About Us

Efficient Building Solutions assists homeowners, builders, and architects in creating more efficient homes. EBS is a part of a Home Energy Rating System or HERS. A HERS rating is a standard measure of a homes energy performance. Home energy ratings are also the basis for many energy efficiency and green building programs, such as ENERGY STAR qualification, tax credits qualification, Energy Efficient Mortgages, and several green building programs throughout the country. EBS offers a full range of rating-related services in order to help you design, implement, and enjoy your high performance home. We serve a growing client base in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.

What are the benefits of Home Energy Rating?

• Third Party Verification and collaboration ensures that energy goals are met
• Quality Assurance
• Qualification in the ENERGY STAR new homes program. 
• Pre-construction/ remodel design recommendations to maximize your investment
• EEM or Energy Efficient Mortgage qualification. Allowing a homebuyer more
  borrowing potential based on their HERS rating
• Performance testing of the home to ensure envelope tightness, ensure proper
  ventilation and occupant comfort
• National Standards set by RESNET

Who We Are
Wes Soward is the owner and founder of Efficient Building Solutions. With a background and over 13 year
experience in the construction field, Wes has been offering HERS ratings and consulting services with Efficient
Building Solutions since 2005. In starting EBS, Wes’s goals were to help improve energy efficiency in buildings,
improve building owner’s budgets, help the environment, and offer better comfort, health, and durability to building
occupants. With a lasting interest in energy efficiency and green building technologies, Wes applies his building experience
and training to help provide comprehensive consulting, energy ratings, and construction related services.

• 1995-2007 Full and Part time Joe R. Soward Construction Co. Inc.
  Design, Carpentry, Project Administration
  
  
• 2000 BS Industrial Technology concentrating in Appropriate Technology
  Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
  
  
• 2000-2001 Architectural Draftsman,
  Maharishi Global Construction
  
  
• 2004 HERS Rater Training
  Southface, Atlanta, GA
  
  
• 2005 Founded Efficient Building Solutions
  
  
• 2005-present RESNET Member
  
  
• 2005-present ENERGY STAR Partner
  
  
• 2009 Green Rater Certification
  
  
• 2009 Member US Green Building Council
  
  
• 2009 NAHB Green Verifier Training
  NAHB Research Center
  
  
• 2009 Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Member