Energy Specs:
The Builder’s Blueprint for Success

Stephens & Co. is proud to partner with Nantucket builders, architects, and homeowners, providing specialized Home Energy Rating System (HERS) testing and certification services to achieve code compliance, elevate the homebuilding craft, and deliver homes that stand out for their efficiency and lasting quality.

The Role of Energy Specs in Building Success

Well-defined energy specifications (“energy specs”) are the foundation of high-performance construction–especially for Nantucket builders navigating demanding coes and client expectations. Energy specs set the standard for every component that influences a home’s efficiency, comfort and durability as well as informs our preliminary models for permitting tests–each project receives a score reflecting its overall efficiency, Lower scores indicate better performance.

HERS Score Targets/Limits Recap

  • Clear path to Code Compliance
    Nantucket’s building codes require more rigorous energy performance than ever before. Detailed energy specs translate these codes into actionable requirements, ensuring expectations are set from the outset and making the inspection process smoother and more predictable.

  • Streamlined Collaboration
    Well written Energy Specs bring clarity to the entire project team–from architects and subcontractors to project managers and HERS raters. Specs define the exact materials, insulation values, mechanical systems, and construction methods to be used, reducing confusion and helping everyone work in sync.

  • Quality Control and Consistency
    Builders who follow mutually determined energy specs can consistently deliver homes with precise energy performance. Specs serve as a constant reference, minimizing the risk of mistakes or missed details that can jeopardize efficiency or cause costly rework…or worse - the dreaded compliance failure.

  • Competitive Differentiation
    Energy Specs are a hallmark of professional, high-standard building. Builders who embrace them can confidently promote their projects as “built to spec”–a meaningful distinction that appeals to clients seeking efficient, resilient, and future-ready homes.

  • Pathway to Better HERS Scores
    Utilizing clearly defined energy specs directly supports achieving lower (better) HERS ratings. Specs establish the baseline for factors measured by HERS–like insulation, air sealing, and HVAC efficiency-streamlining both testing and documentation.

  • Protecting Builder Reputation and Profit
    By avoiding change orders, failed inspections, or last-minute adjustments, clear Energy specs help keep projects on schedule and budget. Consistent results generate trust and strengthen your reputation with clients, inspectors, and peers.

How Stephens & Company Supports Nantucket Builders

  • Specification Review & Consultation
    We review your plans and specifications to identify potential gaps or areas for improvement, ensuring alignment with current codes and best practices. That's why it’s essential to understand your intentions for insulation, HVAC systems, water heating, ERVs, and other key components from the start to support a streamlined approach.

  • Project-Specific Recommendations
    Our experience on Nantucket allows us to recommend solutions for potential compliance issues tailored to the island’s unique climate and building traditions.

  • Documentation & Guidance
    We provide easy-to-follow checklists and documentation templates, making it simple for your team to track compliance all the way through to HERS testing and final inspection.

Energy specifications aren’t just paperwork; they’re one of the builder’s most effective tools for ensuring every detail contributes to a project’s success. Without them, our initial projects HERS models rely on assumptions that may not reflect your intended design or performance goals.

Providing clear information upfront about your expectations and proposed specifications enables us to support your project more efficiently and accurately.

With the right specs in place, Nantucket builders can deliver homes that meet the highest standards for energy performance, code compliance, and long-term value.

Let Stephens & Co, help you set the standard.