Hero Swoosh Image
Custom home open floor plan with two-story family room, wine bar, and kitchen with island

Drees Difference

Your guide to building an energy efficient home

Posted on Oct 05, 2026 by dreeshomes

An energy efficient home delivers more than a lower utility bill. It brings everyday comfort and long-term value that you can feel and measure. Whether you’re building new or planning smart upgrades, thoughtful choices like better insulation, high-performance windows, advanced HVAC systems and smart thermostats help your home perform in every season. At Drees Homes, we make energy saving simple with DreeSmart Energy, our whole-house systems approach to energy efficient construction. By blending improved design and construction with trusted products and third-party testing, each new home we build costs less to operate and feels better to live in—without compromising style.



What are the benefits of an energy efficient home?

  • Lower utility bills and long-term savings - An energy efficient home uses less energy to heat, cool and power your daily life. High-performance insulation and air sealing limit heat loss and drafts, while efficient HVAC systems and ENERGY STAR-level appliances help reduce electricity and gas consumption. Over time, these savings add up, offsetting initial investments and enhancing resale appeal. When you build with Drees, your DreeSmart Energy home is designed to outperform a typical existing home, helping you save from move-in day.
  • Comfort you can count on - Better insulation, windows and ventilation create more consistent temperatures and help manage humidity. High-performance windows cut down on hot and cold spots near glass, and a well-sealed building envelope helps keep outdoor pollutants and allergens at bay. Pair these features with mechanical ventilation and quality filtration and you’ll enjoy maximum indoor comfort.



New home open floor plan family room with two-story ceiling, wall of windows, and fireplace

How do I make my home more energy efficient?

Save on utility bills with energy efficient construction:

  • Insulation: Improved home insulation saves energy. Increase attic and wall insulation to recommended R-values for your climate. Continuous exterior insulation and insulated basements or slabs reduce thermal bridging and help stabilize indoor temperatures.
  • Air sealing: Seal gaps at top plates, rim joists, plumbing and wiring penetrations and around windows and doors. A tight envelope reduces drafts and helps keep conditioned air where it belongs.
  • High-performance windows: Energy efficient windows can reduce energy bills. Choose double- or triple-pane windows with low-e coatings and insulated frames. Proper installation with air sealing and flashing is essential for reliable performance.
  • Roofing: In warmer regions, consider cool roofs or high-reflectance shingles to reduce heat gain. Proper attic ventilation and radiant barriers can help maintain stable attic temperatures.


Boost home energy savings with energy efficient appliances and systems:

  • HVAC systems: Right-size HVAC systems to your home’s heating and cooling load. Options include high-efficiency furnaces, variable-speed heat pumps and ductless mini-splits for targeted comfort. Ensure ducts are sealed and insulated, especially in unconditioned spaces.
  • Smart thermostats: Programmable thermostats optimize schedules and provide remote control, cutting energy waste while maintaining comfort.
  • ENERGY STAR-level appliances: Certified energy efficient refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers reduce electricity and water use while delivering dependable performance.
  • LED lighting: Replace incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with LEDs for longer life and significantly lower energy use.
  • Low-flow fixtures: WaterSense-labeled faucets, showerheads and toilets reduce water consumption. These fixtures use less hot water, leading to energy savings on water heating, treating and pumping.



Custom home kitchen with two-tone cabinets and marbled countertops extending to the backsplash

DreeSmart Energy: Our whole-house approach

Drees builds smarter from the start. Building with Drees means choosing an energy efficient home designed to save on utilities compared to a typical existing home. Our DreeSmart Energy program takes a whole-house approach to energy efficient construction, considering all the variables that influence home energy use—from framing and insulation to HVAC systems and ventilation. Every component is selected to work together, delivering optimal comfort and performance.



What’s included in your DreeSmart energy efficient home?

  • Advanced heating and cooling: Each home includes industry-leading HVAC systems and programmable thermostats that let you personalize and control your home’s climate for maximum comfort and efficiency.
  • Complete thermal enclosure: We use durable, high-quality materials to achieve solid, long-lasting construction. New homes are meticulously insulated, outfitted with low-e windows and equipped with whole-house ventilation, so your interior stays cooler in summer and cozier in winter.
  • Smart thermostat: Each Drees home is equipped with an Ecobee smart thermostat. Programmable and convenient, you can schedule and control your heating and cooling from anywhere with the touch of your phone.
  • New home warranty: After closing, our 1-year and 10-year new home warranties support the durability and performance of your new home, providing peace of mind. We also pass on to the homeowner the manufacturer's warranties of the products, materials, equipment, and appliances installed in your new home.



How much can I save on utility bills with an energy efficient home by Drees?  

To ensure new homes meet our standards, we conduct thorough third-party home energy audits. Our homes are scored on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), a nationally recognized scale from RESNET. We maintain HERS data for each of our metro areas, giving you a clear benchmark of expected home energy performance.


See below for expected new home energy cost savings by metro area. Each one-point decrease in the HERS score corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption. The lower the score, the lower the energy cost.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Austin, TX

Austin

In Austin, on average, Drees homes score 78 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $4,818 annually on their utility bills (60% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 2 for a Grantley floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky

In Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, on average, Drees homes score 78 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $3,036 annually on their utility bills (60% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 5 for a Quentin floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Cleveland, OH

Cleveland

In Cleveland, on average, Drees homes score 66 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $3,344 annually on their utility bills (51% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 5 for a Belleville floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Dallas-Ft Worth

Dallas-Ft Worth

In Dallas-Ft Worth, on average, Drees homes score 76 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $3,884 annually on their utility bills (58% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 2 for an Eastland II floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Houston, TX

Houston

In Houston, on average, Drees homes score 76 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $4,063 annually on their utility bills (58% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 2 for an Eastland II floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis

In Indianapolis, on average, Drees homes score 62 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $2,441 annually on their utility bills (48% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 5 for a Parkette floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, on average, Drees homes score 76 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $2,675 annually on their utility bills (58% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 2 for a Grayton II floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Nashville, TN

Nashville

In Nashville, on average, Drees homes score 64 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $2,704 annually on their utility bills (49% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 4 for a Sommerville floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Raleigh, NC

Raleigh

In Raleigh, on average, Drees homes score 69 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $2,752 annually on their utility bills (53% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 4 for a Parkette floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in San Antonio, TX

San Antonio

In San Antonio, on average, Drees homes score 78 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $2,907 annually on their utility bills (60% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 2 for a Crown floor plan.

Chart showing the 2026 annual energy cost comparison between a single-family new Drees Home, other new home, and typical existing home in Washington DC

Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., on average, Drees homes score 74 points better than a typical existing home (130) on the RESNET HERS index. Drees homeowners can expect to save up to $4,166 annually on their utility bills (57% savings) compared to those for a typical existing home. Calculated in Climate Zone 4 for a Ashton floor plan.

Annual energy cost comparison was correlated from the HERS Index score provided by a third-party Certified Home Energy Rater and was calculated in April, 2026 using PREM/Rate Residential Energy Analysis and Rating Software v16.3.4. Results are projected, not guaranteed, and will vary depending upon utility rates, actual square footage of plan selected and homeowner's individual usage.



Discover your new energy efficient home with Drees

Building an energy efficient home is an investment that pays off every day through lower utility bills, year-round comfort and long-term value. With projected annual energy savings of up to thousands of dollars compared to a typical existing home, a Drees home is designed to help you spend less on energy without sacrificing the features and style you love. Explore new construction energy efficient homes for sale near you, or build a custom home designed for energy savings from day one. Contact us to get started.




Also of Interest