Most Americans planning to build or buy a home are concerned with energy efficiency – and rightly so. In response to this need, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy joined together to develop the ENERGY STAR® program, which works with over 12,000 public and private sector organizations that ensure energy efficient products and practices to help reduce energy bills, improve comfort, and help protect the environment.Recognizing an energy efficient home starts with a good home design, ENERGY STAR recently formed a new partnership with Architects and Home Plan Designers who are qualified to design homes to earn the ENERGY STAR label. Bonin Architects became an ENERGY STAR Architect / Home Plan Designer partner in December.
All ENERGY STAR homes include energy-efficient details and specifications for features such as tight construction and duct systems, properly-installed insulation, high performance windows, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances to reduce energy costs by 20 to 30 percent.
After the home is built, an independent ENERGY STAR Rater calculates and tests the energy efficiency of the home and submits the results to ENERGY STAR for approval, and you enjoy the savings!
