| To become a qualified ENERGY STAR builder, a | | | | contribution Ashton Woods Homes has made to |
| builder must construct a home that meets energy | | | | energy-efficient construction and environmental |
| efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental | | | | protection by building more than 1,202 ENERGY |
| Protection Agency. These houses must be at least | | | | STAR qualified homes last year. These 1,202 new |
| 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the | | | | homes will save homeowner about $537,294 on utility |
| 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and contain | | | | bills every year! |
| additional efficient saving features that typically make | | | | Another winner of the Leadership in Housing Award is |
| new homes 20-30% more efficient than standard | | | | SummerHill Homes. SummerHill Homes has committed |
| homes. | | | | to building energy efficient homes. With ENERGY |
| The ENERGY STAR label identifies a house having | | | | STAR qualified new homes for sale offering new |
| passed all efficiency guidelines. Builders realize that | | | | homebuyers all the features they want in a home as |
| homebuyers are increasingly interested in the value | | | | well as the benefits of a green home. Plus |
| of green homes and efficiency is the place to start. | | | | energy-saving features come standard with |
| This is because the energy used to run the house is | | | | SummerHill Homes like, energy efficient insulation |
| often from the burning of fossil fuels from power | | | | systems, energy efficient windows, tight construction |
| plants. The burning of fossil fuels contributes to | | | | and ducts, properly-sized and installed heating and |
| smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. That is | | | | cooling systems, third-party verification of energy |
| why it is so important to use less energy which | | | | performance, and energy efficient products. Plus not |
| equals less air pollution. With these benefits, many | | | | to mention that such appliances qualify for an energy |
| homes builders are choosing to partner with ENERGY | | | | tax credit! |
| STAR. The best way to make sure a house is | | | | ES builders are realizing the value of adding energy |
| efficient is to look for the blue ES label, which is the | | | | efficient products within the new home. Pulte Homes |
| government-backed symbol for efficiency. | | | | new communities now include ES appliances as a |
| Any homes that meet EPA's guidelines and is three | | | | standard in each new home for sale. According to |
| stories or less can earn the ES label including: single | | | | the Department of Energy, all Energy Star appliances |
| family, attached, manufactured homes, and low-rise | | | | use 10-15% less energy and water then standard |
| multi-family homes, modular construction, log homes, | | | | models when certified by the U.S. Environmental |
| and concrete homes. ENERGY STAR qualified new | | | | Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. |
| homes can contain a diversity of 'tried-and-true' | | | | Appliances and lighting account for more than |
| efficient features that improved home quality, | | | | one-third of the average homeowner's utility bill |
| homeowner comfort, and lower energy demand | | | | according to the DOE. So including energy efficient |
| while reduced air pollution. | | | | appliances can translate into a considerable amount of |
| Many home builders are realizing the benefits of | | | | savings. In Las Vegas, Pulte new homes for sale |
| building ES homes. For example D.R. Horton needed | | | | features LEED certification, is built under the |
| an edge to be successful in this challenging market. | | | | Environments for Living® - Green Certified |
| D.R Horton accomplished this by partnering with | | | | program, and is equipped with solar power panel |
| ENERGY STAR. They realized they must build the | | | | roofs! |
| most efficient homes in the area to gain a leg up on | | | | Many home builders are making sure to be ES |
| the competition. This strategy not only made D.R | | | | qualified with energy cost on the rise, but one builder |
| Horton successful but benefited the homeowners' as | | | | has been building green homes before it was trendy. |
| well with providing them efficient homes that saves | | | | With over a decade of building new green homes for |
| them money on their monthly energy bill. Now D.R. | | | | sale and energy-efficient new homes, Pardee Homes |
| Horton new homes feature 100 percent ENERGY | | | | has been a leader in building green homes with more |
| STAR qualified fixture package! | | | | than 24 LivingSmart and 14 California Green |
| Many ES home builders have been recognized for | | | | Builder-certified new communities (no wounder why |
| their energy efficient building processes. Aston | | | | California is one of the top Green building states). |
| Woods Homes won the 2009 ENERGY STAR | | | | Starting in 1998 when Pardee Homes helped pioneer |
| Leadership in Housing Award and has been | | | | the EPA's Energy Star® program, by building |
| recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection | | | | energy-efficient homes that exceeded code by 15% |
| Agency (EPA). This award distinguishes the important | | | | or more. |