Addison Homes started the year with a high-profile feather in its cap when it was awarded Grand Winner of the DOE Housing Innovation Awards for 2024. The award recognizes the nation’s leading builders participating in the Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program. The 2024 awards ceremony recognized 24 builders from across the country for their award-winning projects and presented Grand Awards to five builders for their contributions to the housing industry and support of DOE’s goals.
Addison Homes was recognized specifically in the “Change Maker” category of awards as a builder who demonstrates a successful strategy to transform the local, regional or national market through innovative market interactions. Addison Homes was noted as a builder who regionally could deliver custom high-performance but not necessarily high-end homes.
For Todd Usher, owner and president of Addison Homes, the award was welcome acknowledgment for what they do on every project.
“I’m not much on awards and that sort of thing, but there is something pretty neat about the recognition factor,” Usher says. “You know we’ve won honorable mentions before, but Grand Winner has been elusive for many years. It was awesome for it to finally come to fruition and see that peers notice everything I’ve been busting my butt to do for over 20 years. So though I say awards don’t matter, it was pretty cool.”
While the accolades within the industry are gratifying, Usher admits that the award comes in second to client satisfaction.
“There’s really nothing greater for me than to have a client tell me about the positive experience of living in the house we built for them. When they tell me it’s the quietest house they’ve ever lived in, or that they notice their kid’s asthma isn’t as bad, or that every room in the house is comfortable. That’s the thing for me, as a builder, that makes it all worth it,” Usher says. “With my peers, it’s great to be recognized with the award, but with clients, knowing we made a difference in their lives by doing what we believe in – that is really special.”
Each year, builders of ZERH-certified projects across the country submit applications to be considered for the Housing Innovation Awards. Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges with expertise in the high-performance housing industry. Winners are selected from the pool of applicants based on award criteria, and then Grand Winners are chosen in each award category. These award categories consider home performance as well as how builders are leveraging advanced technologies, practical building solutions, and best business practices to successfully reduce carbon emissions and promote a more sustainable housing industry.
Visit a case study on the Addison Homes winning entry, Westbrooke Infill.