Energy Star homes focus on efficiency

While walking through a home-improvement store, the blue and white Energy Star logo -- which symbolizes the energy efficiency of a product -- can be spotted on more than 40 different types of products including appliances, light bulbs, air-conditioning units, windows, doors, plumbing and lighting fixtures and water heaters.

Less obvious, but yet also meeting efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, are the thousands of Energy Star-certified new homes located throughout the Las Vegas Valley. These homes incorporate energy-efficient materials and specific construction standards, and their overall efficiency is certified by third-party testing.

"Energy efficiency is growing in importance," said Sam Rashkin, national director of Energy Star for Homes in Washington, D.C. "When you buy a home, people want the good schools, master suites, specific home designs. Then when you get down to the secondary (home-buyer) concerns, energy efficiency is very important. ... All you have to do is look at the Energy Star label and you will have great confidence that it is an energy-efficient home."

Rashkin explained that builder participation has grown and efficiency standards have toughened since the Energy Star program for new-home construction began in 1996. In its first year, 447 homes were certified nationwide. In 2006, he said, 191,000 Energy Star homes were built nationwide, 18,891 of those were recorded in Nevada. Last year, Nevada ranked third in the nation for certified homes, behind Texas' 60,839 and Arizona's 20,101.

"There are about 25 markets in the country that have 25 percent participation. Nevada is such an incredible market to buy an Energy Star home. It is one of our most active markets," Rashkin said. "... Nevada has tremendous consumer interest and a lot of builder participation."

Nevada Energy Star Partners

The increasing number of new Energy Star-certified homes constructed in Southern Nevada can partly be attributed to the Nevada Energy Partners, which focuses on promoting the program. In its seventh year, the partnership has grown from five businesses in its inaugural year to more than 30 participants this year.

In 2007, home-builder partners 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, Warmington Homes Nevada and Westmark Homes.

Other members are DuPont/Tyvek, Energy Inspectors, Nevada Power Co., Milgard Windows, Sierra Air, Southwest Gas, Red Rock Insulation, Countrywide Home Loans, Beasley Broadcast Group, Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations, Lamar, Las Vegas New Homes Guide, Las Vegas Review-Journal, MSI, PIE Design + Marketing, Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, SCINC Connected Consulting and State Insulation.

According to Christy Stratton, co-chairperson of the Nevada Energy Star Partners, consumer awareness of the Energy Star program in the Las Vegas market has risen to 90 percent and the penetration rate of new homes built in Las Vegas was 67 percent at the close of the partnership's 2006 campaign. The group received a Sustained Excellence Award from the EPA earlier this year.

"The 2007 campaign is geared to support the home-building industry and market with strategies designed to drive sales traffic to communities, while working together to globally position Nevada as the leading Energy Star state as well as the forerunner in energy efficiency and environmentally friendly living," she said.

This month the Nevada Energy Star Partners will launch its 2007 summer advertising campaign called Summer Showcase of Energy Star Homes. More details can be found at nevadaenergystarhomes.com.

Components of an Energy Star home

In order for a home to receive an Energy Star label, it must meet specific efficiency standards that are established by the federal government. According to the EPA, Energy Star homes incorporate a variety of features, including:

-- Insulation. Properly installed insulation in floors, walls and attics helps a home maintain even temperatures throughout, resulting in lower utility usage and a quieter, more comfortable home.

-- High-performance windows. Windows with advanced coatings and improved frame assemblies help block ultraviolet sunlight from entering the home, as well as outdoor temperatures.

-- Tight construction and ducts. Techniques for sealing holes and cracks in the home's "envelope" and in heating and cooling ducts help reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen and noise. A tightly sealed home helps improve indoor air quality and comfort.

-- More efficient heating and cooling equipment. Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems use less energy, which help reduce utility bills while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.

-- Lighting and appliances. Energy Star-qualified homes may include Energy Star-rated appliances, light bulbs and other products, which use less energy to operate.

-- Third-party verification. Independent Home Energy Raters (HERS) verify the home's energy performance through a series of tests and inspections.

Among the Southern Nevada companies that test new homes to ensure that they meet or exceed Energy Star qualifications is Energy Inspectors, which has certified about 36,000 homes in Nevada during the past five years.

"First, we basically do an energy audit of a home's floor plan and we bring the design to at least 15 percent above the 2004 International Residential Code," said Paulette McGhie of Energy Inspectors.

McGhie said the third-party inspector then returns to the home while it is under construction to confirm that the building materials are being installed correctly.

The final step is a blower-door test and a duct-blast test, which test the "leakiness" of the home and duct system.

A "thermal bypass inspection" is also completed, which is a visual inspection of construction areas where air can flow through or around insulation.

McGhie said that some builders have every home inspected, while others opt to have a specific percentage tested per neighborhood -- both methods are allowed under the Energy Star program.

Advantages to the home buyer

Among the local home builders that opt for testing of every home it builds is Astoria Homes, which has built nearly 5,000 Energy Star-rated homes in the valley since 2001.

"One of the reasons why we participate in the Energy Star program is because of the philosophy of conservation. Not only does an Energy Star home help a homeowner conserve energy and help the environment, it also offers them a cost savings in bills," Annette Bubak of Astoria Homes said, adding that building such homes is not overly difficult and comes down to a choice of building methods and product. "There are assurances put in place that we are building efficient homes through third-party documentation."

Rashkin said that home buyers recoup the additional costs that some builders may charge for energy-efficient construction through lower utility bills.

"The house is the biggest purchase most people make in their lifetime, and if you buy an Energy Star home you will notice a monthly energy savings," Rashkin said. "It costs you less to live in an Energy Star house that has better comfort, better noise and quality construction."

Rashkin said it's better to buy a new Energy Star home because it is more difficult to retrofit one to meet the program's standards.

Energy Star homes incorporate efficient products from the foundation up such as advanced wall systems.

The EPA offers the Home Performance with Energy Star nationwide program, which allows existing homes to be retrofitted and to receive Energy Star certification.

The process includes efficiency testing by a third-party sponsor, recommendations and service for the home to meet Energy Star standards and follow-up verification.

However, Rashkin said the program is currently not offered in Nevada because a sponsoring company has not contracted with the EPA to provide this service.

"With that said, homeowners can go to the Energy Star Web site (www.energystar.gov) and find great information on how to improve their homes with Energy Star products -- Energy Star windows, appliances, roof systems.

"... There are a lot that people can do to improve their homes with Energy Star products," he said.