2009 Northwest ENERGY STAR Award
2008/2009
Northwest ENERGY STAR® Award Winners Announcement:
Oregon Home Builder
Small:
SolAire
Homebuilders (Bend, OR) March 19, 2009
SolAire Homebuilders Receives 2009 ENERGY STAR Homes Award
SolAire Homebuilders has received the 2009 Regional Northwest
ENERGY STAR Homes Award among small sized builders in
Oregon. Selected among many other builders across the
state of Oregon, SolAire has demonstrated excellence as a green
and sustainable builder in several focus areas.
One hundred percent of all their custom homes built in 2008
were certified as ENERGY STAR. In fact, one of the ENERGY
STAR homes was also the first LEED Platinum home certified in
Central Oregon. “We are grateful to have homeowners
and designers who enjoy partnering with SolAire to create and
inspire sustainable living strategies into their new custom
homes,” explains Cindi O’Neil, Vice President
SolAire. “Last year designer/homeowner Mary Louise
Vidas and her husband Allen Staley were such partners.
Working together we created an exceptional sustainable home
that took green building a step forward in our community of
Bend.” Northwest ENERGY STAR looks to reward
builders who promote energy efficiency demonstration
projects.
SolAire has an established commitment to quality control,
keeping their staff, subcontractors and suppliers abreast of
the new developments in the areas of green building standards,
products and installation methodologies. “Training
is a priority for our staff,” explains
O’Neil. When ENERGY STAR began to revise their 2009
standards, SolAire staff attended educational meetings provided
by our local builder’s association, COBA Building Green
Council and certifier, Earth Advantage. New standards
were then integrated into their contract documents, work order
summaries, and job site inspections. Each spring the
company hosts an annual subcontractor meeting to review
SolAire’s requirements for green building products,
installation standards and quality of workmanship.
“A green-built home is a better built home because it
integrates high standards of building science with sustainable
building practices,” explains O’Neil.
“You really can’t have one with out the
other.”
And SolAire has worked diligently to get the word out through
their marketing mediums about the benefits of an ENERGY STAR
certified home. Through the use of their website, Green
Building Features Guide, bill boards, radio spots, newspaper
articles, event sponsorships, the COBA Tour of Homes™,
and the Green and Solar Tour, SolAire has been ever present
explaining the benefits of an ENERGY STAR home and sustainable
building. “We’re in the business of building
environments that inspire sustainable living,” concludes
O’Neil. To be inspired, visit us at
www.solairehomebuilders.com or call us at 541-383-2140.
