What is a high-performance home?

A high-performance home is intentionally designed and built to provide superior energy efficiency, exceptional indoor comfort, excellent air quality, and long-term durability. These homes use advanced building science, premium materials, and integrated mechanical systems to outperform standard code-built homes by 50% or more.

How much more does a high-performance home cost?

High-performance homes typically cost 5-15% more upfront than standard construction. However, reduced energy bills, lower maintenance costs, and increased durability often result in a lower total cost of ownership over the life of the home. Many homeowners see payback within 5-10 years.

Are high-performance homes the same as net-zero homes?

High-performance construction is the foundation for net-zero homes, but they're not identical. A high-performance home maximizes energy efficiency through building science. A net-zero home takes that further by adding renewable energy (typically solar) to produce as much energy as it consumes annually.

What certifications apply to high-performance homes?

Several certifications recognize high-performance construction: DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes, Passive House (PHIUS), ENERGY STAR Certified Homes, LEED for Homes, and NGBS Green Building Certification. Each has different requirements, but all validate superior performance.

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Q: What makes a home high-performing?

High-performing homes combine multiple strategies: an airtight building envelope with continuous insulation, right-sized HVAC systems, high-performance windows, advanced moisture management, mechanical ventilation for fresh air, and often renewable energy systems. Each component works together as an integrated system.

Beyond Code Minimum

What Makes a Home High-Performing?

A high-performance home isn't just one thing—it's the integration of dozens of building science principles working together as a system. From the foundation to the roof, every component is selected and installed to maximize efficiency, comfort, durability, and health.

Building codes establish the minimum acceptable standard. High-performance homes exceed code by 50% or more, using advanced materials, precision construction techniques, and right-sized mechanical systems that work in harmony.

The result? Lower energy bills, superior comfort, healthier indoor air, reduced maintenance, and a home built to last generations.

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The Foundation

Building Envelope Excellence

The building envelope is where high performance begins. It's the boundary between conditioned interior space and the outside environment.

Thermal Mass

ICF walls provide massive thermal mass that absorbs heat during the day and releases it slowly at night. This stabilizes indoor temperatures, reduces HVAC cycling, and creates remarkably consistent comfort year-round—even during Texas temperature swings.

Slab Edge Insulation

In Texas, most heat loss occurs at the slab edge where concrete meets soil. We insulate the foundation perimeter to prevent this thermal bridge, keeping floors comfortable and eliminating the cold spots common in standard construction.

Moisture Management

Advanced moisture control includes rain screens behind cladding, properly detailed drainage planes, and intelligent vapor management. These systems allow walls to dry while preventing bulk water intrusion—critical for long-term durability in humid climates.

Triple-Pane Windows

High-performance windows with triple glazing, low-E coatings, and insulated frames dramatically reduce heat gain and loss. They also eliminate cold spots near windows, reduce condensation, and provide superior sound attenuation from exterior noise.

Right-Sized Systems

Advanced Mechanical Systems

In a tight, well-insulated home, mechanical systems can be smaller, quieter, and more efficient than those in standard construction.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) are 3-4 times more efficient than traditional electric water heaters. They work like a refrigerator in reverse, extracting heat from surrounding air to heat water. In Texas, they also provide free dehumidification for your garage or utility room.

A typical family saves $300-400 annually compared to a standard electric water heater, with the unit paying for itself in 3-4 years.

Right-Sizing HVAC

Most homes have oversized HVAC systems that cycle on and off frequently, wasting energy and failing to properly dehumidify. In high-performance homes, we use Manual J calculations to precisely size equipment.

The result: systems that run longer at lower capacity, providing better humidity control, more even temperatures, quieter operation, and lower energy bills. Smaller equipment also costs less to install and maintain.

Duct Leakage Testing

We test all ductwork for leakage after installation. Leaky ducts can waste 20-30% of conditioned air, dumping it into attics or crawl spaces. Our ducts are sealed to less than 4% leakage, ensuring conditioned air reaches living spaces.

Whole-House Dehumidification

Texas humidity is relentless. We install dedicated whole-house dehumidifiers that work independently of HVAC, maintaining optimal 40-50% relative humidity year-round. This prevents mold, protects furnishings, and dramatically improves comfort.

Drain Water Heat Recovery

Hot water going down the drain represents wasted energy. Drain water heat recovery systems capture this heat to preheat incoming cold water, reducing water heating energy by 25-40%. It's a simple, passive system with no moving parts.

Design Strategies

Passive Solar Design

Before adding mechanical systems, we optimize the home's design to work with nature, not against it.

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Building Orientation

We orient homes to take advantage of Texas's solar geometry. South-facing windows capture winter sun for free heating, while properly sized overhangs shade those same windows in summer. East and west glazing is minimized to reduce unwanted heat gain.

Natural Daylighting

Strategic window placement floods interiors with natural light, reducing the need for electric lighting during the day. Clerestory windows, light shelves, and open floor plans distribute daylight deep into the home.

Passive Solar Heating

During Texas's mild winters, south-facing windows collect solar heat that's absorbed by interior thermal mass (concrete floors, ICF walls). This stored heat releases slowly, reducing heating loads and maintaining comfortable temperatures.

Built for Tomorrow

Electrification & Future-Proofing

High-performance homes are designed for the future, not just today's needs.

All-Electric Design

All-electric homes eliminate combustion appliances, improving indoor air quality and simplifying mechanical systems. With no gas lines to install or maintain, these homes are cleaner, safer, and ready for renewable energy. Heat pumps for heating, cooling, and hot water provide exceptional efficiency.

Induction Cooking

Induction cooktops are faster than gas, more efficient, and produce zero indoor combustion pollutants. Studies show gas stoves release harmful levels of nitrogen dioxide—induction eliminates this health concern entirely while providing professional-grade cooking performance.

EV Charging Ready

We pre-wire garages with 240V circuits and adequate electrical capacity for Level 2 EV chargers. Whether you drive electric today or plan to in the future, your home will be ready—without expensive electrical upgrades later.

Smart Home Integration

Smart thermostats learn your schedule and optimize comfort automatically. Energy monitoring shows real-time usage. Automated shading controls solar gain. Load management coordinates high-draw appliances with solar production. The home becomes an intelligent, responsive system.

Water Conservation

Rainwater Harvesting

Texas water is precious. Rainwater harvesting systems collect runoff from your roof, store it in tanks, and use it for landscape irrigation—reducing municipal water dependence and utility bills.

A 2,500 square foot roof in Central Texas can capture over 50,000 gallons annually from average rainfall. That's enough to sustain native landscaping year-round without municipal water.

Systems can be as simple as collection tanks for drip irrigation or as sophisticated as filtered, pressurized systems for whole-house non-potable use.

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Verified Performance

Third-Party Certification

Our high-performance homes are verified by independent certifications, not just marketing claims.

As a DOE Zero Energy Ready Partner and Certified Passive House Builder, every Austin Touchstone home undergoes third-party testing and verification. Blower door tests confirm airtightness. Duct leakage tests verify sealed systems. Energy modeling predicts actual performance. You get proof, not promises.

High-Performance Homes