Certified Comfort Home
Certified Comfort Home Program
What is the Certified Comfort Home Program? 
The Certified Comfort Home program was developed by the Illinois Electric Cooperatives to provide our members with the guidelines they need to build energy efficient homes. These guidelines are consistent throughout all of the electric cooperatives in Illinois. The main part of the Certified Comfort Home program is the booklet, Building the Home of Your Dreams. This booklet describes in common terms some of the methods and techniques of building energy efficient homes and is available at no charge to cooperative members or those that are building new homes on the cooperative's lines.
Why should I Build to the Standards of the Certified Comfort Home Program?
- By meeting the standards of the Certified Comfort Home program, your home will have lower energy needs than had it been built with standard construction methods and techniques. This puts energy dollars in your pocket each month and not in your monthly utility bill.
- If your home is certified to meet the standards, future buyers can make a purchase with confidence that the home is energy efficient. As energy costs continue to rise in the future, homes that are energy efficient will command a higher sales price and will also be easier to resell.
- An energy efficient home is a more comfortable home. With fewer drafts and cold spots, temperatures are more even, meaning more comfort for you. Energy efficient homes are typically quieter, keeping outdoor noises outside where they belong.
Don't Contractors Already Build Energy Efficient Homes?
Some contractors/builders surely do. But do you know which ones and what construction techniques to look for or the questions to ask? The Certified Comfort Home program can provide you with the information you need to ask the right questions and what to look for in construction techniques and methods. We recommend you require your contractor to build to the Certified Comfort Home standards as part of your contract with him. In this manner you know what you will be getting.
How does the CCH Rating System Work?
The Certified Comfort Home rating system was designed to allow flexibility in the design and construction of your home. We realize that everyone's taste and desires in a home are different. Each portion of the house that is important to energy consumption has a standard construction recommendation. This standard is scored as a zero. If you surpass the standard, the home receives bonus points; if the house is less than the standard, points are subtracted. If upon completion the home scores a zero or better it is considered a Certified Comfort Home.
What is the Cost to Have My Home Certified by the Cooperative?
There is no cost; the cooperative administers this program as a free service for its members. We feel that our members deserve energy efficient housing and as we have the expertise, we want our members to take advantage of our knowledge for their benefit.
What Type of Energy Efficient Measures are We Talking About?
We call our approach to energy efficiency a common sense approach. We do not suggest any extreme measures or techniques to achieve energy efficiency. In fact, many of the techniques are considered no cost/low cost items. Many times small items are overlooked as they seem insignificant users of energy. But when these are added up, they make a considerable difference on the amount of energy that a home uses.
What Role Does Egyptian Electric Play?
First, if you wish your home to be certified, we will meet with you to discuss your particular home and floor plans. At that time, we will make suggestions we feel you should incorporate into your construction plans to make your home more energy efficient. We will also perform an energy analysis that will provide you with the operating costs for different types of heating & cooling equipment. This will allow you to make an educated decision as to what type of heating and cooling system is right for you and your new home. We will also work with you contractor to make sure he is familiar with the standards of the program. As the home is built, we will inspect it at five different points, verifying that it is being built to the standards.
These inspection points are:
- Prior to the pouring of any on-grade, or less than two feet below grade, concrete.
- Just prior to the installation of the wall insulation.
- After the wall insulation has been installed, but prior to any wall board.
- After the attic insulation has been installed.
- After the heating and air-conditioning equipment has been installed and is operating. (It is up to the home owner or contractor to notify us when the home is at these points)
If you are a member of the Cooperative or will be building a new home on the Cooperative's electric system and wish to participate in this program, would like additional information or the booklet, Building the Home of Your Dreams, please call 1-800-606-1505.
