McCaffrey Built Smart: Innovation, Efficiency, and Comfort Combined

Last Updated: July 1, 2026

The McCaffrey Built Smart program is a five-pillar construction standard—Energy Smart, Water Smart, Breathe Smart, Green Smart, and Tech Smart—built into every new McCaffrey home.

Unlike a features checklist, McCaffrey Built Smart is a system where each pillar works with the others to reduce utility costs, improve indoor air quality, and simplify daily home management.

Every home built to this standard is inspected by a certified third-party energy code compliance rater before closing to verify it meets California's energy requirements.

Energy Smart: Proof You’re Getting an Energy Efficient Home

McCaffrey's Energy Smart homes are built with a layered insulation and mechanical system designed to reduce heating and cooling loss at every point—walls, attic, ducts, and windows. The exterior walls use advanced 2x6 framing instead of the industry-standard 2x4, allowing for 2 additional inches of insulation, raising the wall's R-value to R-23.

“We selected 2x6 wall framing in place of 2x4 walls to provide a deeper wall cavity for higher R-value insulation, improving energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and sound reduction while better meeting modern building standards.” – Brandon Smith, Procurement Manager

The attic reaches R-30. HVAC ducts are insulated to R-8. A second layer of R-13 insulation sits below the roof deck to reduce heat gain through the duct system.

The HVAC itself is a high-efficiency all-electric heat pump rated at 15 SEER and 12.5 EER—above California's current code minimum—paired with a MERV 13 filter and a smart thermostat. Windows and sliding glass doors use dual-pane, argon-filled, Low-E glass certified by ENERGY STAR®. Cool roof technology reflects heat away from the attic to reduce air conditioning demand.

Every home also includes a 3.88 Uniform Energy Factor ENERGY STAR-certified hybrid electric heat pump water heater—one of the most efficient residential water heating options currently available.

A whole-home surge protector guards every plugged-in device against external voltage spikes.

“A 15 SEER/12.5 EER air conditioner is more energy efficient than California’s minimum code requirement, meaning it uses less electricity to provide the same amount of cooling. This can lower utility bills, improve comfort, and reduce energy consumption over the life of the system,” said Smith.

Solar panels (available as lease or purchase) are included on every Built Smart home. Every home is also pre-wired for a solar battery, so adding storage later requires no costly retrofit.

See how McCaffrey's Energy Smart specs compare to an older home's real utility costs in our new construction vs. older homes breakdown.

Water Smart: Less Water Use

McCaffrey’s bath faucets, showerheads, and toilets carry WaterSense certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meeting higher water efficiency and performance standards than standard plumbing fixtures. The dishwasher is ENERGY STAR certified, using less energy and water, which translates to direct savings on your monthly utility bills.

Outdoors, a weather-reactive smart irrigation controller with a moisture sensor ensures the lawn isn't watered after rain or when soil is already saturated. Drip irrigation at shrubs delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing outdoor water use. The landscape uses hydrozoning, which is the grouping of plants by water needs so drought-tolerant and high-demand varieties receive the right amount of moisture for their root systems.

Breathe Smart: Improved Indoor Air

McCaffrey's Breathe Smart standard addresses Central Valley’s intense climate at three points: filtration, materials, and detection. The HVAC runs through a MERV 13 filter, capturing finer airborne particulates than the industry standard MERV 8 filters. Interior wall paint, flooring, and carpet padding are all low-VOC. Insulation and carpet pad are formaldehyde-free. Every home includes a combined carbon monoxide and smoke detector with battery backup.

“To create a healthier living environment, formaldehyde-free carpet pad and low-VOC paints were selected to reduce indoor air pollutants and chemical odors, improve indoor air quality, and minimize off-gassing for residents,” said Smith.

Green Smart: What "Sustainable" Actually Means

McCaffrey diverts up to 75% of construction waste away from landfills during the building process.

Framing uses oriented strand board (OSB), an engineered wood product that reduces lumber waste and strengthens construction relative to dimensional lumber.

Homes include a built-in cabinet recycle center in the kitchen (varies by neighborhood).

The garage includes a dedicated 220-volt pre-wire for an electric vehicle charger—no additional electrical work required.

Tech Smart: Home Technology That Works Without a Learning Curve

A dedicated Wi-Fi access point provides strong wireless coverage throughout McCaffrey's homes. The Wi-Fi-enabled garage door opener includes a battery backup and can be controlled from a smartphone, providing access to the home remotely.

The smart thermostat supports remote temperature control with multiple time and temperature settings. A video doorbell lets homeowners monitor the front door from a smartphone or tablet.

McCaffrey’s easy-setup smart home features don't require a proprietary hub or subscription service to function.

Third-Party Verified: Every Home Inspected Before Closing

Every McCaffrey Built Smart home is inspected by a certified third-party energy code compliance rater—an independent verifier, not a McCaffrey employee—before the home closes escrow.

It means the insulation levels, HVAC ratings, duct sealing, and window performance are confirmed values, not spec-sheet targets.

Instead of just taking a builder’s word for it, McCaffrey Homes provides real, provable energy savings, sustainability, and smart tech that add the confidence you deserve in your new home purchase.

Contact Jenna, our Online New Home Specialist, to see Built Smart features in person at our Central Valley communities.

Frequently Asked Questions About McCaffrey Built Smart

Are McCaffrey Homes good quality?

Yes. Every McCaffrey Built Smart home is inspected by a certified third-party energy code compliance rater before closing escrow—an independent verifier, not a McCaffrey employee—who confirms insulation levels, HVAC performance, duct sealing, and window ratings meet California's energy requirements.

McCaffrey has been building homes in California's Central Valley for 50 years. Over the past five decades, McCaffrey Homes has constructed more than 10,000 high‑quality homes and developed 115 neighborhoods. Co-founders Robert and Karen McCaffrey have been inducted into the California Homebuilding Foundation Hall of Fame, and McCaffrey Homes has been awarded the 2026 Best Home Builder in the Fresno Bee’s Best of Central California People’s Choice award, making McCaffrey Homes a 16-time favorite home builder winner.

What sets McCaffrey Homes apart from other builders?

Every McCaffrey home is built to the Built Smart standard—five construction pillars covering energy, water, indoor air quality, sustainability, and technology—included as standard, not as an upgrade. Independent third-party energy verification before closing escrow means the specs are confirmed, not self-reported.

See what else sets McCaffrey Homes apart.

What materials does McCaffrey Homes use?

McCaffrey Built Smart homes use oriented strand board (OSB) engineered wood framing, formaldehyde-free insulation, low-VOC interior paint, and low-VOC flooring and carpet padding.

Exterior walls are framed to 2x6 with foam-insulated two-coat stucco. Bath fixtures carry EPA WaterSense certification. Windows and sliding glass doors use dual-pane, argon-filled, Low-E glass certified by ENERGY STAR. The dishwasher is also ENERGY STAR certified.

McCaffrey Built Smart features may vary by neighborhood. Some features may be optional or available only at select neighborhoods and are subject to change without notice.