Join the thousands of 

builders using new 

ENERGY STAR 

guidelines 

to revolutionize 

homebuilding 

BUILD ENERGY STAR® 

QUALIFIED HOMES 
 

WHY DO BUILDERS PARTNER 

WITH ENERGY STAR? 

EPA’s ENERGY STAR program helps builders meet consumers’ growing 

demand for high quality, energy-efficient homes. 

By building homes that earn the ENERGY STAR, your company can join more than 5,000 trendsetting builders that have already constructed over 850,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes 

across the country. New homes earn the ENERGY STAR by meeting rigorous energy efficiency 

guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2007, 12% of all new 

housing starts nationally were ENERGY STAR qualified. In many areas, ENERGY STAR homes 

represent 20% or more of local home starts. 

Build ENERGY STAR qualified homes to: 

Enhance Homebuyer 

Satisfaction 

Provide your customers with a valueadded benefit—energy efficiency—and 

help them save money every month, be 

more comfortable at home, and protect 

our environment. The quality features 

built into ENERGY STAR homes translate 

into lasting value, increased customer 

satisfaction, and more referrals. Recent 

JD Power surveys show a strong 

correlation between a builder’s 

participation in ENERGY STAR and 

higher customer satisfaction ratings. 

Increase Profit 

Satisfy the growing demand of today’s 

homeowners to save energy, and 

translate that into an opportunity for 

your company to profit. Some buyers 

will use projected energy savings to pay 

for additional, high-value upgrades. 

ENERGY STAR builder partners also 

report reduced customer callbacks and 

fewer warrantee claims. 

Reduce Liability 

Adopt EPA’s rigorous guidelines, which 

include third-party inspections and 

testing, to help reduce liability issues. 

In particular, new requirements will help 

builders avoid common construction 

defects such as air leakage, improperly 

installed insulation, and missing air 

barrier details that can result in drafts, 

uncomfortable temperatures, and 

moisture problems. These defects can 

be easily detected using infrared 

cameras. As a result, the details of 

true quality construction are no 

longer hidden behind the walls. 

Gain Recognition 

Associate your company with a 

nationally recognized, trusted program 

to create market advantage. Partnering 

with EPA distinguishes your company 

as a leader in efficient construction, 

craftsmanship, and environmental 

stewardship. More and more Americans 

recognize the ENERGY STAR as the mark 

for high efficiency. 

“ENERGY STAR has provided the key to the future. 

Customers responding to our company survey stated 

that ENERGY STAR was important in their selection of 

a home builder. While custom home sales decreased in 

the market, our market share increased. Sales and 

profit also increased.” 

ENERGY STAR Partner Winton/Flair Custom Homes, Texas 
 

WHAT MAKES A HOME 

ENERGY STAR? 

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR meet rigorous EPA guidelines for 

energy efficiency. 

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to 

the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and include additional energy-saving features 

that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes. Your home designs, 

layouts, and option packages need not change to incorporate energy efficiency. Builders can 

choose from a variety of "tried and true" energy efficiency features to meet ENERGY STAR 

performance guidelines: 

Effective Insulation Systems 

Properly installed and inspected 

insulation in floors, walls, and attics 

ensures even temperatures throughout 

the house, while using less energy. The 

result is lower utility costs and a quieter, 

more comfortable home. 

Tight Construction and Ducts 

Advanced techniques for sealing holes 

and cracks in the home’s “envelope” 

and in heating and cooling ducts help 

reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, 

pests, and noise. A tightly sealed 

home improves comfort and indoor air 

quality while lowering utility and 

maintenance costs. 

Efficient Heating and Cooling 

Equipment 

In addition to using less energy to 

operate, energy-efficient heating and 

cooling systems can be quieter, reduce 

indoor humidity, and improve the overall 

comfort of your home. When properly 

installed into a tightly sealed home, this 

equipment won’t have to work so hard 

to heat and cool the home. 

High Performance Windows 

Energy-efficient windows employ 

advanced technologies, such as 

protective coatings and improved frame 

assemblies, to help keep heat in during 

the winter and out during the summer. 

These windows also block damaging 

ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor 

carpets and furnishings. 

Efficient Products 

ENERGY STAR qualified homes may 

also be equipped with ENERGY STAR 

qualified products—lighting fixtures, 

compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation 

fans, and appliances, such as washing 

machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers. 

Third-Party Testing 

With the help of an independent Home 

Energy Rater, ENERGY STAR builder 

partners choose the most appropriate 

energy-saving features for their homes. 

Additionally, the rater conducts onsite 

inspections and testing to verify the 

energy efficiency measures, as well 

as insulation, air sealing, and duct 

sealing details. 

“Our subcontractors send their best crews because 

they know their work will be inspected.” 

ENERGY STAR Partner ASTORIA HOMES, Nevada 
WHY DO HOMEBUYERS CHOOSE 

ENERGY STAR? 

WHAT SUPPORT DOES EPA 

OFFER BUILDERS? 

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are better for owners and the environment, 

offering benefits such as: 

Better Performance 

Properly installed energy-efficient 

improvements deliver better protection 

against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, 

pests, pollution, and noise. An energyefficient home helps ensure consistent 

temperatures between rooms, improved 

indoor air quality, and greater durability. 

Lower Ownership Cost 

Compared with standard construction, 

ENERGY STAR qualified homes use 

substantially less energy for heating, 

cooling, and water heating—delivering 

$200 to $400 in annual savings. Although 

these energy savings may seem small 

relative to the cost of monthly mortgage 

payments, no one likes to waste money. 

And over the 7 or 8 years that a typical 

buyer lives in the home, it adds up to 

thousands of dollars saved. Additional 

savings on maintenance can also be 

significant. 

Smarter Investment 

To date, more than 5,000 builders have 

partnered with EPA to construct over 

850,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. 

By choosing a home with the ENERGY 

STAR label, buyers can be confident 

that it will have an increasingly valued 

feature when the time comes to sell. 

Added Confidence 

Home buying is a complex process. 

Consumers don’t always want to know 

all the details of energy-efficient 

construction. Instead, the governmentbacked ENERGY STAR makes it easy to 

identify homes that are truly energy 

efficient. Buyers can find the house of 

their dreams and enjoy peace of mind 

knowing it also meets rigorous energy 

efficiency guidelines set by EPA and 

verified by an independent Home 

Energy Rater. 

Environmental Protection 

Because ENERGY STAR qualified homes 

use less energy, they help prevent 

greenhouse gas emissions—an added 

benefit for today’s environmentallyconscious homebuyers looking for 

“green” choices. Greater energy 

efficiency helps us all make the most of 

our energy resources, mitigates the 

impact of high energy prices, decreases 

the need for new power plants, lowers 

our reliance on energy imports, and 

reduces the emissions of greenhouse 

gases and air pollutants at the source. 

For all of these reasons, EPA is pleased 

to partner with leading builders to offer 

ENERGY STAR qualified homes. 

ENERGY STAR is a proven partnership program that has helped builders 

construct energy-efficient homes for over a decade. 

Recognition 

EPA provides builders valuable recognition for their 


participation in the program through:
 

• Listing on the ENERGY STAR Web site with 


contact information and links to builder Web sites
 

• Awards for reaching program milestones 

• Public Service Announcements publicizing ENERGY STAR 


and its partners
 

• Local consumer outreach featuring participating builders 

Tools and Resources 

ENERGY STAR builder partners have access to a variety of 


technical and marketing materials at no cost:
 

• ENERGY STAR marks for use in marketing materials 


and publicity
 

• An online Toolkit that makes it easy to produce highly 


customized ENERGY STAR sales and marketing materials
 

• Consumer-oriented brochures that describe the features 


and benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified homes
 

• Fact sheets that provide detailed information about typical 


features found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes
 
READY TO JOIN ENERGY STAR? 

There is no cost to partner with EPA’s ENERGY STAR or to use the program’s
 

promotional materials. 


Here's the partnership process for builders:
 

• Work with a local Home Energy Rater to ensure that your homes are designed 

and built to meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines. 

• Fill out a Partnership Agreement, a simple online form that explains the proper 

use of the ENERGY STAR name and mark. 

• Have your homes inspected and tested by your Home Energy Rater. 

• Affix the ENERGY STAR label on each qualifying home. 

• Use ENERGY STAR promotional materials and resources to gain market 

advantage for your energy-efficient homes. 

About ENERGY STAR 

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based 

partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY 

STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient 

solutions to save energy, save money, and help protect 

the environment for future generations. More than 

9,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners, 

committed to improving energy efficiency in homes, 

products, and businesses. 

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Office of Air and Radiation (6202J) 

EPA 430-F-07-011