Alliance raises awareness of Energy Star

A group of local developers, energy inspection/certification companies, mortgage lenders and other nonbuilder partners are working together to educate consumers about the benefits of owning an Energy Star-labeled home. Seventeen builders currently offer such homes in the Las Vegas area.

To date, more than 4,000 Energy Star-labeled homes have been built in Nevada, and more than one-third of the Top 100 builders in the nation have joined the Energy Star for Homes Program, according to a program representative. The voluntary program is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency with assistance from the Department of Energy.

Energy Star homes incorporate energy savings in design and construction, and use 30 percent less energy for heating, cooling and water heating than a standard home. Common features include tight ducts, which lower energy consumption and improve air quality and comfort with less noise; properly installed insulation that reduces utility costs; high performance windows that keep heat inside during the winter and outside in the summer; tight construction, which helps eliminate drafts, moisture, dust, pests and pollen; and efficient heating and cooling equipment.

In the United States, more than 15 percent of all heat-trapping pollution is generated from the energy used in houses. Just one Energy Star-labeled home can prevent 4,500 pounds of this pollution from reaching the air each year, according to the representative.

The Energy Star label can be found on appliances, electronics, office equipment, lighting, heating and cooling systems, windows and new homes. In 2001, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, reduced greenhouse gas pollutants equivalent to those from 10 million cars, and saved $5 billion on energy costs without sacrificing product features, quality or personal comfort.

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