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Energy Star not only rates our household appliances on energy effeciency, but it can be a certification for your home as well. In order to earn the Energy Star rating, a home must meet guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The label can be earned by any home 3 stories or less whether it be single family, multi-family, modular homes, log homes, or existing retro-fitted homes. Energy Star homes earn their label by being 15% more efficient than homes following the 2004 International Residential Code making them 20-30% more efficient than the standard home. Independent raters will come and test your home on insulation, windows, contruction & ducts, heating & cooling equipment, and appliances. Many Energy Star homes include common energy efficient features that can be easily placed into your home.
The Energy Star label comes with many added benefits. Energy Star homes spend less time on the market and sell at a higher value than a standard home. They have lower ownership costs by saving the homeowner $200-$400 annually in heating and cooling costs alone. An Energy Star home also provides a benefit to the environment by using less energy from fossil fuels which leads to less pollution and climate change.
In Pennsylvania, there were 2,777 Energy Star homes built in 2011 making a total of 12,066 total homes built so far across the state. The Energy Star homes built in 2011 off set the equivilent of 1,361 vehicles on the road. Pennsylvania is in the top half of all states in its percentage of Energy Star homes to standard homes. Look today for the Energy Star Lable and make your next home an Energy Star home.
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