Energy-Efficient Remodeling: Traditional Builders Find a Niche Beyond Energy Code

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“We set out to create a niche for ourselves, and with the rate of our business growth, we must be doing something right.”

— Willie Delfs


By improving the building envelope and efficiency of their client’s homes, Able Homebuilders can add space without adding to monthly utility bills. In addition to expanding the kitchen, they also replaced the windows and exterior siding.THE DELFS’ STORY

“Able Homebuilders offers a variety of home technology features that help differentiate them from their competitors, but energy-efficient remodeling has become their most profitable niche,” says Willie Delfs.

“First and foremost, incorporating energy efficiency is the most important thing we do for our customers. There was a point when we didn’t understand this, but after we educated ourselves on the process, we saw it was so easy. There’s no reason that anybody out there shouldn’t be doing it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s remodeling or new construction, every bit of energy savings benefits your customer, your business, and the environment. Energy efficiency is an important part of our business model, and we wouldn’t go back to building the way we started.”

“We realized that there was a large remodeling niche that deserved the attention of an energy-efficient contractor. When we started out, we decided to focus on the working-class market. As our reputation grew, more affluent clients requested our services based on referrals. For the last ten years, most of our client base has come from referrals. Now we’re recognized for energy-efficient remodeling, so when someone is looking for construction services that involve energy efficiency, we’re the first company people call.”

MAKING THE SWITCH

A local utility presentation about incentive programs that help offset the cost of energy upgrades changed Able’s business strategy in 1997.

“As builders and businessmen, we thought, ‘Now here’s an edge we can have over our competitors.'” At the time, it was a very competitive market with tight profit margins. We decided that learning more about building performance would be worth it if we ended up earning a couple extra thousand dollars per job in addition to providing a better product to our clients.”

“As we began educating ourselves through the local utility’s ENERGY STARĀ® program, we started learning about why energy efficiency was important–how energy efficiency affects all of us. We used ENERGY STAR to create our basic requirements; as time progressed, we became so comfortable with ENERGY STAR that we committed ourselves to 100-percent participation. Then we thought, if we can build ENERGY STAR qualified homes for new construction, why not take it to our remodeling business?”

“Shortly thereafter, we joined EEBA (the Energy & Environmental Building Association), which puts on annual conferences that Jeff and I attended to expand our knowledge. In trying to target our niche, we wanted to become known as the local ‘energy guys’.”

“The main concept is that a house, whether new or remodel, is a system, and whatever you do to it affects everything else. We don’t start each day going to work to just throw sticks together and do it over again at the next project. By studying energy efficiency, we’ve become smarter builders than we were ten years ago. Ten years from now, we’ll be even smarter because as technology advances, we’ll be using it before our competition.”

CONVINCING THE CUSTOMER

“A large portion of people’s disposable income goes straight to utility companies. As a larger portion of their income gets tapped, it’s really a no-brainer for our customers to increase their home’s energy efficiency. Our goal is to be able to add space without adding energy consumption.”

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