ENERGY STAR LABEL LOWER UTILITY BILLS You have more important things to spend your money on thatn utility bills. The energy efficient features of our ENERGY STAR qualified homes will give you low bills and save you money every month as compared to the average home.
COMFORT & QUIET
Your family will love the relaxing comfort of our homes. Tight construction, better windows, and improved insulation not only ensure consistent tempartures between and across rooms, but keep out excessive heat, cold and noise.
LOWER MAINTENANCE
Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a low-maintenance home. Tight construction and long-lasting, effieicnet equipment make our homes more durable, helping to minimize many of the maintenance problems found in typical homes.
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Purchasing an ENERGY Star qualified home with sustainable design and construction practices is a decision you can be proud of. Our homes reduce our nations energy needs and prvent air pollution by consuming less energy.
HEALTHIER INDOOR AIR
Your family will breathe easier in one of our ENERGY STAR qualified homes. Tight construction and proper ventilaition work together to keep dust, pollen and pests out of your home.
Answers to Frequently Asked Homebuyer Questions
Are all energy-efficient homes ENERGY STAR homes?
No. To ensure that your ENERGY STAR qualified home is truly energy-efficient, it is tested by an independent third-party home energy rater. We have this testing done to ensure that our homes provide buyers with added confidence that their home will perform efficiently.
How does a home earn the ENERGY STAR label?
To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a home must first be verified to be at least 30% more energy-efficient in its heating, cooling and water heating than a comparable home built to the Model Energy Code (MEC). However, depending on the rigor of a state's energy code, energy savings may vary. The ENERGY STAR label is earned only after the home's energy efficiency is verified by an accredited home energy rater.
Ratings involve the analysis of a home's construction plans and at least one on-site inspection of the home. The plan review allows the home energy rater to attain technical information such as orientation, shading area, proposed HVAC rating, insulation levels, etc. Meanwhile, the on-site inspection includes a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are entered into a computer simulation program to generate the home’s score and the estimated annual energy costs.
Do energy-efficient homes look different?
No, builders and developers constructing ENERGY STAR qualified homes do not have to alter their architectural designs. An ENERGY STAR qualified home can be built in whatever style the consumer prefers or is most popular in a particular geographic region.
Does an energy-efficient home cost more?
No. An ENERGY STAR qualified home actually costs less because buyers will spend less on their home's utility bill each month. These energy savings can more than offset any increase in mortgage payments needed for the improved energy features and can result in a positive monthly cash flow.