Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating resulting in $600 to $800 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills.
All new homes look great from the outside. But to make sure that your next new home is truly energy efficient, it's important to look "behind the walls."
Take a moment to review the features of a 4Corners Energy Star Certified Home.
A 4Corners Home that earns the ENERGY STAR certification will include four "must have" features behind every wall that will make you and your family more comfortable, reduce your utility bills, and help protect the environment.
» Air Sealing and Insulation That Works
» Ducts That Don't Leak
» Advanced Windows for Comfort
» Independent Testing and Inspection to Ensure Quality Construction
Air Sealing and Insulation That Works
Don't pay to heat and cool the outdoors! Air leakage and improperly installed insulation can waste 20 percent or more of the energy you pay to heat and cool your home. Typical homes have so many leaks, it's like having a window open all the time, winter and summer.
In typical homes, air leaks are often found at holes and penetrations for plumbing, wiring, lighting, and ductwork.
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Infrared Image of House Exterior: In this infrared photo of a typical house, the yellow shows excessive heat loss in winter because the house was not built with the comprehensive air barriers and proper insulation details found in ENERGY STAR homes. |
Behind the walls of a 4Corners ENERGY STAR home...
Well-sealed and properly insulated walls, ceiling, and floors help maintain even temperatures throughout the house and save you up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. A tighter home also reduces the amount of humidity, dust, pollen, pests, and noise that can come inside.
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Wires in Wall: Holes for wiring are sealed with expanding foam.
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A Person Caulking: Caulking is an air sealing solution.
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An Insulated Wall: All insulation works when
it is installed properly and has no gaps, voids, or compressed areas.
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With new and more rigorous EPA guidelines to earn the label, ENERGY STAR qualified homes are quieter and more comfortable than ever, have lower utility bills, and help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Look for a home with the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol for superior energy efficiency.
Ducts That Don't Leak
Your home's ducts move heated and cooled air to the living areas to make you feel comfortable. But in a typical house, 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poor connections.
Behind the walls of a 4Corners ENERGY STAR home...
Tightly-sealed and well-insulated ducts keep you more comfortable and increase the energy efficiency of your home. Sealing also helps improve indoor air quality by reducing the risk of dust, moisture, pollen, pests, and noise from entering the ducts and circulating throughout your home.
With new and more rigorous EPA guidelines to earn the label, ENERGY STAR qualified homes are quieter and more comfortable than ever, have lower utility bills, and help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Look for a home with the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol for superior energy efficiency.
Advanced Windows for Comfort
Windows are an important part of your home's beauty. But in typical homes, windows made with older techniques are simply too cold in the winter and too warm in the summer — making you feel uncomfortable and wasting energy unnecessarily.
In a 4Corners ENERGY STAR home...
ENERGY STAR windows, doors, and skylights keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reduce moisture condensation on window panes and sills, and minimize interior fabric fading.
Diagram of Window Cross-section: Shows elements of advanced technologies in an energy-efficient window.
With new and more rigorous EPA guidelines to earn the label, ENERGY STAR qualified homes are quieter and more comfortable than ever, have lower utility bills, and help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Look for a home with the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol for superior energy efficiency.
Independent Testing and Inspection to Ensure Quality Construction
Most builders will tell you that they build energy-efficient homes. But builders whose homes earn the ENERGY STAR back up their claims. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are inspected and tested by an independent Home Energy Rater to meet EPA's new and more rigorous guidelines for energy efficiency.
In a 4Corners ENERGY STAR home...
The builder's construction crews know that their work will be tested for performance, quality, and attention to detail. Home Energy Raters inspect insulation installation, perform tightness tests on the home's envelope and duct system, and ensure that all energy-efficient features and equipment are properly installed in your new home.
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Photo of Man Conducting Blower Door Test: A blower door test evaluates the leakiness of the house.
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Photo of Man Conducting Duct Blaster Test: A duct blaster test evaluates the leakiness of the duct system.
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Photo of Infrared Camera in Use: Many Home Energy Raters use infrared cameras to pinpoint areas where heat and cold can escape from a home so they can be sealed and properly insulated by the builder.
With new and more rigorous EPA guidelines to earn the label, ENERGY STAR qualified homes are quieter and more comfortable than ever, have lower utility bills, and help protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Look for a home with the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol for superior energy efficiency.
