|
Concerned about taking the leap to a new building method? Steve Haroth, owner of New York-based Stephens Construction, gave Thermocore panels a try and never used stick construction again.
"Once we have the technology in hand to build a better way, I wouldn't feel comfortable building a 2 x 6 home," he said. "I'll never go back."
Easy Sell
Steve has no problem convincing potential customers to take advantage of the energy savings Thermocore panels offer. "I sit down for a half-hour and explain how a normal home is built and why I won't ever do another house like that," he said. "I can easily convert anyone who's not already on-board with the idea."
Steve simply talks about the return on investment. "For decades, we've known that panels like Thermocore's save at least 50%--sometimes up to 60 and 70%--of energy costs," he said. "If you look at the lifetime energy use of an average home, mine comes in at half of that--in some cases even a third." Calculate how much money that puts in homeowners' pockets, and you just won a new customer.
Help as Close as the Phone in Your Pocket
In addition to the energy savings, Steve appreciates the relationships he's built with Thermocore. "I've dealt directly with Pat [Egan, president of Thermocore] since the first project. He sent me some contacts out here, and all my projects go to him."
Even in the field, "If I have problems, I just call Brad or anyone in engineering," Steve said. "Those guys have built homes before, so they know how to fix any problems we encounter."
Not that Steve expects problems. "Everything we need is already done in the factory so it saves time in the field," he said. "If we had to add the window and door bucks or cut and install electrical boxes--things that are already in my Thermocore panels--it would slow everything down. I don't need foam-cutting tools on-site because we don't need to make modifications when the panels get to us."
No Going Back
Because of his reputation for building energy-efficient homes, one of Steve's projects was accepted into the High-Performance Residential Design Challenge sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). With the help of NYSERDA, Steve and the homeowner upgraded to the most energy-efficient design elements with the best return on investment, including 6 1/2-inch Thermocore panels with an R-value of 40.
"I researched the entire [panel] industry to get the best value for myself, so I could pass those savings onto the customer," Steve said. "Thermocore really gives us the whole package we're looking for."
Try the no-risk business builder--Thermocore makes it easy to create homes that attract new customers with big paybacks.
|
