The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance (NCEEA) is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2012 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award, the second major award for the NCEEA from the EPA. This award recognizes the important contribution the NCEEA has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by promoting the construction of 3275 ENERGY STAR certified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $757,500 on utility bills each year.
The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR certified homes are equal to the equivalent of:
- Eliminating the emissions from 1,605 vehicles;
- Saving 9,707,100 lbs of coal;
- Planting 2653 acres of trees; or
- Saving the environment 19,037,575 pounds of CO2 per year.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 20% more efficient than standard new homes built today.
ENERGY STAR certified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.
Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR and partners, Americans saved nearly $400 million on their utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 510,000 vehicles. More than 1.3 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995.
For more information about the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance, visit http://ncenergystar.org or call 828-262-8331.
For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).