Energy Star Homes

Westmont Green Homes uses the Florida Green Builders Coalition standards to certify their “Green Homes”.  Click here for more info.  We do however, incorporate many of the standards used by the Energy Star program, and can discuss with you additional standards that we can incorporate in to your home.

What Should Homebuyers Look For First in a Green Home?

Energy efficiency is the place to start. That’s because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global climate change. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new home is energy efficient is to look for the blue ENERGY STAR mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes save money on utility bills, provide a more comfortable living environment with better indoor air quality, and help protect the environment.

Typical features to look for in ENERGY STAR qualified homes include:

•    An Efficient Home Envelope, with effective levels of wall, floor and attic insulation properly installed, comprehensive air barrier details, and high-performance windows;
•    Efficient Air Distribution, where ducts are installed with minimum air leakage and effectively insulated;
•    Efficient Equipment for heating, cooling and water heating;
•    Efficient Lighting, including fixtures that earn the ENERGY STAR; and
•    Efficient Appliances, including ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers

These energy efficiency improvements save homeowners money – about $200 to $400 per year on utility bills. More importantly, monthly energy savings can easily exceed any additional mortgage cost for the energy efficiency improvements, resulting in a positive cash-flow from the first day of home ownership. As a result, the cost-effectiveness of ENERGY STAR improvements can help offset additional costs associated with other green home features.

Each ENERGY STAR qualified home can keep 4,500 lbs of greenhouse gases out of our air each year. And because homes have such long life-spans, the environmental benefit lasts for many, many years.

For more information on ENERGY Star Homes click here.