AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program Recognizes Three Local Builders

AEP Texas recently recognized three Rio Grande Valley builders in its High-Performance Homes Program for 2022.

The AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program is proud to honor Esperanza Homes, Villanueva Construction, and Westwind Homes for their commitment to building superior, energy-efficient homes. An independent, RESNET-licensed Home Energy Rater has verified the homes’ compliance with the program requirements. These awards are a great example of how AEP Texas supports positive change in the homebuilding industry, ultimately helping create a more sustainable future for everyone.

The AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program is a voluntary program for home builders that provides incentives for constructing energy-efficient, high-performance homes. To qualify for the program’s cash incentives, the builders’ homes must exceed the required kWh savings by at least 5%. The calculation is based on a Texas Baseline Reference Home established by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. In addition to mandatory requirements—such as a 16 SEER A/C System and Grade 1 wall and ceiling insulation—the builders’ homes must meet other criteria used to calculate the paid incentive. Additional bonus incentives are available for installing items such as heat pump water heaters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, ENERGY STAR® smart thermostats, spray foam insulation, and properly sized HVAC systems.

Esperanza Homes received the Highest Cumulative kWh Savings award for the fourth consecutive year. This award is given to the builder who enrolled and successfully completed the highest number of energy-efficient homes in the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program in the Rio Grande Valley during 2022. Esperanza Homes offers a variety of exceptional energy-efficient homes built to meet the unique demands of the Rio Grande Valley’s climate with homesites in 16 new communities across the Valley.

Villanueva Construction was awarded a Path to Performance award from the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program for its continued initiative to build energy-efficient homes for its customers in 2022. The company was founded in 1985 and—over the years—has been recognized with awards for excellence in construction, in addition to receiving multiple awards for excellence in energy efficiency. Villanueva Homes is a local custom home builder, serving Hidalgo and Cameron County, that specializes in building high-performance custom homes. Villanueva homes are built to above-code standards and offer more energy savings and value to the company’s customers.

Westwind Homes was the recipient of a Path to Performance award from the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program for 2022. The award recognized the company’s commitment to building high-performance homes that provide more energy savings and enhancing the comfort of its homes. Westwind reached this achievement through the innovative use of the most modern energy-saving products. Westwind Homes is an established builder with five new home communities in Laredo, Texas, and six in the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, Edinburg, Hidalgo, and San Juan.

The goal of the AEP Texas High-Performance Homes Program is to help builders improve their building processes and implement products designed to improve their homes’ energy-saving performance and the occupants’ well-being. By committing to these standards, builders don’t just get rewarded with incentives and awards. They can take pride in offering their homebuyers high-performance homes with higher utility savings and an improved environment with long-term comfort and cleaner indoor air.