As Wendell Falls has stated, “It’s a great day for a joy ride!” and Homes By Dickerson does like to bring joy to others. So, however you have decided to spend your March 9th (this Saturday!), make sure to include an afternoon at the Spring Open House Tour in Wendell Falls where you can grab one of the bicycles and take a tour of this incredible community! Strap on a helmet, cruise by the amenity centers (fitness, pool, slides, playgrounds, dog parks, amphitheater and more!) and then head out for the trails, the trees, and of course… the falls! Speaking of cruising, make sure you stop by the brand new Cruizers and see the oh-so-cool mural with its bright colors and artistic design.
Then of course while you are out about (fingers crossed for some Carolina blue skies and spring air!), you are going to want to stop in and see the Homes By Dickerson team in our new solar-powered model home (one of the first solar-powered model homes in the state!).
If you have not had a chance to tour the Concord model home, you are in for a treat! Vaulted ceilings, stained beams, built-in shelving, custom trim details, barn doors, and so much more await you in our 2018 Parade of Homes Gold Winner! Oh, and of course there will be snacks-as in ice cold margaritas and chips with salsa and dips. I don’t know about you but I cannot think of a better way to spend a North Carolina spring afternoon than experiencing the charming sights and sounds of Wendell Falls.
March 9th from 12pm-5pm, “It will be a great day for a joy ride!”
Courtesy Southern Energy ManagementThe Tesla Powerwall stores excess energy produced by solar panels which homeowners can tap into on demand or during grid outages.
At Wendell Falls, a new-home community in Wendell, N.C., a one-of-a-kind energy storage system has been added to the list of green energy upgrades available to homeowners.
Raleigh, N.C.-based Homes by Dickerson, a Wendell Falls builder, partnered with Morrisville, N.C.-based Southern Energy Management (SEM) to install the first Powerwall at the community, one of the first uses of the Tesla product in the state. Developed by San Diego, Calif.-based Newland Communities, Wendell Falls encompasses more than 1,100 acres near Raleigh, N.C.
The Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium ion battery that works in conjunction with solar panels to store excess energy. By making this energy available on demand, day or night, the Powerwall roughly doubles the amount of solar energy that directly powers the home, according to Tesla. When used by homeowners on a time-of-use (TOU) rate plan, the wall can help save money by charging and discharging according to peak times and prices. The Powerwall also provides backup power during outages by automatically disconnecting from the grid and restoring power to a home for seven days or longer, Tesla says.
Homes in Wendell Falls have an average score of 62 on the HERS Index, according to the developers. Dickerson’s homes there are Energy Star certified and are certified Bronze by the National Green Building Standard, with features like low-flow fixtures and faucets, tankless gas heaters, and radiant barrier roof sheathing. Homeowners who want to ratchet up their home’s performance even more can opt for solar panels and a 13.5 kw/hour Powerwall, which can bring the home to net-zero energy.
SEM says the average cost for a solar array on these homes, which range from 2,000 to 3,674 square feet, is $20,000 to $25,000, and federal tax credits allow homeowners to deduct 30 percent of that cost. A fully installed Powerwall costs $10,000 in addition to that and is also eligible for the 30 percent tax credit.
Courtesy Southern Energy ManagementThe Powerwall can help homeowners save money by smartly charging or discharging based on the price of energy at a given time.
Since tax deductions only offset part of the steep costs for these technologies, Graham Alexander, senior residential energy specialist for SEM, says the decision to upgrade comes down to a combination of factors. Although the price tag is a deterrent for some buyers, according to Alexander, others treat the purchase like an investment in a generator, which might not offer a financial return but does provide a homeowner peace of mind in an outage.
“It’s not as much wanting to save more money with the Powerwall as the security of knowing you have power in the event of a grid failure and a little more energy autonomy,” he says.
Not only are Powerwall users less susceptible to hourly fluctuations in the cost of energy, they’re able to monitor and manage their home energy usage through the Tesla app.
According to Homes by Dickerson superintendent Jonathan Bailey, buyers and homeowners with the budget to upgrade generally choose the upscale kitchen or other additions they will see and touch every day. However, the availability of these solar options and Tesla technologies is shedding light on the benefits of independent residential energy systems.
“We get asked about solar a lot more often today than we did four or five years ago, but the challenge is getting people to understand that it’s a long-term investment,” he says.
Even if the kitchen upgrades are winning for now, Alexander says interest in smart, renewable energy systems is rising across North Carolina. “There’s a strong trend toward clean energy and higher-end smart home technology. Producing your own energy and being able to store it and control when you use it – that’s the pinnacle,” he says.
North Carolina Building Performance Association Reports the Value of Building High Performance Homes
It is no secret that Homes By Dickerson has a passion for and a commitment to building high-performance homes. In fact, each of our custom designs are Energy Star Certified, crafted to the National Green Building Standard and voluntarily built to the NC HERO Code. On an even larger scale, Homes By Dickerson builds more homes to the NGBS standard than any other builder in the state of North Carolina resulting in our homes accounting for 5% of all homes in the United States built to the NGBS standard.
As impressive as all of this sounds, what does this mean about the value of our homes, especially the value of our homes to our buyers? The list of reasons why one should purchase a home built to the highest high-performance expectations possible is eye-opening. It includes saving money on monthly bills, better health opportunities for you and your family due to a better air quality, and benefits to our environment-just to name a few.
The report below, sent out by The North Carolina Building Performance Association (a third party) reports that high-performance homes bring more value to the market than the alternative. Check out these interesting statistics and findings!
Interested in learning more about how we can build a custom, high-performance design to be “The Home of YOUR Life!”? Contact Whitney at 919-917-3132, email us at info@HomesByDickerson.com or visit our website at www.HomesByDickerson.com
2017 Green Home Tour at Briar Chapel-“Build Green To Save Green!”
Come see what our high-performance, green homes are all about during the 2017 Green Home Tour in Briar Chapel! This event spans two weekends: April 29-30 and May 6-7, from 12noon to 5pm each day. We are holding events at Briar Chapel each day of the tour showcasing our high-performance, green features. Meet our team and knowledgeable industry reps, attend informative educational sessions, register for exciting prizes and more! Briar Chapel, The Brookdale (Home site 324) 247 Bennett Mountain Trace, Chapel Hill, NC. We look forward to seeing you there!
Homes By Dickerson Recognized as Builder with Most Green Certified Homes in North Carolina
RALEIGH, NC – Homes By Dickerson is pleased to announce that 301 of its custom-built homes have been certified to
the National Green Building Standard (NGBS), making it the builder with the
most Green Certified Homes to the NGBS in North Carolina by more than 40 homes.
The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) is a certification program designed and implemented by Home Innovation Research Labs, a third-party product testing laboratory and market research facility. Home Innovation Research Labs’ goal is to help their “clients improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of homes and home building products” which they achieve by researching the type and quality of materials used in a home after it has closed.
Four levels of certification are offered for the NGBS of which Homes By Dickerson boasts a bronze-level achievement. Certification for the NGBS is built around a point system which is broken into six different chapters of qualification including: Lot Design, Prep and Development; Resource Efficiency; Energy Efficiency; Water Efficiency; Indoor Environmental Quality; and Operation, Maintenance and Builder/Owner Education. Each of the six chapters are scored and accumulate points. In order to be certified to the NGBS, it is mandatory to have all chapters meet the point requirement for that level as well as a minimum cumulative amount of total points.
“We are incredibly proud of each of our High-Performance, Green homes and that we can be recognized with this honor,” says Brant Chesson, President and CEO. “It is important to us as a builder that we offer our homeowners peace of mind about their comfort, health, financial savings and impact on the environment. Achieving certification to the National Green Building Standard is just one of the ways that we accomplish that goal.”
Since the companies’ initial involvement in 2008 with the Energy Star Program, Homes By Dickerson has made “High-Performance, Green Building” one of its top priorities. They currently build to an Energy Star 3.0 Certification and also began building to the voluntary North Carolina HERO Code (High Efficiency Residential Option) in 2013. They also have a commitment to lowering their Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scores which assesses the energy efficiency of a specific home, assigning it a relative performance score. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the home. For perspective purposes, a typical resale home scores 130 on average while a standard new home is awarded a rating closer to 100.
“One of our most exciting concentrations is our HERS rating. Our 2014 average, is currently at 56 but is consistently getting lower,” says Chesson. “One of our home designs just received a HERS rating of 49 which is a great milestone for us as a ‘High-Performance, Green Builder’ and sets the bar high for all of our future homes.”
About Homes By Dickerson:
Established in 1975, Homes By Dickerson builds high-performance, custom homes throughout The Triangle area of North Carolina. Named one of the Best Places to Work by the Triangle Business Journal two years in a row, Homes By Dickerson prides itself on its team of talented, passionate and dedicated professionals who strive every day to provide exceptional service to their clients and build beautiful luxury homes. Each Dickerson home is unique, crafted with the highest quality of materials and attention to detail. Homes By Dickerson has also become a local leader in homes certified through the National Green Building and Energy Star programs and is a proud member of the Green Home Builders of the Triangle. They have made it their priority to offer owners enhanced comfort, healthier indoor air quality and lower operating costs while maintaining the highest standards of design, craftsmanship and elegance.
Homes By Dickerson also offers a build-on-your-lot program in addition to homes in the communities of Carrie’s Reach and Barton’s Grove, North Raleigh; Sunset Bluffs, Fuquay-Varina; Haywood and The Hamptons at Umstead, Raleigh; Heritage and Traditions, Wake Forest; Briar Chapel, Chapel Hill; and Croasdaile Farm in North Durham.
For more information on the Award-Winning Homes By Dickerson, please visit our website www.HomesByDickerson.com or contact us at (919) 847-4447.
Media Contact:
Jenn Nowalk
jenn@homesbydickerson.com
919.454.8173
