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EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program Hits Major Milestone: One Million Energy Star Homes Built in the United States
Release Date: 11/10/2009
Contact Information: Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
Orlando, FL a top 20 Market for Energy Star Qualified homes
(Atlanta, Ga. – Nov. 10, 2009) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today reaches a milestone for the ENERGY STAR program by passing the 1 millionth ENERGY STAR qualified home mark. With 7,600 ENERGY STAR qualified homes built to date, Orlando, FL is a top 20 market for ENERGY STAR homes. In 2008 alone, more than 520 ENERGY STAR qualified homes were built in Orlando. These homes prevented more than 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions or the equivalent emissions from nearly 260 vehicles.
With more than 15,000 partners in sectors all across the economy, ENERGY STAR has been enormously successful at saving consumers money by reducing the energy usage of products used in the home and office everyday. Since the program began labeling new homes in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds. This year alone, families living 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 370,000 vehicles.
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 middle-class 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, an independent home energy rater conducts onsite testing and inspections to verify that the home’s performance meets ENERGY STAR requirements.
More information about the features and benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified homes and participating builders: http://www.energystar.gov/onemillionhomes
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