klausmeier Farms community, include rooftop solar panels and an energy storage system for efficient, clean and cost-cutting power production. CREDIT: David Keith Photography
Beazer Offers Mortgage Choice
In addition to helping cut energy costs, Beazer is making it easier to buy a home. The company’s Mortgage Choice program enables a prospective homeowner to receive and compare offers from multiple lenders, including make-or-break details such as interest rates, fees and payment terms. Offers are also tailored to the customer’s specific financial situation. These aspects help a buyer find the offer that is best for them.
Beazer’s “Choice Lenders” must maintain a customer satisfaction rating—based on the reported experiences of previous homebuyers—of at least 90 percent to compete for a potential buyer’s business.
“Our goal is to create an engaging and satisfying customer experience,” notes Beazer CEO Allan Merrell, “so that you can make the right decision and enjoy buying, building, personalizing and living in your new home.”
The Energy Series homes feature R-49 insulation, which provides superior effectiveness in very hot or cold climates. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
A rheia HVAC/duct system provides optimal distribution of hot or cold air as needed. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
LED lighting and low-emission dual-pane windows are among items that enable the home to do as much as possible with the smallest amount of electricity.Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Use of wider 2-by-6 framing allows for more insulation, which leads to better energy efficiency and temperature control. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Beazer makes exclusive use of the DuPont Tyvek Weatherization System to enhance year-round in-home comfort. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Rectangular plug outlets nearly eliminate an airflow gap that normally makes a ventilation system 63 percent less effective at cleaning the air of dust, allergens and other pollutants. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Energy Star appliances, such as this Whirlpool dishwasher, help keep water costs to a minimum. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.
Why Beazer Homes' Energy Series Homes Is a Big Deal
When it comes to efficiency, Beazer Homes’ Energy Series projects are keeping the company at the front of the pack.
Beazer Homes in Sacramento, California, “designed with cutting-edge, energy-efficient features.”
Those energy efficiency elements provide big benefits for homeowners. “With better home performance, homebuyers can save money on energy bills, enjoy improved air quality for healthier living, and live more comfortably in their homes,” Wissmann adds.
A Beazer Energy Series READY home, such as this one from the builder’s Willow at Winding Creek project, is Energy Star certified, Indoor AirPlus qualified and designed to be up to 50 percent more efficient than a typical new house. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
The company has developed a reputation for constructing homes that are ahead of current standards. In 2024, Beazer became the nation’s No. 1 builder of the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH), under its Single Family National Program. It’s also the first U.S. national homebuilder to publicly commit to having every single-family home built to ZERH program standards by the end of 2025.
According to DOE’s website, ZERH is a high-performance home that is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home’s annual energy use. Each home meets rigorous efficiency and performance criteria and is verified by a qualified third party as part of the certification process.
To be a certified Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH), a single-family dwelling must include numerous energy efficiency elements, including Energy Star appliances, electric readiness and safe building materials. CREDIT: U.S. Department of Energy
3 Facets of Energy Savings
Beazer fine-tunes the ZERH program with its all-electric Energy Series homes, which the company has been gradually rolling out nationwide over the past few years. There are three variations of these houses: STAR, PLUS, and READY.
STAR homes are ENERGY STAR certified, Indoor AirPlus qualified, and rigorously reviewed by third-party inspectors. According to Beazer, STAR homes perform better than homes built just to energy code requirements.
PLUS homes receive enhanced construction features to deliver a tighter, more-efficient home. In addition to being Energy Star certified and Indoor AirPlus qualified, PLUS homes have higher-performing low-E windows, HVAC equipment and ductwork in conditioned spaces, and more.
READY homes are among the most energy-efficient homes built today, the company notes. These are Energy Star certified, Indoor AirPlus qualified and, according to the DOE, designed to be 40-50 percent more efficient than a typical new home. READY homes also receive behind-the-wall preparation for easy addition of a solar energy system.
“A Beazer team is hyper-focused on including premium materials and high-caliber construction processes designed to increase performance and efficiency,” the company notes. “A READY home defines what it means to build ahead of standards and expectations.”
Making Energy Series READY Homes Work
The Energy Series READY homes have a subcategory, READY Plus Solar. These homes are ZERH certified and are so energy efficient that most, if not all, of the annual energy consumption of the home is offset by solar, according to the company. Select READY Plus Solar homes come with solar panels preinstalled; non-Plus Solar dwellings can be easily upgraded at the owner’s cost.
Rooftop solar panel systems can be paired with a power storage system which uses one or more batteries to hold solar-generated energy. The stored energy can keep a home online during an outage, and it helps cut the cost of using the house’s preinstalled electric vehicle charger.
This type of integrated system “aims to provide a seamless, aesthetically pleasing, and energy-producing solution for homes,” according to Beazer.
There are also a number of unique out-of-sight design elements that improve home performance and maintain ideal temperatures, giving homeowners control over their comfort, and saving them money on energy costs.
These include use of R-49 insulation—compared to code standard R-30—which provides superior environmental temperature control for very hot or cold climates; a rheia HVAC/duct system for optimal airflow distribution; and 2-by-6 framing (as opposed to 2-by-4), which allows for use of more insulation and results in better energy efficiency.
Wall plug outlets are rectangular instead of the traditional oval, which nearly eliminates an airflow gap that makes a ventilation system less effective at cleaning the air of dust, allergens and other pollutants. As a result, air within a Beazer home only needs to be refreshed about 1.5 times per hour, compared to the building standard of 4 air changes per hour. Energy use drops by about 63 percent.
Beazer Homes also utilizes DuPont’s complete Tyvek Weatherization System, including Tyvek HomeWrap, to enhance energy efficiency and provide a barrier against the elements.
There are also the expected power savers, including electric heat pumps and induction stoves, Energy Star certified appliances, Aero Barrier air-sealing technology that prevents energy-wasting leaks, smart thermostats, and LED lighting.
Some Beazer Energy Series READY homes, such as this one at the Klausmeier Farms community, include rooftop solar panels and an energy storage system for efficient, clean and cost-cutting power production. CREDIT: David Keith Photography
Beazer Offers Mortgage Choice
In addition to helping cut energy costs, Beazer is making it easier to buy a home. The company’s Mortgage Choice program enables a prospective homeowner to receive and compare offers from multiple lenders, including make-or-break details such as interest rates, fees and payment terms. Offers are also tailored to the customer’s specific financial situation. These aspects help a buyer find the offer that is best for them.
Beazer’s “Choice Lenders” must maintain a customer satisfaction rating—based on the reported experiences of previous homebuyers—of at least 90 percent to compete for a potential buyer’s business.
“Our goal is to create an engaging and satisfying customer experience,” notes Beazer CEO Allan Merrell, “so that you can make the right decision and enjoy buying, building, personalizing and living in your new home.”
The Energy Series homes feature R-49 insulation, which provides superior effectiveness in very hot or cold climates. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
A rheia HVAC/duct system provides optimal distribution of hot or cold air as needed. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
LED lighting and low-emission dual-pane windows are among items that enable the home to do as much as possible with the smallest amount of electricity.Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Use of wider 2-by-6 framing allows for more insulation, which leads to better energy efficiency and temperature control. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Beazer makes exclusive use of the DuPont Tyvek Weatherization System to enhance year-round in-home comfort. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Rectangular plug outlets nearly eliminate an airflow gap that normally makes a ventilation system 63 percent less effective at cleaning the air of dust, allergens and other pollutants. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
Energy Star appliances, such as this Whirlpool dishwasher, help keep water costs to a minimum. CREDIT: Green Builder Media/Alan Naditz
By Alan Naditz
Alan Naditz is managing editor of Green Builder Magazine. He has covered numerous industries in his extensive career, including residential and commercial construction, small and corporate business, real estate and sustainability.Also Read