Built to a Standard You Can Verify
Every MCM custom home is built to the MCM Build Standard: building-science details written into every subcontractor scope. If your home qualifies and you want it, an independent rater can also certify it to EPA's ENERGY STAR, Indoor AirPlus, and WaterSense programs. Either way, you'll know what's going behind the walls before construction starts.
What's Behind the Walls on Every Home
These details are written into the bid documents, so every trade prices them and builds them. They're not upgrades you have to know to ask for.
Walls that shed water
Taped ZIP System sheathing as the air and water barrier. On brick, stainless steel flashing and weep holes so water that gets behind the masonry has a way out.
Foundations that stay dry
A 15-mil vapor barrier under slabs, a footing drain on every job run to a sump or daylight, and a dehumidifier in every crawlspace.
Roofs built for storms
Roofs installed using FORTIFIED Roof methods, the storm-resistance approach developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
Plus the small things that show up every day: LVL stair stringers for straight, quiet stairs, recessed dryer connections, and an outdoor gas outlet ready for a grill.
Three Programs, Verified by Someone Other Than Us
MCM is a partner builder in all three EPA programs. Certification means an independent, credentialed rater inspects and tests the home. It's the same idea as our open-book pricing: you don't have to take our word for it.
ENERGY STAR
The home is modeled, inspected, and tested against EPA's requirements for insulation, windows, air sealing, and HVAC design.
For you: lower monthly energy bills, more even room temperatures, and a home that's documented when you sell.
Indoor AirPlus
Builds on ENERGY STAR with requirements for moisture control, ventilation, filtration, and low-emission materials. Homes earn Indoor AirPlus Certified, or Gold when paired with ENERGY STAR certification.
For you: cleaner indoor air, which matters most for allergies, asthma, and young children.
WaterSense
WaterSense labeled fixtures are independently certified to use less water without giving up performance. Whole homes can also be certified to EPA's WaterSense specification.
For you: lower water bills and fixtures that still perform well.
Indoor AirPlus Partner
Morreau Construction is proud to be in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor AirPlus program. Through this partnership, Morreau Construction has committed to offering ENERGY STAR and Indoor AirPlus certified homes that provide homeowners with energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
To earn the ENERGY STAR and Indoor AirPlus labels, a home must meet strict EPA guidelines for reducing poor indoor air quality: moisture control, radon control, pest barriers, improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning, combustion pollutant control, low-emission materials, and third-party verification.
What a Gold Home Includes
Gold is the higher of the two Indoor AirPlus tiers. Here are some of the items a third-party verifier checks, from EPA's Version 2 verification checklist:
- MERV 13 filtration on the heating and cooling system
- Balanced ventilation: fresh air in as stale air goes out
- All heating and cooling equipment and ductwork inside the insulated, air-sealed envelope
- Tested airtightness of 3 ACH50 or tighter for detached homes over 1,000 sq ft
- Humidity monitoring in the main living area
- A capillary break at concrete footers so ground moisture can't wick up
- Gas furnaces and water heaters that are direct-vented or mechanically drafted
- Insulation that meets low-VOC emission limits, and screens on operable windows
How Certification Works
Design review
Before construction, the rater builds an energy model from your plans and reviews the HVAC design.
Pre-drywall inspection
The rater inspects and tests everything drywall will cover: air sealing, insulation, ductwork.
Final inspection
Remaining items are inspected and tested on site at completion.
Certificate and label
The as-built model is submitted, you receive the certificate, and the label goes on your electrical panel.
Certification Is Optional, and Priced Up Front
Certification isn't right for every home or every budget. Some designs need changes to qualify, and some owners would rather put those dollars into finishes or square footage. During preconstruction we price certification as its own line item, rater fees and any upgrades, so you decide with real numbers instead of a sales pitch.
Before You Decide
Does every MCM home get certified?
What does certification cost?
Is there a federal tax credit?
Who does the inspections?
Plan the House Before You Build It
Start with a free feasibility review. Ryan will walk through your plans, your lot, and which performance options make sense for your home.