ENERGY STAR® CERTIFIED HOMES MAINTENANCE GUIDE
AND TIPS TO ENSURE TOP PERFORMANCE
ENERGY STAR
Congratulations on your new ENERGY STAR
certified home! To ensure your home is
operating at its highest efficiency,
ENERGY STAR recommends following
these simple operating and maintenance
guidelines and tips.
WHAT TO DO AFTER MOVING ll\l
LIGHTING AND
LIGHT BULBS
Use ENERGY STAR certified
light bulbs, such as Compact
Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL)
or Light Emitting Diodes (LED)
to provide bright, warm light
while using 75% less energy,
and lasting up to 10 times
longer than traditional incan-
descent bulbs. This means
more money in your pocket.
Homes that use incandescent
bulbs waste $400 a year on utility bills when compared to homes
that install ENERGY STAR lighting throughout.
OUTLETS AND ELECTRONICS
Did you know that in the average U.S. home, 25 percent of
electricity used by home electronics occurs while the products
are off? In the United States alone, "vampire power" costs con-
sumers more than $3 billion a year. Reduce unnecessary costs
on your utility bill by unplugging electronics such as cell phone
chargers and power strips when they're not in use.
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PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT (WHEN INSTALLED)
If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure it is set prop-
erly. As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to
heating and coaling. One simple way to ensure you don't waste
money is by correctly programming your home's programmable
thermostat. During
the summer, set the
thermostat 3 degrees
warmer while you are
at work. You can then
schedule the A/Cto
turn on prior to your
return, so the house
is nice and cool when you get home. Use the same process for
setting your thermostat in the winter. By using your program-
mable thermostat correctly, you won't waste money heating and
cooling your home when you're not there.
WHAT TO DO EVERY YEAR	
AUTOMATIC VENTILATION SYSTEM
Your home has been constructed with an automatic ventilation
system to ensure that the household has a constant supply
of fresh, filtered air. Discuss with your builder what type of
ventilation system you have and how to operate and maintain
it properly.

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HVAC EQUIPMENT
Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by
having a qualified contractor conduct tune-ups in the spring prior
to a hot summer and in the fall before a cold winter. Maintaining
your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment
can have a big effect on your utility bills, and your comfort. Catch
small issues before they become expensive problems. This can
have a big effect on your utility bills—and your comfort.
AIR FILTER
Check your air filter monthly
and change it as needed (at
least every three months)
so your HVAC system will
operate at peak efficiency.
The air filter is designed to
catch particles, which reduce
the amount of air deliv-
ered through ducts. A dirty
filter can even cause the air
handler to shut down. So, it's
important that your HVAC fan
is able to blow air freely throughout the duct system so that you
are getting the correct amount of air throughout your home.
SUMP PUMPS (WHEN INSTALLED)
In some homes, ENERGY STAR requires a sump pump to be
installed in the basement or crawlspace to keep water from
accumulating around the foundation. If you have one, check it
after every large rain storm to make sure stones and other debris
haven't made their way into the sump pump pit. If stones or
other debris do make it into your sump pump, be sure to remove
them. Small stones can get stuck arid break your pump if they
aren't removed. In addition, look into purchasing a back-up bat-
tery for the pump that will protect your basement from water
damage during power outages.
Contact your ENERGY STAR builderfor additional
questions about maintenance of your home.
Additional energy efficiency tips for appliances
and other money saving resources are available at
www. e n e r g y sta r. g o v.
Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR® prevent air pollution by meeting strict energy efficiency
guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.energystar.gov
ENERGYSTAR
WINDOWS
AND DOORS
Check the weather-
stripping around your
doors annually and
replace as needed.
Weather stripping keeps
drafts from coming in;
over time, ft eventually wears down. During summer months, use
blinds and curtains to block unwanted heat from the sun shining
through windows

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