Texas Leads Nation In Energy Efficient Home Construction

The US Environmental Protection Agency yesterday announced that 1 million Energy Star compliant homes have been built since the Energy Star program began rating home construction in 1995.

Most of these homes are in Texas, particularly Houston and Dallas, and San Antonio.

Since the Energy Star new home program began in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds. This year alone, families living in Energy Star qualified homes will save more than $270 million on their utility bills and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from about 370,000 vehicles.

New homes that are Energy Star qualified are 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). Additional energy saving products and materials used in Energy Star certified homes make them 20% to 30% more energy efficient than a standard built home.  Details about Texas Energy Efficiency Building codes are available from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO).

So, just by being more energy efficient and choosing greener alternative, consumers can help fight global warming, reduce pollution, and save money.

To earn the Energy Star label, a home must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by EPA. Those guidelines can be met through established, reliable building techniques available to most middle-class American homeowners. Those include effective insulation systems, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and high-efficiency lighting and appliances. For a home to receive an Energy Star label its performance must first be tested by a third-party. During the performance testing the home's Home Energy Ratings System (HERS) index is calculated. To meet the Energy Star performance criteria, the home must achieve 85 or lower on the HERS scale.  Listings for Texas Energy Star Builders and home raters can be found at this EnergyStar.gov address. 

If you don't live in an Energy Star rated home, you can improve your home's energy efficiency.  The best way is to learn where to start.  Bounce Energy's three energy plans, Fanstatic Fixed Six, Blue Sky Fixed, and Blue Sky Now offer an introduction to energy efficiency from the experts at Standard Renewable Energy.

Since you know your home best, the Bounce Energy Education Center has energy efficiency tips you can use to to cut your energy use.  Plus, if you'd like to know more about the 2009-2010 energy tax credit, check out The Energy Efficiency Tax Credit: Is it Worth It?