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Texas is Tops in Energy Star Homes

Release Date: 11/10/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – November 10, 2009) Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth are leading the nation in Energy Star qualified homes, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. The enormously successful program achieved a major milestone recently with one million Energy Star qualified homes constructed in the United States since the program began labeling new homes. Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds. This year alone, families in Energy Star qualified homes will save more than $270 million on their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from about 370,00 vehicles.

Houston has the most Energy Star qualified homes with 144,000 constructed since EPA began the program in 1995, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is second with 103,000. Other Texas areas in the top 20 national markets are San Antonio with 19,000 homes (No. 8) and Austin with 13,000 homes built (No. 14).

“By making smart energy choices, thousands of Texans are saving millions each year,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield. “By taking a few common sense steps to conserve home energy use, we can get the most out of our energy dollars and save on utility bills.”

To earn the Energy Star label, a home must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by EPA. Those guidelines can be met through established, reliable building techniques available to most American homeowners. Those include effective insulation systems, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and high-efficiency lighting and appliances. In addition, a home energy rater conducts onsite testing and inspections to verify that the home’s performance meets Energy Star requirements.

There are more than 6,500 builders across the nation building homes that earn the Energy Star label and qualified homes can be found in every state in the country.

More information about the features and benefits of Energy Star qualified homes and participating builders is available at http://www.energystar.gov/onemillionhomes

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/nov2009.html