Energy StarEnergy Star

Emone McDowellEmone McDowell

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Energy Star InfoEnergy Star Info To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home

must meet guidelines for energy must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IR2004 International Residential Code (IRC)C), and include additional energy-saving , and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard 30% more efficient than standard homes.homes.

And with homebuyers increasingly And with homebuyers increasingly interested in green building, energy interested in green building, energy efficiency is the place to start. That's efficiency is the place to start. That's because the energy used in homes because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global to smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. So, the less energy used, the warming. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new home is easy way to make sure a new home is energy efficient is to look for the blue energy efficient is to look for the blue ENERGY STAR mark, the government-ENERGY STAR mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. backed symbol for energy efficiency. Learn more about how Learn more about how Green Begins with ENERGY STAR BlueGreen Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue..

Any home three stories or less can Any home three stories or less can earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has been verified to meet EPA's guidelines, been verified to meet EPA's guidelines, including: single family, attached, and including: single family, attached, and low-rise multi-family homes; low-rise multi-family homes; manufactured homes; systems-built manufactured homes; systems-built homes (e.g., SIP, ICF, or modular homes (e.g., SIP, ICF, or modular construction); log homes, concrete construction); log homes, concrete homes; and even existing retrofitted homes; and even existing retrofitted homes.homes.

This label identifies a home as having This label identifies a home as having earned the ENERGY STARearned the ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR qualified homes can ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of 'tried-and-true' include a variety of 'tried-and-true' energy-efficient features that energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air energy demand and reduced air pollution:pollution:

411 on Energy Star411 on Energy Star 1. Effective Insulation1. Effective Insulation Properly installed and inspected Properly installed and inspected

insulation in floors, walls, and insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased energy use, and increased comfort. Learn more about comfort. Learn more about Properly Installed InsulationProperly Installed Insulation (149KB).(149KB).

2. High-Performance Windows2. High-Performance Windows Energy-efficient windows employ Energy-efficient windows employ

advanced technologies, such as advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during during winter and out during summer. These windows also summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings. Learn more about and furnishings. Learn more about Qualified WindowsQualified Windows (212KB). (212KB).

3. Tight Construction and Ducts3. Tight Construction and Ducts Sealing holes and cracks in the home's Sealing holes and cracks in the home's

"envelope" and in heating and cooling "envelope" and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance. Learn more utility and maintenance. Learn more about about Efficient Duct SystemsEfficient Duct Systems (163KB). (163KB).

4. Efficient Heating and Cooling 4. Efficient Heating and Cooling EquipmentEquipment

In addition to using less energy to In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home. When overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won't have to home, this equipment won't have to work so hard to heat and cool the work so hard to heat and cool the home. Learn more about:home. Learn more about:

Qualified Heating Equipment Qualified Heating Equipment (142KB)(142KB)

Qualified Cooling Equipment Qualified Cooling Equipment (178KB)(178KB)

Mechanical Ventilation (140KB)Mechanical Ventilation (140KB)

Info Continue Info Continue 5. Efficient Products5. Efficient Products ENERGY STAR qualified homes ENERGY STAR qualified homes

may also be equipped with may also be equipped with ENERGY STAR qualified products ENERGY STAR qualified products — lighting fixtures, compact — lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans, and appliances, such as and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. Learn more washing machines. Learn more about about ENERGY STAR qualified productsENERGY STAR qualified products::

Qualified AppliancesQualified Appliances (153KB) (153KB) Qualified LightingQualified Lighting (170KB) (170KB) Advanced Lighting PackageAdvanced Lighting Package

(91KB)(91KB) High Efficiency Water HeatersHigh Efficiency Water Heaters

(177KB)(177KB)

6. Third-Party Verification6. Third-Party Verification With the help of independent With the help of independent

Home Energy Raters, ENERGY Home Energy Raters, ENERGY STAR builder partners choose STAR builder partners choose the most appropriate energy-the most appropriate energy-saving features for their saving features for their homes. Additionally, raters homes. Additionally, raters conduct onsite testing and conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, air as well as insulation, air tightness, and duct sealing tightness, and duct sealing details. Learn more about details. Learn more about Independent Inspection and Independent Inspection and Testing (182KB).Testing (182KB).

Benefits Benefits

ADDED CONFIDENCEADDED CONFIDENCEConsumer BrochureConsumer Brochure Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for

the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the house of the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the house of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.

LOWER OWNERSHIP COSTLOWER OWNERSHIP COST Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and

water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an ENERGY STAR Mortgage or an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to Financing your home purchase using an ENERGY STAR Mortgage or an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings. savings. Learn more about Mortgage Lending ProgramsLearn more about Mortgage Lending Programs..

BETTER PERFORMANCEBETTER PERFORMANCE Properly installed Properly installed energy-efficient improvementsenergy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution,

and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.air quality, and greater durability.

SMART INVESTMENTSMART INVESTMENT To date, more than To date, more than 8,500 home builders8,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct more than 1 million ENERGY STAR have partnered with EPA to construct more than 1 million ENERGY STAR

qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse

gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide. Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid

rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.

Effective InsulationEffective Insulation

High-Performance High-Performance WindowsWindows

Tight Construction and DuctsTight Construction and Ducts

Efficient Heating and Cooling Efficient Heating and Cooling EquipmentEquipment

Efficient ProductsEfficient Products

Third-Party VerificationThird-Party Verification