Woodland Homes is proud to announce that we are an ENERGY STAR builder! Soon we will be guiding you through the construction of our first official ENERGY STAR home. Before we begin construction, we want to make sure you, our customer, understand what this means.
What It Is…
“Energy Star is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. The mark identifies new homes, buildings and more than 60 types of products that are energy efficient and offer the features, quality and performance that today’s consumers expect.” In order for a home to receive the energy star symbol, the home must be built to the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA. To find out more about Energy Star, click here.
What It Takes…
These homes must be built to the EPA’s standards, which means that they must be at least 15% more efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). Typically, these homes include features that make them 20-30% more efficient than other homes. Specifically, some of the features that must be taken into account when building an Energy Star home are properly-installed insulation, high-performance windows, tighter construction, sealed ducts, efficient heating and cooling and energy efficient appliances. To receive the final confirmation that homes are built to the ENERGY STAR standards, a third party, known as an Independent Home Energy Rater must come into the home and confirm that the home is 15% more efficient than the IRC requires.
Why It Matters To Us…
In order to build a product that exceeds expectations of a more demanding customer, it is critical that we stay up to date with technology and the current trends in the building industry. Energy efficiency has become a heightened concern of today’s home buyer. By incorporating Energy Star standards in all our new homes, we are able to give customers peace of mind that their new home has been built in accordance with this program, independently tested and rated to ensure that their future home is more efficient and has a healthier environment than the average resale or new home!
Why It Matters To You, Our Customers…
As an educated consumer, you are preparing to buy a home, and it is critical that the home you buy is not only a safe place for your family, but that it is also a safe investment. By buying a Woodland home with the Energy Star symbol, you are making a smart investment. These homes will simply perform better. With the Energy Star features, homes are better protected from heat, cold, drafts, moisture, pollution and noise. Cost of utilities is lower than the standard home, saving homeowners from $200 to $400 annually. Not only will these features pay you back, they will also be a benefit when you prepare to sell your home.
For more information on building an ENERGY STAR home with Woodland Homes, call us at 256-830-9000 or visit our new home sales professionals at any of our model homes.
Check back for updates on the construction of Woodland’s First Energy Star Home.
We’ll be releasing the community that our
Energy Star home will be built in next week!
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