Developers

Information by State  Print version   Why ENERGY STAR? Lower utility bills: Reduce energy bills for homeowners by $200-$400 per year. Reduce maintenance: New HVAC systems, advanced controls and efficient lighting reduce maintenance demands. Increase property value: Energy-efficient homes consistently earn higher resale prices than average homes. For More Information For questions, comments or further information on HUD's Energy Action Plan or HUD's energy initiatives, please email EnergyAction@hud.gov. or call (202) 402-2978.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are built to strict energy-efficiency guidelines using tried-and-true technologies and construction practices. Because ENERGY STAR qualified new homes use substantially less energy through more efficient heating, cooling, and water heating equipment, occupants can expect to save about $200-$400 annually on their utility bills.

Building ENERGY STAR qualified new homes allows you to improve the performance of the homes at little or no additional cost. You can offer home buyers superior comfort and indoor air quality, quieter interiors, the opportunity for higher resale value, and a more environmentally friendly home - all for a lower cost than a standard home.

Buying an ENERGY STAR qualified new home gives homebuyers access to preferred financing that maximizes their purchasing power.

Any single-family or multifamily residential building that is three stories or less in height can qualify to receive the ENERGY STAR label. This includes traditional site-constructed homes as well as modular, systems-built (e.g., insulated concrete forms, structural insulated panels), and HUD-code manufactured homes. To earn the label, a home must be least 30% more energy-efficient in its heating, cooling and water heating than a comparable home built to the 1993 Model Energy Code (MEC), and 15% more efficient than the state energy code.

Find information on ENERGY STAR qualified products in over 35 categories, including appliances, heating and cooling equipment, windows, lighting, and exit signs. Use the energy-savings calculators to compare the annual savings of an ENERGY STAR qualified model with a non-qualifying model.

Locate rebates in your area on certain ENERGY STAR qualified products.

BUILDING PERFORMANCE TOOLS

Although developed for the commercial building sector, the following building performance tools can be useful when developing large multifamily properties.

An Energy Management Strategy provides tools and resources to help each step of the way.

Institutional Purchasing: Develop an institutional purchasing policy to purchase efficient products that reduce energy costs.

The Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator helps decision-makers answer three critical questions about energy efficiency investments:

• How much new energy-efficient equipment can be purchased from the anticipated savings?
  
• Should this equipment purchase be financed now, or is it better to wait and use cash from a future budget?
  
• Is money being lost by waiting for a lower interest rate?
• Find Expert Help: ENERGY STAR service and product providers can help identify, prioritize, and implement quality projects that will improve your total energy management.
  

Find Help
Use the Partner Locator to find homebuilders that build ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, utilities that offer special incentives to buyers and builders of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, and home energy raters that can verify the energy efficiency of a home.

Become a Partner!
Organizations that partner with ENERGY STAR will see increased profits, satisfied customers, and environmental benefits. Learn more.