Energy Star ’07 campaign educates public on efficient building standards

Nevada Energy Star Partners, a voluntary coalition of 40 Southern Nevada home builders, developers, retailers, mortgage providers, energy consultants and local utilities promoting energy conservation, is concluding its 2007 Energy Star campaign. The program is in its seventh year.

"Consumer awareness in the Las Vegas market was at 90 percent, and the penetration rate of new homes built in Las Vegas was 67 percent at the close of the 2006 campaign," Steve Bottfeld of Marketing Solutions said.

"We hope to see these numbers rise even higher as Nevada Energy Star Partners concludes its 2007 campaign. While the group has made significant progress in establishing strong consumer awareness of Energy Star over the past five years, environmental consciousness is at an all-time high. As a result, we expect 2007 campaign numbers to reflect society's present state of environmental awareness," Bottfeld said.

Partner contributions funded the three-month campaign, which included newspaper, magazine, radio, television and outdoor advertising, a Web site and public relations efforts.

While the program promotes conservation-oriented products, the campaign is particularly focused on Energy Star homes that are designed and constructed to use less energy for heating and cooling.

This year's campaign was dubbed "A Summer Showcase of Energy Star Homes" and was geared to drive traffic to new Energy Star communities and help distinguish builders that met the stricter Energy Star requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"I have been involved with the partnership since 2001. My participation has been beneficial to me personally and professionally, knowing that we have helped bring the importance of energy conservation to the local marketplace," said Christy Stratton, principal and owner of SCINC Connected Consulting and a founding partner of Nevada Energy Star Partners. She managed the 2007 campaign.

Stratton credits the success of the campaign to strong community support and the dedication and commitment of honorary sponsors, including Beasley Broadcast Group and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"Without support from our sponsors, the local media and our community, the campaign would not have been as successful as it has over the years," Stratton said.

For the fifth consecutive year, Nevada Energy Star Partners was honored in Washington, D.C. by the EPA with a Sustained Excellence Award for its impact and achievement in Las Vegas.

According to Claire DeJesus, publisher of Las Vegas New Homes Guide, the Stephens Media Group is honored to support local builders and partners that participate in the Energy Star program.

"We are proud to help bring Energy Star awareness to the forefront of consumer consciousness. This is a campaign that is making a difference in our community for the environment," DeJesus said.

"Being part of the Energy Star partnership has given the Beasley Broadcast Group an opportunity to be part of a very proactive, local group," said Tom Davis, general manager of Beasley Broadcast Group. "We're excited to have the opportunity to share the Energy Star message with all of our listeners and are happy to promote the group's many achievements."

Nevada Energy Star Partners for 2007 include American Premiere Homes, Amstar Homes, Astoria Homes, Avante Homes, Centex Homes dba Real Homes, Concordia Homes, Desert Wind Homes, Distinctive Homes, KB Home, Meritage Homes, Rhodes Homes, Royal Construction/Spinnaker, Ryland Homes, Signature Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, Storybook Homes, Toll Brothers, Triple Crown Estates, Warmington Homes Nevada, Westmark Homes, DuPont/Tyvek, Energy Inspectors, Nevada Power Co., Milgard Windows, Sierra Air, Southwest Gas, Red Rock Insulation, Countrywide Home Loans, Beasley Broadcast Group Inc., Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations, Lamar, Las Vegas New Homes Guide, Las Vegas Review-Journal, MSI, PIE Design + Marketing, Southern Nevada Home Builders Association and SCINC Connected Consulting.

Energy Star, the national U.S. government symbol for energy efficiency, was created by the EPA originally for energy-conserving computers in 1992 and is now jointly implemented with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Since its inception, the program has been expanded to include more than 40 product categories that conserve energy and protect the environment.

For more information, visit thinkenergystar.com.