How can a large home have low energy costs?

Ceci Bates designs homes with closed envelopes and uses advanced HVAC systems that adjust to actual demand, maintaining consistent temperature and reducing energy waste.

What HVAC systems do Ceci Bates homes use?

We use 20 SEER variable-speed Bosch compressors and fan motors, providing efficiency by continuously adjusting output to the home's actual demand without cycling on and off.

Is energy efficiency an optional feature in Ceci Bates homes?

No, at Ceci Bates, energy efficiency is integral to our design from the outset, ensuring every home is built to optimize performance and reduce utility costs.

Notes From Our Journey

From twenty-six years of building custom homes on Lake Texoma, here we share about our process and what we've learned about design, materials, engineering, and the decisions that shape a home built to last for generations — the questions clients ask us most often, and the answers we give around the table in our design center.

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Engineering Efficiency: A New Perspective on Home Design

Engineering Efficiency: A New Perspective on Home Design

Ceci Bates

June 2, 2026

The assumption that the size of a home dictates its utility costs is as common as it is limiting. Owners of spacious homes often accept higher energy bills as inevitable. However, this need not be the case. Our recent project, a 3,850 square foot custom home, routinely averages under $200 monthly in electricity costs. This figure is the product of deliberate design and engineering choices, not a single breakthrough technology or technique.

The secret lies in a series of interconnected decisions. This home is constructed as a closed building envelope, minimizing the exchange of conditioned air with the outside environment. By sealing the home effectively, we retain the benefits of temperature regulation without the inefficiencies of constant air replacement.

Furthermore, the HVAC system incorporates 20 SEER variable-speed Bosch compressors and fan motors. Unlike traditional systems that cycle on and off at full capacity, our choice allows the system to adjust continuously to the home’s actual demand, enhancing efficiency and comfort. Coupled with a fresh air exchange, this approach maintains optimal humidity and air quality without compromising the integrity of the building’s seal.

Consistency is key. Inside this home, temperature fluctuations are drastically reduced. Every component works in harmony to ensure that energy used is energy conserved. Individually, these elements contribute to improved efficiency, but together they offer an impressive reduction in operating costs that belies the home’s square footage.

At Ceci Bates, such performance is not an add-on but an integral part of our design philosophy. We invite you to explore how our approach to building science can redefine what is possible at cecibates.com.

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