LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
            BUILD ENERGY STAR
            QUALIFIED HOMES-
430F07011;
            Join the thousands of
            builders using new
            ENERGY STAR
            guidelines
            to revolutionize
            homebuilding



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WHY  DO  BUILDERS  PARTNER
WITH  ENERGY  STAR?
EPA's ENERGY STAR program helps builders meet consumers' growing
demand for high quality, energy-efficient homes.
By building homes that earn the ENERGY STAR, your cohipany
setting builders that have already constructed over 750,500
across the country. New homes earn the ENERGY STAR
guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
housing starts nationally were ENERGY STAR qualified.
represent 20% or more of local home starts.
     can join more than 3,500 trend-
   ENERGY STAR qualified homes
by meeting rigorous energy efficiency
   (EPA). In 2006,12% of all new
n many areas, ENERGY STAR homes
Build ENERGY STAR qualified homes to:

• Enhance Homebuyer
  Satisfaction
  Provide your customers with a value-
  added benefit—energy efficiency—and
  help them save money every month, be
  more comfortable at home, and protect
  our environment. The quality features
  built into ENERGY STAR homes translate
  into lasting value, increased customer
  satisfaction, and more referrals. Recent
  JD Power surveys show a strong
  correlation between a builder's
  participation in ENERGY STAR and
  higher customer satisfaction ratings.

• Increase Profit
  Satisfy the growing demand of today's
  homeowners to save energy, and
  translate that into an opportunity for
  your company to profit. Some buyers
  will use projected energy savings to pay
  for additional, high-value upgrades.
  ENERGY STAR builder partners also
  report reduced customer callbacks and
  fewer warrantee claims.
Deduce Liability
Adopt EPA's rigorous guidelines, which
nclude third-party inspections and
testing, to help reduce liability issues.
n particular, new requirements will help
Duilders avoid common construction
defects such as air leakage, improperly
nstalled insulation, and missing  air
barrier details that can result in drafts,
uncomfortable temperatures, and
moisture problems. These defects can
be easily detected using infrared
cameras. As a result, the details of
true quality construction are no
onger hidden behind the walls.

Jain Recognition
Associate your company with a
nationally recognized, trusted program
£o create market advantage. Partnering
with EPA distinguishes your company
as a leader in efficient construction,
craftsmanship, and environmental
stewardship. More and more Americans
ecognize the ENERGY STAR as the mark
;or high efficiency.

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"ENERGY STAR has provided the key to the future.
 1 stomers responding to our company survey stated
 that ENERGY STAR was important in their selection of
 a home builder. While custom home sales decreased in
 the market, our market share increased. Sales and
 profit also increased."
                  ENERGY STAR Partner Winton/Flair Custom Homes, Texas

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WHAT  MAKES A  HOME
ENERGY  STAR?
Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR meet rigorous EPA guidelines for
energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15% more en
the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and includ
that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard
layouts, and option packages need not change to incorporate
choose from a variety of "tried and true" energy efficient
performance guidelines:
 ergy efficient than homes built to
 additional energy-saving features
     homes. Your home designs,
     energy efficiency. Builders can
 y features to meet ENERGY STAR
   Effective Insulation
   Properly installed and inspected
   insulation in floors, walls, and attics
   ensures even temperatures throughout
   the house, while using less energy. The
   result is lower utility costs and a quieter,
   more comfortable home.

   Tight Construction and Ducts
   Advanced techniques for sealing holes
   and cracks in the home's "envelope"
   and in heating and cooling ducts help
   reduce drafts, moisture,  dust, pollen,
   pests, and noise. A tightly sealed
   home improves comfort  and indoor air
   quality while lowering utility and
   maintenance costs.

   Efficient Heating and Cooling
   Equipment
   In addition to using less  energy to
   operate, energy-efficient heating and
   cooling systems can  be quieter, reduce
   indoor humidity, and improve the overall
   comfort of your home. When properly
   installed into a tightly sealed home, this
   equipment won't have to work so hard
   to heat and cool the  home.
Nigh Performance Windows
 nergy-efficient windows employ
 dvanced technologies, such as
 rotective coatings and improved frame
 ssemblies, to help keep heat in during
 ie winter and out during the summer.
 'hese windows also block damaging
 Itraviolet sunlight that can discolor
 arpets and furnishings.

 fficient Products
 NERGY STAR qualified homes  may
 Iso be equipped with ENERGY STAR
 ualified products—lighting fixtures,
 ompact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation
 ans, and appliances, such as washing
 lachines, refrigerators, and dish-
 vashers.
 hird-Party Testing
\jVith the help of an independent Home
fnergy Rater, ENERGY STAR builder
partners choose the most appropriate
energy-saving features for their homes.
Additionally, the rater conducts onsite
 nspections and testing to verify the
 nergy efficiency measures, as well
 s insulation, air sealing, and duct
 ealing details.

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                                             I
'Our subcontractors send their best crews because
they know their work will be inspected."
                          ENERGY STAR Partner ASTORIA HOMES, Nevada

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WHY DO HOMEBUYERS CHOOSE
ENERGY  STAR?
ENERGY STAR qualified homes are better for
offering benefits such as:

• Better Performance                    •
  Properly installed energy-efficient
  improvements deliver better protection
  against cold, heat, drafts, moisture,
  pests, pollution, and noise. An energy-
  efficient home helps ensure consistent
  temperatures between rooms, improved
  indoor air quality, and greater durability.

• Lower Ownership Cost
  Compared with standard construction,
  ENERGY STAR qualified homes use
  substantially less energy for heating,
  cooling, and water heating—delivering
  $200 to $400 in annual savings.  Although       •
  these energy savings may seem small
  relative to the cost of monthly mortgage
  payments, no one likes to waste money.
  And over the 7 or 8 years that a typical
  buyer lives in the home, it adds up to
  thousands of dollars saved. Additional
  savings on  maintenance can also be
  significant.

• Smarter Investment
  To date, more than 3,500 builders have
  partnered with EPA to construct over
  750,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes.
  By the end  of the decade, more than
  2 million homes are expected to earn
  the ENERGY STAR. The trend is clear.
  By choosing a home with the ENERGY
  STAR label, buyers can be confident
  that it will have an increasingly valued
  feature when the time comes to sell.
owners and the environment.
\dded Confidence
Home buying is a complex process.
 onsumers don't always want to know
 II the details of energy-efficient
instruction. Instead, the government-
 acked ENERGY STAR makes it easy to
dentify homes that are truly energy
sfficient. Buyers can find the house of
heir dreams and enjoy peace of mind
ur energy resources, mitigates the
mpact of high  energy prices, decreases
he need for new power plants, lowers
iur reliance on energy imports, and
educes the emissions of greenhouse
dases and air pollutants at the source.
 or all of these reasons, EPA is pleased
 o partner with leading builders to offer
 NERGY STAR qualified homes.


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WHAT  SUPPORT  DOES  EPA
OFFER  BUILDERS?
ENERGY STAR is a proven partnership program that has helped builders
construct energy-efficient homes for over a decade.
• Recognition
  EPA provides builders valuable
  recognition for their participation in
  the program through:
  • Listing on the ENERGY STAR Web
   site with contact information and
   links to builder Web sites
  • Awards for reaching program
   milestones
  • Public Service Announcements
   publicizing ENERGY STAR
   and its partners
  • Local consumer outreach featuring
   participating builders
• Tools and Resources
  ENERGY STAR builder partners have
  access to a variety of technical and
  marketing materials at no cost:
  • ENERGY STAR marks for use in
   marketing materials and publicity
  • An online Toolkit that makes it easy
   to produce highly customized
   ENERGY STAR sales and marketing
   materials
  • Consumer-oriented brochures that
   describe the features and benefits
   of ENERGY STAR qualified homes
  • Fact sheets that provide detailed
   information about typical features
   found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes
               CasUo & Cook* CalHomla, Inc.
         lOOTi Cwnnwman! to ENERGY STAft* (
            Telesis Ventures, tnc.
                                     h*r?£n
                                      ENERGY STAR]

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 READY  TO JOIN ENERGY STAR?
There is no cost to partner with EPA's ENERGY STAR or
promotional materials.
Here's the partnership process for builders:
• Work with a local Home Energy Rater to ensure that y
 and built to meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelim
• Fill out a Partnership Agreement, a simple online form
 use of the ENERGY STAR name and mark.
• Have your homes inspected and tested by your Home
• Affix the ENERGY STAR label on each qualifying home
• Use ENERGY STAR promotional materials and resourc
 advantage for your energy-efficient homes.
                           to use the program's



                           3ur homes are designed
                           ;s.
                           that explains the proper

                           Energy Rater.


                           ;sto gain market
About ENERGY STAR
 LEARN MORE AT
 energystar.gov
ENERGY STAR was introduced by th
Protection Agency in 1992 as a volur
partnership to reduce greenhouse
through increased energy efficiency
STAR offers businesses and consurrers
solutions to save energy, save money,
the environment for future generations
9,000 organizations are ENERGY
committed to improving energy effic
products, and businesses.
                                         gss
i U.S. Environmental
itary, market-based
  emissions
Today, ENERGY
   energy-efficient
', and help protect
   More than
  partners,
ency in homes,
v»EPA
    United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Office of Air and Radiation (6202J)
    EPA430-F-07-011

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