To become an ENERGY STAR qualified builder, a builder must build a home that meets the energy efficiency guidelines established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. These homes must be at least 15% more energy efficient than those built under the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and should contain additional efficient savings features that typically make new homes 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.
The ENERGY STAR label identifies a home that has passed all efficiency guidelines. Builders realize that home buyers are increasingly interested in the value of green homes and efficiency is the place to start. This is because the energy used to run the home often comes from burning fossil fuels from power plants. Burning fossil fuels contributes to smog, acid rain, and the risks of global warming. This is why using less energy is so important, which equates to less air pollution. With these benefits, many home builders choose to partner with ENERGY STAR. The best way to ensure that a home is efficient is to look for the blue ES label, which is the government-endorsed symbol of efficiency.
Any home that meets EPA guidelines and is three stories or less can earn the ES label, which includes: Single Family Homes, Townhouses, Manufactured Homes and Low Rise Multifamily Homes, Modular Construction, Log Homes, and Concrete Homes. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes can contain a variety of ‘tried and true’ efficient features that improved home quality, homeowner comfort, and lower energy demand while reducing air pollution.
Many home builders are realizing the benefits of building ES homes. For example, DR Horton needed a head start to be successful in this challenging market. DR Horton accomplished this by partnering with ENERGY STAR. They realized that they had to build the most efficient houses in the area to gain an advantage over the competition. Not only did this strategy make DR Horton successful, it also benefited homeowners by providing efficient homes that save them money on their monthly energy bill. Now DR Horton’s new homes feature a 100% ENERGY STAR qualified accessory package!
Many ES home builders have been recognized for their energy efficient building processes. Aston Woods Homes won the 2009 ENERGY STAR Housing Leadership Award and has been recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This award recognizes the significant contribution Ashton Woods Homes has made to energy efficient building and protecting the environment by building more than 1,202 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. These 1,202 new homes will save the owner approximately $ 537,294 in utility bills each year!
Another winner of the Housing Leadership Award is SummerHill Homes. SummerHill Homes is committed to building energy efficient homes. With ENERGY STAR qualified new homes for sale that offer new buyers all the features they want in a home, as well as the benefits of a green home. Additionally, energy-saving features come standard with SummerHill Homes, such as energy efficient insulation systems, energy efficient windows, airtight construction and ductwork, properly sized and installed heating and air conditioning systems, energy performance verification by third parties and energy efficient products. Plus, not to mention, such appliances qualify for an energy tax credit!
ES builders are realizing the value of adding energy efficient products inside the new home. The new Pulte Homes communities now include ES appliances as standard in every new home for sale. According to the Department of Energy, all Energy Star appliances use 10-15% less energy and water than standard models when certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Appliances and lighting account for more than a third of the average homeowner’s utility bill according to the DOE. Therefore, the inclusion of energy efficient appliances can translate into a considerable amount of savings. In Las Vegas, Pulte’s new homes for sale are LEED certified, built under the Environments for Living® – Green Certified program and equipped with solar energy panel roofs.
Many home builders are making sure to get an ES rating with the cost of energy on the rise, but one builder has been building green homes before it was cool. With more than a decade of building new green homes for sale and new energy efficient homes, Pardee Homes has been a leader in green home construction with more than 24 new LivingSmart certified communities and 14 California Green Builder certified communities (no doubt why California is one of the best green building states). Beginning in 1998, when Pardee Homes helped pioneer the EPA’s Energy Star® program, building energy-efficient homes that exceeded the code by 15% or more. In 2009, Pardee Homes made a 100% commitment to building “LivingSmart” homes on all future developments.
