BENEFITS OF THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM FOR BUILDERS
The Energy Star program helps builders meet the growing demand for high quality, energy-efficient homes.
Enhance homebuyer satisfaction by providing your customers with the value added benefit of energy efficiency. Energy Star homes help them save money every month, while living in a quiet, healthy, comfortable home. All while protecting our environment and its resources.
Reduce liability through adopting the EPA’s rigorous guidelines which include our third party inspections and testing. New requirements assist builders in avoiding most common construction defects such as air leakage, improperly installed insulation and missing air barriers which can result in drafts, uncomfortable temperatures, and moisture problems.
Increase profit by satisfying the growing demand of today’s homeowners to save energy. Some buyers use projected energy savings to offset additional, high-value upgrades. Energy Star builders also report a reduced number of customer callbacks and warrantee claims which results in fewer headaches, and profit loss.
Gain recognition by associating your company with a nationally recognized program to create a market advantage. Partnering with the EPA distinguishes your company as a leader in efficient construction, craftsmanship, and environmental stewardship.
BENEFITS OF ENERGY STAR PROGRAM FOR HOMEBUYERS:
Energy Star qualified homes are better for both owners and the environment.
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements offer better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pests, pollution and noise. These benefits create a healthier home with more consistent temperatures between rooms, improved air quality, and greater durability.
Compared with standard construction, Energy Star qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, and cooling, which translates into a $200-$400 energy savings each year. Although these energy savings may seem small, no one likes to waste money. Multiply this savings over the life of the house and it ends up being thousands. This does not include savings in the form of reduced maintenance or increased energy costs, both of which are inevitabilities.
Home buying is always a complex process. Purchasing an Energy Star certified home takes the guesswork out of whether or not you are buying a quality product that is healthy for you and your family. Buyers can find the house of their dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that their home has met the rigorous energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and verified by an independent, third-party Home Energy Rater.
When you purchase an Energy Star certified home, you are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using less energy to keep your home at comfortable temperatures. Today’s environmentally-conscious homebuyers looking for ‘green’ choices help decrease the need for additional power plants, lowers our dependency on foreign energy imports, and reduces air pollutants at their source. Together we can all make a difference.
FEATURES OF AN ENERGY STAR HOME:
Homes that qualified Energy Star standards have met the rigorous EPA guidelines for energy efficiency. This means that they are typically 20%-30% more efficient than homes built with standard building practices. The design of your home need not change to incorporate energy efficiency. Builders can choose from a variety of field tested energy efficient construction methods and features to meet Energy Star performance guidelines.
Effective Insulation is a key component to an efficient home. When insulation is properly installed and inspected in floors, walls and attics, it ensures even temperatures throughout the house, while using less energy. The result is lower utility costs and a quieter, more comfortable home.
Advanced techniques for sealing holes and cracks in the home’s ‘envelope’ and in ductwork helps to reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, pests and noise. A tightly sealed home improves overall comfort and indoor air quality while lowering utility costs.
In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be properly sized. This results in a reduced initial cost for an oversized unit while reducing indoor humidity and noise while increasing the overall comfort of your home. When equipment is properly installed into a tightly sealed home, it won’t have to work as hard to heat and cool the home.
Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies such as high-performance Low-E coatings and frame assemblies. These technologies help to keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool, both in summer and winter. These coatings also help block out damaging ultraviolet sunlight which can damage furnishings and discolor carpets and draperies.
GREEN BUILDING:
Green Building is the practice of increasing energy, water, and materials efficiency in buildings, while at the same time, reducing the buildings impacts on the environment and it’s occupants health. This is achieved through better site location and development, building design, and construction practices.
While there are several ‘shades’ of green, the standard developed by the U.S. Green Building Council is the LEED program. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
BENEFITS OF A 3rd PARTY INSPECTION:
A 3rd party inspection proves to the homeowner that contractors have nothing to hide. In many cases, subcontractors will send their best crews because they know that their work is going to be critically inspected. This results in fewer contractor callbacks for defective equipment, or inferior workmanship.
When raters conduct onsite inspections, if they find any problems or defects, they contact the responsible contractor and ensure that the problem is fixed. When combined with systems testing and analysis, the end result is a dependable product that performs well and that is reliable over the entire life of the home.
REBATES AND TAX BENEFITS:
There are many rebates and tax benefits available for Energy Star rated homes.
www.energystar.govPLAN REVIEW SERVICES:
- 2006, 2009, and 2012 IECC Modeling
- Equipment Sizing Recommendations
- HERS Rating
- Manual J
- Energy Consumption Comparison
- Energy Efficiency Modeling & Benchmarking
- Emissions Reports/ Home Carbon Footprint Estimates
- Energy Use Profile
- Energy Cost Summaries
