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ConSol Brings Energy Efficiency to Family in Need

Energy efficiency consultants volunteer their time and expertise in concert with home builder Pardee on ABC-TV’s hit reality series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. STOCKTON, CA, Mar 9, 2005: -- A blended family in need was all the inspiration it took for over 800 volunteers to come together recently and construct a new home from the ground up in four days for the hit ABC-TV show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”. Thunder, lightning, and a record-breaking torrential downpour did not keep the crew, led by builder Pardee Homes, from completing their mission on schedule.

This was no ordinary house. It morphed from a 1200 square foot tract house to a custom-built, 4200 square foot, nine bedroom, six bathroom, super energy efficient home, complete with pond, waterfall, and Jacuzzi in the landscaped back yard. The house also sports a 3.0 kW photovoltaic roof-integrated system by GE Energy that will convert sunlight into electricity to power the home.

Engineered wood framing material waits to be installed by the crew, who wore color-coded hard hats to differentiate the multiple subcontractors.

ConSol, an energy efficiency consulting firm based in Stockton, California, played a critical role in this very special home – providing a very energy-efficient design and helping to ensure that all the energy-efficiency and thermal comfort features were installed and operating properly. Numerous computer simulations were run by ConSol specialists prior to construction to ensure the home would save at least 70 percent on the annual energy bill and not draw more than 1kW from the utility company in peak usage times.

Time and employee expertise were donated by ConSol to this project.

“By using energy-efficient building design methods, we have delivered a home to this deserving family that will not only meet their space needs, it will save them an estimated 85 percent on their electricity bill in months and years to come,” said Rob Hammon, principal of ConSol.

The Pardee Extreme Makeover home was designed by ConSol to exceed the requirements of the new California Energy Commission Zero Energy New Homes program (ZENH). ZENH requires homes to save 70 percent in annual electricity bills, compared to homes that just meet the California Title-24 requirements, and not draw more than 1kW during peak usage times. This house is the first that exceeds all ZENH requirements.

Rob Hammon (foreground) explains energy efficiency building methods to production crew while framers and roofers (background) race to complete the house on schedule.

One of the difficult challenges faced by the all-volunteer crew was that schedules kept getting pushed back, largely due to foul weather. With so many volunteer subcontractors on site, the project had to be finely coordinated. At one point there were at least 12 men working on the roof! The method the show producers used to differentiate subcontractors was to use color-coded hard hats. When the ConSol crew arrived on site, the project was already behind schedule, so they contributed by donning their gold hard hats, helping other subcontractors catch up, snagging one-hour naps in the rental cars when they could, and waiting for their turn to do their thing, all in a 36-hour shift.

Several dignitaries were on hand to observe the Extreme Makeover home’s construction, including David Garman, DOE Assistant Secretary from Washington, D.C. and Jackie Pfannensteil, a commissioner of the California Energy Commission.

On Day Four, the completed house was turned over to the delighted family by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who flipped the ceremonial switch to flood the new home with electricity.

By Shery Hoellwarth

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