Designed with the environment in mind. www.mcguinnhomes.com
sm Designed with the environment in mind. Why are McGuinn hybrid homes sm different? Simple... we pay close attention to those areas of your home that offer significant savings and energy efficiency, and we don t overbuild where there is no benefit. Simple and smart. Engineered Systems Low-E Vinyl Windows Low-Maintenance Vinyl Siding 13-SEER Efficient AC systems Programmable Thermostat Tankless Gas Water Heater Energy Star Appliances Insulated Thermal Envelope Natural Gas Heat CFL Bulbs Water-Saving Plumbing Fixtures www.mcguinnhomes.com
Why Buy a McGuinn Hybrid Home? Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you ll ever make. By choosing one that is McGuinn Homes Hybrid Certified you will enjoy peace of mind knowing it s been built to meet strict energy efficiency and green building guidelines set by Columbia Best Master Builder. We have made the right decision for your wallet, for your family, and for the environment bringing these important benefits: Lower Utility Bills By using less energy for lighting, heating, cooling, and water heating, McGuinn Hybrid Homes deliver approximately 20% savings on annual utility bills. Over the 7 to 8 years that a typical family lives in a home, you can save thousands of dollars in maintenance cost. Enhanced Performance In McGuinn Hybrid Homes, comfort is ensured with consistent temperatures between and across rooms; indoor air quality is enhanced by reducing dust, pollen, bugs, and excessive humidity; and durability is improved with comprehensive water protection, windows that block damaging sunlight, and better grade equipment. Environmental Protection The energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants. In fact the steam turbines at Lake Murray are actually primarily coal fired! So, by using less energy to operate, McGuinn Hybrid Homes help to prevent air pollution an added benefit for today s environmentally-conscious consumer looking for energy efficient and green choices.
Engineered Systems It is what you don t see that matters the most! That is why the HVAC, floor trusses, roof trusses, stair assemblies, and foundations are fully engineered for quality in every McGuinn Hybrid Home. This insures the most important components of your home are precisely constructed to exacting standards and inspected by experts. This results in home that is plumb, level, and square. The process is also environmentally responsible because so much less waste is created since the components of each home are precisely planned and manufactured. Trusses are incredibly strong Because they are built strictly from shorter lengths of 2x4 lumber, they are generally a lot less expensive than the alternative You can have just about any shape custom-built, and this allows interesting features like cathedral ceilings at low cost You can span a large distance with a truss and the truss transmits all of the weight to the exterior walls. Therefore, none of the interior walls are load-bearing, so they can go anywhere and are easily moved later Floor Trusses are stronger and quieter, no more squeaks! Low-E Vinyl Windows Low-emissive (Low-E) glass is window glass that has been treated with an invisible metal or metallic oxide coating, creating a surface that reflects heat, while allowing light to pass through. Windows treated with Low-E coatings are proven to reduce energy consumption, decrease fading of fabrics, and increase overall comfort in your home. Our McGuinn Hybrid Homes utilize Low E (emissivity) glass in all windows and doors. The glass is coated with a protective glazing that helps reflect heat and may reduce the energy loss by as much as 30% 50%. This protection reduces energy costs by preventing sunlight from heating up your home. Vinyl frames are simply a better choice than other materials. It s certainly superior to aluminum or wood windows and doors which readily conducts heat and cold making them far less energy efficient. Vinyl outperforms wood, too. Vinyl becomes the outstanding choice for all these reasons: Low maintenance Great insulating value Strength and durability Beauty and appearance of wood without the hassle of maintaining it Excellent resistance to rotting, corrosion, salt air, termites and air pollutants
Low-Maintenance Vinyl Siding Vinyl siding is great for a number of reasons: Requires little lifetime maintenance Vinyl siding is made for maximum beauty with minimum maintenance. It never requires paint, which saves you time and money, in addition to keeping harmful chemicals out of the environment and away from your home Delivers a greener exterior for longer Vinyl siding is built to last a lifetime, giving it just the kind of durability which is key to green building Leaves a smaller environmental footprint The production of vinyl siding emits significantly lower levels of toxic chemicals, such as mercury or silver, than other exterior cladding options. It generates little waste in manufacturing, is responsible for less than 1.9% of total construction waste, and does not utilize materials such as silica which can be harmful to installers, or to anyone. Efficient AC Systems & Programmable Thermostats Up to half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. That is why every McGuinn Hybrid Home features high efficiency 13 SEER Heating and Cooling system equipped with an easy to set programmable thermostat. Furthering the energy efficiency, the duct seams and connections are sealed with mastic or metalbacked (foil) tape to prevent leaks. How much energy and money can you save by moving from your old air conditioner to a modern, more efficient model? Let s suppose your older air conditioning system had a SEER rating of 9. If you were to upgrade to a McGuinn Hybrid Home SEER 13 air conditioner... you would reduce your power consumption by about 28%. These thermostats save energy and money on utility bills by allowing residents to set home temperatures according to various different factors. Programmable thermostats supply personal comfort through pre-set temperature levels and are generally more convenient and accurate than manual thermostats. Programmable thermostats are also a plus for the environmentally conscious because they contain no mercury and are eco-friendly. Using less energy helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production.
Tankless Gas Water Heater (where gas is available) Save Money and More with ENERGY STAR Qualified Whole-Home Gas Tankless Water Heaters By heating water only when you need it, ENERGY STAR certified Tankless water heaters save the typical family more than $80 per year, or $1,700 over the lifetime of the water heater, on gas bills compared to a standard storage model. Larger families can save even more! Continuous Hot Water Tankless water heaters provide a continuous flow of hot water, so there s no need to suffer through a cold shower if you re the last one out of bed. Unlike with a conventional tank-type water heater, the hot water is always there when you need it. Space-saving Design A certified tankless model saves you an extra closet s worth of space compared to a tank-type water heater. Gas tankless water heaters are small and wall-mounted, unlike bulky tank-type water heaters. Models designed for outdoor installation free up even more space and add versatility to your basement, garage, or utility room. Fewer Worries Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years, much longer than any conventional tank-type water heater. And with a tankless model, the risk of tank leaks and water damage is a thing of the past. Energy Star Appliances Today s major appliances don t hog energy the way older models do because they must meet minimum federal energy efficiency standards. These standards have been tightened over the years, so any new appliance you buy today has to use less energy than the model you re replacing. For instance, if you buy one of today s most energy-efficient refrigerators, it will use less than half the energy of a model that s 12 years old or older. Look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star models are the most energy efficient in any product category, exceeding the energy efficiency minimums set by the federal government. If you remember only one rule when you shop, remember to look for the Energy Star label. Use the Energy Guide label. All new appliances must carry the Energy Guide label, either on the appliance itself or on the packaging. The label allows you to compare the typical annual energy consumption and operating cost of different models of any type of appliance you re thinking of buying.
Insulated Thermal Envelope All McGuinn Hybrid Homes have high R-value Batt Fiberglass wall insulation and Blown Fiberglass ceiling insulation. The insulating factor of any given type of insulation is measured by the R-value; Batt Fiberglass Insulation provides an R-13 rating in exterior walls and blown Fiberglass Insulation provides an R-38 rating inside of the attic. The primary reason for insulation is to help retain cool in the summer and heat in the winter. However, Insulation also helps with soundproofing a home. House Wrap Our McGuinn Hybrid Homes are completely covered with House Wrap. This synthetic material acts as a water resistant barrier to help keep your house dry and protects the home against outside air. This reduces the energy costs and saves the homeowner money because homes stay cool in the summer, warm in the winter and dry all year round. Air Sealant Our McGuinn Hybrid Homes have spray sealant applied to all cracks and gaps around window and door frames, exterior framing, attic stairs, knee walls, and exterior utility penetrations. In addition, mastic and caulk is applied to all HVAC boots. This creates protective thermal barrier against the outside elements Natural Gas Heat Why gas heat? The reason is that heat pumps deliver air at a cool 95 degrees. Because it s lower than body temperature, the air feels cool a problem which cannot be resolved by turning up the thermostat. In contrast, a natural gas furnace delivers air at a much more comfortable 120 degrees. Clean-burning natural gas is a much better environmental choice than electricity. Electricity is a secondary fuel which means it must be produced from another energy source such as coal, uranium, natural gas or oil. As a result, the delivery of natural gas is 90 percent efficient, compared to only 27 percent for electricity. Use less, save more!
CFL Bulbs Lighting products that have earned the ENERGY STAR deliver exceptional features, while using less energy. Saving energy helps you save money on utility bills and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change. CFL Light Bulbs: Saves money about $6 a year in electricity costs and can save $40 to $135 over its lifetime Meets strict performance requirements that are tested and certified by a third party Uses about 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and lasts 10 to 25 times longer Produces about 75% less heat, so it s safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling Water Saving Plumbing Fixtures Plumbing fixtures that significantly reduce the amount of water released per use are labeled low-flow or low-flush. These fixtures use just enough water to be effective, saving excess, clean, drinking water that usually goes down the drain. Toilets are one of the main sources of wasted water, accounting for 40 percent of water use in a home with older models using up to six gallons per flush. Faucets and shower heads are also water-wasting culprits, with shower heads accounting for 18 percent of indoor water use and 37 percent of a home s hot water use. A unique feature of our McGuinn Hybrid Homes initiative is water conservation. This is achieved by using low-flush 1.28 GPM toilets and low-flow WaterSense fixtures by Delta Faucet. Delta shower heads that meet WaterSense requirements use between 20 and 40% less water (), while the lavatory faucets that meet WaterSense requirements use 32% less All perform as well or better than their less efficient counterparts.