Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

Third Party Verification and Certification Testing

Before buying a used car, you would take it to a trusted mechanic not affiliated with the seller to have an expert verify its performance. This helps ensure you're making a smart purchase. You can have the same peace of mind by looking for the ENERGY STAR label - typically located on a home's circuit breaker box.

Regardless of how the energy efficiency features are selected, Home Energy Raters, independent third parties trained and certified by the government, must also conduct on-site inspections and testing of a home. This field verification ensures that energy-saving measures are consistent with ENERGY STAR guidelines. This process usually includes a blower door test (to test the leakiness of a house), a duct blaster test (to test the leakiness of the duct system), and completion of a thermal bypass checklist (a visual inspection of common construction areas where air can flow through or around insulation).

Energy Star Certification Proves Your Home Cost Less to Operate!

Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial.

Energy Efficient Thermal Barrier Reduces Your Utility Costs

Insulation is one of the keys to a comfortable, energy-efficient home. But simply having the right amount of insulation is not enough. If insulation is not properly installed, a home can have excessive heat gain during the summer and heat loss in the winter - forcing the heating and cooling systems to work overtime.

Properly installed insulation will completely blanket the home - exterior walls, ceiling, and floors - without gaps, voids, or compressions, and it will be in full contact with the interior air barrier (for example, drywall). Continuous sealing of the air barrier along the insulation is also critical to protecting against moisture damage that can be caused by warm air flow through the insulation to colder surfaces where it can condense.

Our ENERGY STAR qualified homes have insulation that meets, or exceeds, national code requirements, providing year-round comfort while reducing utility bills.

Energy Star Ventilation System Reduces Your Utility Costs and Increases Your Comfort

Homeowners expect their heating systems to keep them warm in the winter, and their cooling systems to keep them cool in the summer - all without breaking the bank. ENERGY STAR heating and cooling units can be up to 15% more efficient than standard models. That means:

• Lower Utility Bills
• Less Risk of Air Quality Problems
• Increased Durability
• Improved Comfort
• Less Noise

Eco-Friendly Building Saves Your Environment

Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.