Energy StarŪ It's Not Just Refrigerators
Most of us who have visited an appliance or home improvement store in the last 20 years are accustomed to seeing the blue Energy StarŪ labels on everything from refrigerators to air conditioners. But did you know that your home can also rate the Energy StarŪ label?
Energy StarŪ homes meet energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20% - 30% more efficient than standard homes. By reducing the use of conventional fossil fuels, the average Energy StarŪ rated home gives off approximately 4500 lbs less in greenhouse gases a year.
Energy saving features of Energy StarŪ rated homes typically include:
--Efficient home envelope, with effective levels of wall, floor, and attic insulation properly installed, comprehensive air barrier details, and high performance windows;
--Efficient passive solar advantages, by orienting the home's windows to allow for solar benefit with appropriate roof overhang to shield summer sun;
--Efficient air distribution where the home's heating and cooling ducts are installed with minimum air leakage;
--Efficient equipment for the home's heating, cooling, and water heating;
--Efficient home lighting, including fixtures that earn the Energy StarŪ; and
--Efficient home appliances, including Energy StarŪ qualified dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers.
Energy StarŪ Qualified New Homes, will prominently display the blue Energy StarŪ label in the circuit breaker box of the home. The builder may also provide an Energy StarŪ Certificate for the home. The Energy StarŪ program has recently introduced an Indoor Air Quality package as a voluntary add-on to the core specification of homes.
Existing homes can also earn the Energy StarŪ Qualified Homes label if they meet Energy StarŪ's performance guidelines. While it is not always practical or cost-effective to bring an existing home to this level of efficiency, applying any of these cost-effective retrofit techniques can greatly improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. A qualified energy rater can test your home and suggest upgrades to save you fuel and money and increase comfort in your home and improve resale value.
What comes after energy efficiency?
The Energy StarŪ Indoor Air Package label offers a new specification developed by EPA to address the indoor environment component of green building. In addition to the energy efficiency features of the Energy StarŪ home, 60 additional home design and construction features control moisture, chemical exposure, radon, pests, ventilation, and filtration. Together, these features help protect qualified homes and their residents from mold, chemicals, combustion gases, and other airborne pollutants enhancing the comfort level and health of the home's occupants.
Investing in Energy Star's verifiable and documented energy efficient and indoor air quality features benefits you--the homeowner--with greater comfort, health, and money saved during occupancy. As energy costs continue to rise, the value of Energy StarŪ rated homes will rise, too, bringing you a greater return when you sell your home in the future.
If you would like to learn more about putting the Energy StarŪ advantage to work in your home, please contact Cynthia Handlen, Certified EcoBroker.
