Pekarske Builders 'to shine a little brighter'

Local business nominated for state award

By Cindy Hodgson, Herald Times Reporter —

MANITOWOC — Mark Pekarske said he hadn't known the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program had nominated Pekarske Builders for a state award until the business he owns with his brother, Dave, was named Custom Home Builder of the Year.

"It was a big surprise," he said.

"It wasn't something that we were consciously trying for," Dave said.

Pekarske Builders Inc. was one of five recipients of a 2007 Governor's Awards for contributions to making homes in Wisconsin more energy and resource efficient.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, on behalf of Gov. Jim Doyle, presented the awards at the Better Buildings, Better Business conference in Wisconsin Dells in February.

Mark said their business has received other awards in the past but none as significant as this one "coming from the governor's office."

"Most of the awards in our industry are local-type stuff," Dave said. The statewide award is a chance to "shine a little brighter."

"I think it's fantastic," Mark said. "It's a big shot in the arm for us for being recognized for building the kind of houses we do."

Pekarske Builders has been involved with Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes since the program's beginning several years ago and has made a commitment to having all of its homes certified as Wisconsin ENERGY STAR homes.

"We're always looking for opportunities to improve," Dave said, and the ENERGY STAR program is one way to do that.

The program aims to help builders construct "a safe, durable, energy-efficient home," according to Mark.

Techniques on how to do that are shared at monthly workshops and at conferences and trade shows.

It's a matter of "small details that really add up and have a big effect on the house," he said.

ENERGY STAR builders must meet certain requirements, such as providing sealed fireplaces and power-vented water heaters to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Beyond the requirements, the program provides additional suggestions for making homes more energy-efficient, according to Mark, such as using ENERGY STAR appliances and light bulbs, which Pekarske Builders does.

Criteria for the Governor's Awards are as follows:
·  Technical excellence in residential construction and remodeling;
·  Involvement, dedication and commitment to high-performance construction;
·  Continual improvement of products and processes;
·  Willingness to provide leadership to the building construction industry through activities that improve the quality of Wisconsin's labor force; and
·  Effective work with contractors, trade partners and allies that provide materials and expertise and make it possible for Wisconsin building professionals to produce better high-performance homes.

Homes that are more energy-efficient cost less to operate, so offering ENERGY STAR homes is "a selling point," Mark said.

He said the program is growing in popularity.

"I think we have a lot of local builders now that are getting involved in the ENERGY STAR Program," he said.

The Pekarske brothers started their business in 1995 and run it out of Mark's home in Cato, serving Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties. The company constructs between eight and 15 custom homes per year that target the modest homeowner market. Mark said the company's niche is building homes that help people get the "most bang for the buck."

The Manitowoc County Home Builders Association named Pekarske Builders its 2005 Builder of the Year, Mark said.

Besides Mark and Dave, the business has three full-time employees: Shawn Taddy, Chris Anklam and Brian Olson.

Pekarske Builders is an active member of the Manitowoc County Home Builders Association. Mark is president of the organization this year and has been chairman of the Education Committee for the past three years.

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