Pollution-free, all-electric homes mean a brighter future for homeowners

SALT LAKE CITY—May 7, 2024 — In an ambitious initiative to redefine sustainable living, Utah Clean Energy, with the support of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, is collaborating with three local home builders–Garbett Homes, Ivory Homes, and Sego Homes–to make low and zero emission homes more accessible in Utah. 

These builders will soon begin constructing three cutting-edge homes to achieve some of the country’s highest standards for energy performance and reduced emissions. These homes will demonstrate to fellow builders the potential to build homes for a healthy environment. 

“Area sources of emissions, which include Utah’s homes and buildings, will soon surpass the transportation sector as the leading source of Utah’s local air emissions. Changing how we build new homes is one of the best ways to reduce local pollution,” said Kevin Emerson, Building Decarbonization Director of Utah Clean Energy. “We need to start building new homes ‘right’ from the start, and what better way to have leading homebuilders blaze the path.”

The participating builders will optimize home design by incorporating modern building science practices and leveraging proven, innovative building systems and technologies. Through this project, builders will showcase the feasibility and benefits of building to a higher standard, inspiring their peers and the broader construction industry to adopt high-performance building practices.

 Each home will be built to meet the requirements of one of the Federal government’s advanced home certification programs. Two will be certified to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes program and one to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR NextGen Homes program. All will be at least 40% more energy efficient than traditional new homes in Utah.

“The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is excited to support this project, and we look forward to seeing how these leading builders spur innovations that scale up to improve air quality in the state,” said Jim Grover, managing director of grants and incentives from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

Two of these homes, which are part of a “model village” at Daybreak, will be featured in the Salt Lake Valley Parade of Homes in August 2024, while the other home will be showcased as a model home available for public tour in the Marmalade District in Salt Lake City in August. 

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About Utah Clean Energy  

Utah Clean Energy is Utah’s leading, expert, public interest organization working to turn the tide on climate change by expanding renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage, and clean vehicles in a way that is beneficial not only for Utah’s environment and health, but our economy and long-term energy security. Utah Clean Energy is committed to creating a future that ensures healthy, thriving communities for all, empowered and sustained by clean energies such as solar, wind and energy efficiency. For more information visit www.utahcleanenergy.org. 

PARTNER QUOTES

Garbett Homes:
“As a homebuilder committed to environmental responsibility, we’re proud to work with Utah Clean Energy to continue pioneering energy-efficient, zero-emission homes in Utah, a new standard to which we have started building all new home communities going forward. This partnership has expanded our vision of building a sustainable future for our customers, employees, and the environment.”
– Bryson C. Garbett, President and CEO of Garbett Homes

Sego Homes:
“Sego Homes is thrilled to be part of this initiative to transform the housing market towards sustainability. Together with Utah Clean Energy, we’re shaping a brighter, cleaner future for Utah, setting a new standard for homebuilding in this state and beyond.”
– Wayne Corbridge, President of Sego Homes

U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program:
“One barrier for homebuilders in building super-efficient homes is that they don’t yet have a blueprint and this project helps new homes serve as tangible examples of low- and zero-emission projects, inspiring other builders to adopt these practices across the Wasatch Front and beyond.”
– Jamie Lyons, Technical Director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home Program

ENERGY STAR NextGen program:
“Improving the energy efficiency of homes and apartments is central to addressing the national climate crisis,” said Asa Foss, Program Manager for ENERGY STAR NextGen New Homes & Apartments. “The ENERGY STAR NextGen certification builds on the 30-year legacy of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program and shows that we can build the homes that we need for tomorrow, today. We thank Utah Clean Energy for being an early adopter of this important new initiative.”