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RECEIVE OUR |
CASA Concept Inc.Houston, Texas 77005 |
Energy Star Program
What are the benefits of owning an Energy Star Certified home ?
According to the Energy Star experts, the benefits are:
According to the Energy Star experts, the benefits are:
- Money savings each month from lower monthly utility bills;
- Increased buying power with more favorable financing options through an energy efficient mortgage;
- Elevated return on investment with higher resale value; and
- Greater comfort than homes built to the current residential code
What does an Energy Star home have that makes it so efficient?
- Exterior construction upgrades;
- High-performance windows;
- Controlling the amount of air leaking out through the duct system or unsealed holes;
- Controlling the amount of air entering the home from the outside;
- Properly installed insulation;
- High-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems; and
- High-efficiency water heating equipment.
What does all this mean?
It means that energy efficient homes are better built, surpass standards set by the 2003 building code, they are more comfortable to live in, have better designed HVAC systems, and cost less to maintain.
It means that in the near future, it will be well known and well documented that an Energy Star home is a better built home for this environment, that it performs better than other leaky and not well insulated homes, and that it will hold its value better than non Energy Star homes. If you are buying a house, building a house, or remodeling a house insist to your builder or contractor that it needs to be an Energy Star Certified home.
At what cost should you insist on having an Energy Star home?
In our opinion, the costs to be energy efficient should be part of the budget. Be prepared to make choices and concessions that will allow your budget, whatever it may be, to include the upgrades in windows and doors, HVAC systems, Energy Star rated appliances and in blown insulation that is at the core of building a home for the future.
What if it is an investment property, or if you are not planning on living in the house for long?
If the house will become rental property, with the proof in hand that the electric bills are up to 50% lower than competing units, you will get top rental dollars. If you plan to move within five years you will still qualify for an Energy Efficient Mortgage rate, will enjoy low bills during your stay, and will sell a certified home, which will retain its value better than other properties.
How can a homebuyer make sure that home that is labeled as Energy Star performs as one?
The builder or contractor will have submitted plans and specifications to a qualified energy rating firm to run a preliminary energy analysis for that home. The rating firm would have made a site inspection during certain stages of construction to verify that the standards of energy efficiency construction were being met. Finally, the same firm is called before move-in date to perform a Blower Door and Duct Blaster test to verify that the systems work together effciently to make the house an energy efficient house. An Energy Star certificate is issued to the builder, which should be passed down to the homeowner to keep with the documentation of the house. An Energy Star sticker is issued to place on the breaker box so that the system is labeled as energy efficient.
