The EPA just announced that 25 percent of all single-family homes built nationally in 2010 earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR. Since 1995 1.2 million new homes have earned that prestigious designation. According to the EPA that’s about $350 million save on utility bills and about 450,000 vehicles worth of greenhouse gas emissions cut.
To earn the Energy Star, a home must meet strict energy-efficient standards, which include effective insulation systems, high-performance windows, quality construction to reduce leaks and drafts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and Energy Star qualified lighting and appliances. Sounds easy enough.
To see how your state compares to others in ENERGY STAR qualified new home construction, check out the EPA’s New Homes Market Index.
Credit: EPA News Release
