Drees Homes

Family-owned and operated for more than 90 years, Drees Homes is ranked nationally as the 29th largest homebuilder and 13th largest private builder by Builder Magazine. Headquartered in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, Drees operates in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington D.C., Austin, Houston, and Dallas. In Texas, Drees operates as Drees Custom Homes. For more information, visit the company’s website at dreeshomes.com.

Drees Homes

www.dreeshomes.com

Locations: Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington D.C., Austin, Houston, and Dallas

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Drees has earned the title of "America's Best Builder" (twice) from Builder Magazine, "National Builder of the Year" from Professional Builder Magazine, as well as the "National Housing Quality Award" from the National Association of Home Builders. This is known as the prestigious “Triple Crown” of national homebuilding awards.

In this month’s feature, we asked Matt Graves, VP of Production at Drees Homes to share some insight on building HERS® homes for their customers.

Q: Why should consumers ask for the HERS® Index Score on homes they are shopping for?

A:  Matt: Similar to comparing miles per gallon on various cars, reviewing HERS® scores on different homes is the best way to compare energy efficiency. Knowing that a one-point decrease in a HERS® score corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption is pretty motivating. The lower the score, the lower the energy cost.

Q: Why does Drees Homes choose to have their homes HERS® Rated?

A: Matt: On the most basic level, we have found it’s the best way to meet energy efficiency guidelines. Additionally, the HERS® rating aligns with our DreeSmart initiative. With DreeSmart, our goal is to incorporate the latest innovations in energy efficiency, technology, and design into every Drees home.

Q: Why consumers should expect energy-efficient homes?

A: Matt: With advances in product technology and improvements in homebuilding practices, there is no reason a new home should not to be energy efficient. We feel our homebuyers should live comfortably and feel at ease the moment they set foot into their new Drees home. For that reason, we source only the toughest, most durable building materials to ensure our homes are built solid and energy-efficient from the start.

Q: How many homes does Drees Homes build with HERS® per year?

A: Matt: We build approximately 2,100 homes every year. Each is rated on the HERS® Index.

Q: How do you market HERS® Rated homes?

A: Matt: The HERS® rating is communicated to prospective homebuyers through our DreeSmart program, which combines energy and technology innovations to bring comfort and connectivity to all Drees homes. We highlight this program on our website, as part of model home signage and through distributed literature.

Q: How do your customers feel about HERS® Rated homes?

A: Matt: On average, a Drees home scores 66 points better than the typical existing home and homebuyers are excited to learn that. However, we get the most positive feedback when they start reviewing their actual utility bills. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $4,923 annually on their utility bills compared to those for a typical existing home.