hauSmart Energy Savings

hauSmart, developed exclusively by Mungo, includes features and benefits that ensure that your new home is on the cutting edge of efficiency, affordability and convenience, while employing the most progressive construction techniques.

A hauSmart home is healthier – for you and the environment, more cost-efficient to operate than a code-built new home, and provides comfort features to make your busy life easier.

A hauSmart home includes features and construction techniques that go over and above what the International Code Council prescribes in the International Building Code for new construction.  With the exception of homes in our Genesis Collection, all Mungo homes include:

• A quality assurance test by an independent third party to rate each and every home’s energy efficiency.
• R-38 (R-50 in NC) ceiling insulation
• Radiant barrier roof sheathing
• Blower test conducted by independent third party
• Duct blaster test conducted by independent third party
• Trade partners trained to ensure proper installation of insulation
• Advanced framing
• Tankless water heaters in all natural gas communities
  

Look for the Mungo Performance Guide (MPG) posted at every hauSmart home and online. The MPG is unique to every hauSmart home, and includes both a HERS rating and Average Annual Energy Savings.

A blower-door test is performed on each and every new home by an independent third party to measure air flow throughout the home. Energy-efficiency is calculated based on the overall air tightness of the home.

Actual energy costs will vary depending on individual usage habits, number of residents in the home and fluctuation in rates by your utility company.

The HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) rating provides a standardized evaluation of a home's energy-efficiency and expected energy savings.  The lower the HERS rating the more energy-efficient.  The typical code-built home has a HERS rating of 100.  A home with a score of 75 would be 25% more energy-efficient than a code-built home.  The rating is calculated by an independent third party who inspects and rates each and every new Mungo home. 

(Think of a HERS rating like a golf score: the lower the better!)

The HERS index allows comparison to existing and code-built new homes.  Energy Star is a yes/no certification rather than an actual score of a new home’s energy efficiency.  The HERS index rates actual energy efficiency and estimated annual cost savings.

Yes, the hauSmart features are considered “standard” and are included in the base price of every new home, with the exception of the Genesis Series homes.

The radiant barrier roof sheathing is made up of highly-reflective material and is installed in the attic. It reflects up to 97% of the sun's radiant heat, thereby lowering attic temperatures and improving energy efficiency.

With traditional framing, the 3-stud outside corner space is boxed in and cannot easily be insulated, resulting in energy loss.

With “Advanced Framing", a "California Corner" is a simple L-shape corner that allows easy access to install insulation, reducing air flow throughout the structure resulting in greater savings on heating and cooling costs.

hauSmart homes include low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint and carpet.  VOCs react with other elements to produce ozone, which causes air pollution and a host of health issues.  The Merv 8 air filter improves indoor air quality by trapping a higher level of contaminants and holding more dust than a standard filter.  Air barriers and air sealing isolate living areas from fumes or contaminants that might come from the garage, attic or walls.

Air leakage is the single biggest loss of energy in a home.  Mungo homes include extensive air barriers to seal gaps and block random air movement through the new home. Air sealing controls moisture, prevents dirt and pollen from leaking inside the home, and reduces air flow throughout the home, thereby increasing indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water at just the right pre-set temperature.  The flow of water activates the system’s heating device, instantly heating a continuous supply.  There’s no holding tank so energy isn’t wasted on storing and heating water when it’s not needed, and its compact size frees up valuable square footage.  (Source: SCE&G)

Mungo has partnered with Home Energy Group, based in Charleston, SC. Home Energy Group is the only RESNET/Energy Star Provider and HERS training organization in South Carolina. For more information on Home Energy Group, call (843) 216-0003 or visit www.home-energy-group.com.

With the exception of new homes in the Genesis Series, all new Mungo homes include hauSmart features at no additional cost to you.