Nicholson and Sun
Nicholson and Sun is a fully insured and licensed North Carolina General Contractor, a certified Green Built NC builder, an Energy Star Partner, a net-zero builder, a Duke Energy HERO program participant, Living Wage Certified, a member of the Asheville Home Builders Association, and a member of the Western North Carolina Green Building Council.
In this month’s feature, we asked Dan Torrington at Nicholson and Sun to share some insight on building HERS® homes for their customers.
Q: What is special about a HERS® Rated home?
A: Dan: Nicholson and Sun is a leading builder of net-zero homes (homes that produce as much electricity as they consume over their lifetimes) in Asheville, NC. Our net-zero homes typically achieve HERS® scores of less than 10. These stellar HERS® ratings demonstrate to our clients the positive impact they are making on climate change by building a net-zero, highly energy-efficient home.
Q: Why should consumers ask for the HERS® Index Score on homes they are shopping for?
A: Dan: Knowing the HERS® rating of a home informs consumers about how energy-efficient the home is. This information helps consumers compare the true cost of a home and its impact on climate change, relative to other homes.
Q: Why does Nicholson and Sun choose to have their homes HERS® Rated?
A: Dan: The HERS® score of our homes is an important metric by which we can measure the success of our building techniques in increasing the energy efficiency of the homes we build. By having our homes HERS® rated and typically achieving HERS® scores of less than 10, we are able to demonstrate that our homes are net-zero homes, which also earn Asheville’s Green Built Alliance’s Platinum certification.
Q: Why consumers should expect energy-efficient homes?
A: Dan: Energy-efficient homes consume less energy, leading to lower energy bills and a lower impact on the environment. Investing in an energy-efficient home is one of the most meaningful ways a consumer can reduce their carbon footprint and climate impact.
Q: How many homes does Nicholson and Sun build with HERS® per year?
A: Dan: Nicholson and Sun builds two to three homes per year, and every one of our homes is HERS® rated, typically achieving a HERS® score of less than 10.
Q: How do you market HERS® Rated homes?
A: Dan: We are proud of the net-zero homes we build. Displaying our homes’ low HERS® scores is an important way to demonstrate their energy efficiency.
Q: How do your customers feel about HERS® Rated homes?
A: Dan: Our customers are drawn to our proven track record of building net-zero homes. The HERS® rating of their home is validation for our clients of every decision and investment they made in designing and building a net-zero home.
