High Performance Homes
All new homes built in Florida must be designed to meet State and local building codes for strength and energy efficiency. This sounds reassuring until you realize that the building codes are minimal standards, and that a builder isn't allowed by law to build any worse. Mercedes Homes, a leader in quality home building in Florida, takes a different view in believing that homebuyers should expect, and receive, much more that minimally acceptable when purchasing a new home. Mercedes backs up that commitment to excellence by offering a new line of High Performance EnergyStar homes which exceed Model Energy Code standards by 30%, while offering improved durability and wind storm resistance. All this without sacrificing the style, comfort, and affordability Mercedes buyers have come to expect.
What's in a Mercedes High Performance Home?
*Reinforced Concrete Walls (Solid Poured)
Along with the obvious benefit of superior durability, the Mercedes Home concrete wall system offers
a very high level of wind storm resistance, and the additional benefit of increased energy efficiency
by utilizing the principle of thermal mass. The heavy concrete walls have the ability to absorb the
heat of the day, before it enters the house, and to release the heat build-up to the night sky when
the exterior temperatures drop.
High Performance Low-E Windows
Low-E windows (low emissivity) work by reducing the solar heat gain in the house by blocking a potion
of the sun's energy, while at the same time, letting the light in. This has the benefit of reducing
the amount of energy required to keep the house cool, and saving the homeowner money on their
electric bill.
Optimized Insulation
By placing continuous layers of high R-value rigid insulation against the interior surface of the
concrete walls, the optimum level of insulation is achieved while insuring there are no thermal
breaks or gaps in the insulation layer. No wiring, electrical boxes, or plumbing is allowed to
penetrate the insulation surface insuring that the rated R-value of the insulation is achieved, and
that the walls remain tight and free of unwanted air leaks.
Inside-the-Envelope Air Handler and Tight Ducts
Rather than place the heating and air conditioning in the garage where it is subject to the heat and
cold of the exterior (and the accompanying heat loss and gain), Mercedes High Performance Homes are
built with the air-handler in the living space, ensuring maximum operating efficiency. The mastic-sealed
tight duct installation further ensures that the cooled or heated air gets to the room it is
intended, without wasteful air leaks.
Right Sized Heating and Air Conditioning
All air conditioning and heating systems must be sized so that they will keep a house comfortable
under the hottest or coldest situations. This is known as the peak load. By following the four
previous strategies outlined above, the Mercedes High Performance homes have a dramatically lower
peak load, and therefore can use a smaller air conditioning and heating system to meet that peak
load and stay comfortable. Not only does this contribute to the improved energy efficiency of the
house, but because a right sized system is less over sized than a traditional system during non-peak
heating and cooling seasons, it will provide an even higher level of comfort by being better able
to dehumidify without over cooling.
* Note: Not every home built with Solid Poured Walls is a High Performance Home.
