Builders > ENERGY STAR

Benefits of Building ENERGY STAR® Qualified Homes
Today everyone is concerned about rising energy costs. By partnering with ENERGY STAR, builders provide their customers with a comfortable home that uses less energy. Homeowners appreciate saving money on their energy bills, and builders appreciate fewer callbacks and complaints.

As ENERGY STAR partners, builders can also gain the following advantages:

Market Differentiation and Recognition
Partnering with ENERGY STAR distinguishes builders as leaders in energy-efficient construction and environmental stewardship, providing valuable peer and public recognition that translates into market advantage because consumers know, trust, and ask for ENERGY STAR.

As homebuyers across the country become increasingly interested in green building, energy efficiency is the best place for them to start. And the easy way for builders to show that their new homes are energy efficient is with the blue ENERGY STAR logo mark, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. Learn more about how Green Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue (PDF)

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
Energy-efficient features built into ENERGY STAR qualified homes, such as building envelopes constructed with Murus SIPs, increase homeowner comfort and satisfaction.

Increased Sale and Resale Values
The ENERGY STAR label is an established mark that consumers trust as a government-backed assurance of energy efficiency and quality. A new home that has earned the ENERGY STAR can evidence greater return on investment for both the builder and the homeowner.

Program Flexibility
Builders choose from “tried and true” energy efficiency features to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines. The variety of features available can be integrated with consumer preferred designs, layouts, or option packages.

Tax Credits
Home builders are eligible for a $2,000 tax credit for a new energy efficient home that achieves 50% energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and supplements. At least 1/5 of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements. This tax credit applies to new homes located in the United States whose construction is substantially completed after August 8, 2005 and that are acquired from the eligible contractor for use as a residence from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2008.

EPA Support for Builders
As ENERGY STAR partners, builders can use EPA-produced marketing resources and technical resources at no cost. Some examples include:

• ENERGY STAR Logo Marks
• Partner Locator listing, which links customers to ENERGY STAR partners
• Consumer Brochures, Fact Sheets, and Sales Toolkit
• Outreach Partnership
• Awards and Recognition
• To learn more about how to get started as an ENERGY STAR partner, go to Energy Star for Home Builders, or give Murus a call to discuss your ENERGY STAR project.