Five Twin Cities Homebuilders Recognized as Top Energy-Efficient Builders in the Nation

Through the success of the Minnesota Green Path program, Minnesota homebuilders continue to lead the nation in energy efficiency in 2020. According to an annual report by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), five Housing First Minnesota builder members who build more than 50 homes a year made the list of the top 20 builders nationwide with the lowest average Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index scores.

Hanson Builders, Key Land Homes, OneTenTen Homes, Robert Thomas Homes, and Lennar Minnesota all made the list with HERS scores well below the average of 58. All five participate in Housing First Minnesota’s Green Path energy program, which provides homebuyers with a Home Performance Report (HPR) detailing their HERS score and their air exchanges.

“It’s really a testament to the Green Path program that we have five of the top 20 builders in the country as far as energy efficiency,” said David Siegel, executive director of Housing First Minnesota. “These builders are shining examples of how many in our industry go above and beyond to create high-performing, energy-efficient homes that have a lasting impact on our communities and our environment.”

“By comparison, a HERS Index Score of 100 represents a home built as recently as 2006. Not only are these homes with low HERS Index Scores more comfortable for owners of the homes, they also annually save their families an average of over $750 a year in utility costs, fostering local economic development, and reduce annually an average of 4.39 tons of carbon emissions aiding the environment,” commented Steve Baden, executive director of RESNET.

Minnesota’s Green Path is the leading energy efficiency and green building program for the residential construction industry in Minnesota. Created by Housing First Minnesota in 2011, the program has provided Home Performance Reports to more than 27,000 newly built homes. Minnesota’s average HERS score is 50, which is the lowest in the country among states that energy test more than 1,000 homes.