The DSC Standard® – In With The NewJanuary 25, 2011- Filed in The DSC Standard®

In With The New…

A new year brings resolutions. While we at Team DSCSM might not be

able to help you shed those 10 pounds or clear out the filing cabinet, we can improve the

“efficiencies” of your home or commercial building and provide permanent cost savings that last for

years to come.

According to the National Renewable Energy Lab, Arizona is the nation’s leading location for solar

electric and water investment payback. We can help you uncover and maximize these payback

opportunities through our Sustainability Measurements and Retrofit Testing (S.M.A.R.T.)SM

services. We love DSC’s S.M.A.R.T.SM services for many reasons. It gives us another avenue to

serve you. It also helps us help you live smarter and improve the life cycle of your real estate. That,

after all, is a big part of being your Builder for LifeSM.

May you have a wonderful 2011!

With gratitude,

Jerry Meek and Team DSCSM

S.M.A.R.T.SM IS AS S.M.A.R.T.SM DOES…

Desert Star’s Sustainability Measurements and Retrofit Testing

(S.M.A.R.T.)SM services analyze a property’s energy and water use with one goal in mind: to use

the latest technology and our desert location to maximize your resources and reduce your utility bills.

“Technology has advanced tremendously in the past few years,” says DSC’s Sustainability

Programs Manager Jeremy Meek. “That means that even relatively new homes can benefit from the

green technology that’s now on the table, and the technology that’s been around for a while but has

only recently become cost effective to implement.”

During our integrated S.M.A.R.T.SM audit, you can expect Team DSCSM to:

Determine a Benchmark by analyzing your residential or commercial building’s past energy use,

performing an on-site inspection and determining how best to reduce your energy bill from the

demand and supply sides.

Improve Energy Performance by identifying the “low hanging fruit” that will optimize demand-side

performance. This includes new lighting fixture technology, higher efficiency air conditioning units,

new sun-tracking skylight systems, advanced insulation systems and simple power management

strategies that have a payback period of one to three years.

Suggest Alternatives that tackle supply side energy, such as solar hot water, solar electric or

geothermal systems that can be easily retrofitted to your existing home or commercial building. With

current government and utility incentives, these solutions have payback periods of three to seven

years, and can dramatically reduce or eliminate your energy bill.

Watch Your Water by evaluating your water use and proposing ways to reduce consumption, such

as through new low-flow toilets and landscaping irrigation strategies. “According to the EPA, up to 30

percent of domestic U.S. water use is attributed to outdoor uses, mostly irrigation,” says Jeremy.

“This can be dramatically reduced with new, higher efficiency irrigation technologies that keep yards

as green as possible while lowering your water bill.”

To learn more about S.M.A.R.T.SM and the incentives that can help pay for green upgrades now, or

to schedule your own DSC S.M.A.R.T.SM services, call us at 480.744.1372.

S.M.A.R.T.SM IN ACTION…The best part of DSC’s S.M.A.R.T.SM services? Watching them go from plan to reality.

What does that look like? In a recent case, we analyzed an existing Valley home and recommended

several ways to retrofit the property for maximum efficiency.

Why did these options work? Read on.

They had a roof… and a flat one at that, which made installing solar panels even easier than the

traditional—and equally successful—installations on sloped roofs. This 17 kW system (as seen on

the rooftop) takes full advantage of the home’s roof “real estate” and is one of the best ways to

reduce an energy bill from the supply-side. Another key upgrade, which also was completed at this

home, was the installation of additional ceiling insulation.

They live in Arizona… so in addition to solar roof panels, we installed a solar hot water system

(pictured in the lower right hand corner of the photograph.) There are 334 days of sun each year in

Phoenix, and it fuels solar electric and water systems—for free!

They looked to the future… and recognized their home’s long-term potential. From analysis to

completion, these retrofits took only two months to complete. The resulting system—like other

systems that are similar in size and equipment—is anticipated to save the homeowners 66% or more

on their total electric bill. The greatest percentage of this (52%) will come from the solar electric

panels. Another 11% or more will come from new insulation and the solar hot water system.

For more information on custom luxury homes in Scottsdale and Phoenix please visit Desert Star

Construction website.