Energy Star Homes Reach Million Mark

Posted on November 19, 2009 in The Environment

The Environmental Protection Agency announced that the millionth home qualified for its Energy Star rating on Nov. 10. Energy Star homes tend to be at least 15% more energy efficient than regular homes.

Since the program began in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds, EPA said. The guidelines for an Energy Star home include efficient heating and lighting, insulation systems and high performance windows. An independent home energy rater conducts on-site to make sure the home meets the EPA’s requirements. More than 6,500 builders across the United States build homes that qualify for the Energy Star program.

The EPA also released a list of the top 20 cities for Energy Star homes. The Houston area topped the list with 144, 420 homes built, followed by the Dallas, Las Vegas and Phoenix regions.