AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program Recognizes Three Local Builders

AEP Texas recently recognized three Rio Grande Valley builders in its High-Performance Homes Program for 2022. The AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program is proud to honor Esperanza Homes, Villanueva Construction, and Westwind Homes for their commitment to building superior, energy-efficient homes. An independent, RESNET-licensed Home Energy Rater has verified the homes’ compliance with the program requirements. These awards are a great example of how AEP Texas supports positive change in the homebuilding industry, ultimately helping create a more sustainable future for everyone.

The AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program is a voluntary program for home builders that provides incentives for constructing energy-efficient, high-performance homes. To qualify for the program’s cash incentives, the builders’ homes must exceed the required kWh savings by at least 5%. The calculation is based on a Texas Baseline Reference Home established by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. In addition to mandatory requirements—such as a 16 SEER A/C System and Grade 1 wall and ceiling insulation—the builders’ homes must meet other criteria used to calculate the paid incentive. Additional bonus incentives are available for installing items such as heat pump water heaters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, ENERGY STAR® smart thermostats, spray foam insulation, and properly sized HVAC systems.

The goal of the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program is to help builders improve their building processes and implement products designed to improve their homes’ energy-saving performance and the occupants’ well-being. By committing to these standards, builders don’t just get rewarded with incentives and awards. They can take pride in offering their homebuyers high-performance homes with higher utility savings and an improved environment with long-term comfort and cleaner indoor air.

For more information on the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program, visit SouthTXSaves.com or call Garrett Dorsey III at (361) 688-2211.

Esperanza Homes received the Highest Cumulative kWh Savings award for the fourth consecutive year. This award is given to the builder who enrolled and successfully completed the highest number of energy-efficient homes in the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program in the Rio Grande Valley during 2022. Esperanza Homes offers a variety of exceptional energy-efficient homes built to meet the unique demands of the Rio Grande Valley’s climate with homesites in 16 new communities across the Valley.

Villanueva Construction was awarded a Path to Performance award from the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program for its continued initiative to build energy-efficient homes for its customers in 2022. The company was founded in 1985 and—over the years—has been recognized with awards for excellence in construction, in addition to receiving multiple awards for excellence in energy efficiency. Villanueva Homes is a local custom home builder, serving Hidalgo and Cameron County, that specializes in building highperformance custom homes. Villanueva homes are built to above-code standards and offer more energy savings and value to the company’s customers.

Westwind Homes was the recipient of a Path to Performance award from the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program for 2022. The award recognized the company’s commitment to building highperformance homes that provide more energy savings and enhancing the comfort of its homes. Westwind reached this achievement through the innovative use of the most modern energy-saving products. Westwind Homes is an established builder with five new home communities in Laredo, Texas, and six in the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, Edinburg, Hidalgo, and San Juan.

in the top things on a homebuyer’s checklist. Why should it be? It’s not something we can see after the walls are put in, and even if we could see it, would we know what to look for? And when we compare it to, for example, stunning exotic granite countertops or designer lighting fixtures, insulation just isn’t too appealing. Yet, if a home’s interior is not comfortable, and if a utility bill is unusually high every month because of poor insulation, we’d probably wish we had paid less attention to the granite countertops and more to the insulation.

If the type of insulation used is wrong or if the correct insulation is used but not properly installed, it will be inefficient and will increase a heating or cooling bill. Choosing the right insulation and ensuring that it is properly installed is critical for homes in the Rio Grande Valley, which is located in U.S. Climate Zones 1 and 2, which have some of the hottest temperatures in the country.

Choosing The Right Insulation

Code-required R-Values (a measure of the insulation’s heat resistance) is the first factor to consider. The location of the insulation, like the ceiling or exterior walls, will require different R-values. Cost is the second factor, and here is where most people make a mistake. Spray foam, for example, is more expensive than basic fiberglass insulation, but its payback in savings on utilities and enhanced home comfort will more than make up for the initial cost.