Energy Star Building Certification
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certifies homes with the Energy Star designation if the homes meet specific requirements concerning their construction and the materials used in them. An Energy Star designation means that the home will be efficient to heat and cool. Does this Spark an idea?
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Significance
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Receiving the Energy Star certification means that the home uses less energy to heat or cool and to use the other major appliances. Utility bills can be the second highest expense associated with living in a home. Lower utility consumption also reduces bills and demand for fossil fuels.
Considerations
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To be certified as an Energy Star home, the builder or contractor must construct the home so that it uses 20 to 30 percent less energy than homes that have been built to the International Residential Code established in 2004. The homes have to have energy efficient windows, insulation, tight heating and air conditioning ducts, and use energy efficient appliances.
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Benefits
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Buyers can qualify for a better mortgage since the Department of Housing and Urban Development realizes that Energy Star homes appreciate faster and cost the occupants less money monthly to manage. These mortgages are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and are known as energy efficient mortgages, or EEMs. Payments may be lower than with conventional mortgages, or buyers can qualify for more home when using an EEM.
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References
- Photo Credit House image by Gonçalo Carreira from Fotolia.com
