IBTS Is Recognized With A 2014 ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes Market Leader Award
IBTS earns award for verifying new homes that advance energy efficiency in the new construction industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 16, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with as a 2014 ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Market Leader. This award recognizes the important contribution IBTS has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by verifying more than 1,500 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2013. Collectively, these homes will save homeowners approximately $450,000 on utility bills and reduce 5.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR certified homes are equivalent to the greenhouse gases:
Produced by 534 passenger vehicles annually;
Emitted from burning 2.8 million lbs of coal; and
Saved by planting and growing 64,500
To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that require an integrated approach to design combined with tried-and-true best building practices. These homes then undergo third-party verification of energy performance and are up to 30% more efficient than typical new homes built today.
“IBTS is proud to be recognized for its contributions to the Energy Star program,” said Ashok Goswami, CEO, IBTS. “Improving public safety through reducing the amount of carbon emitted into our environment, as well as saving homeowners money, will have a direct impact on the well-being and lives of citizens.
ENERGY STAR certified homes offer homebuyers a new home that is built better from the ground up, and include value-adding energy efficiency features and a combination of materials and equipment that deliver better performance. Features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, and energy-efficient lighting and appliances all add up to better comfort, better durability, and reduced utility and maintenance costs.
“ENERGY STAR partners provide new homes that are designed and built to standards well above most others on the market today” said Jonathan Passe, Director of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. “Because ENERGY STAR certified homes undergo rigorous independent inspections and testing, homebuyers who choose ENERGY STAR can be confident that their new home will offer real energy efficiency, comfort, durability, and value for years to come.”
Together, families living in ENERGY STAR certified homes saved $558 million on their utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 643,000 vehicles last year alone. More than 90,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines in 2013, and more than 1.5 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built.
Press Contact:
Dana Johnston, Marketing Manager, Energy Services
About IBTS:
IBTS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to helping communities through quality services that reduce risk, enhance public safety, and improve quality of life. IBTS is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia with branch offices across the country. IBTS’s work is guided by a Board of Directors made up of government officials appointed by five of the most highly respected, grassroots, state and local governmental associations. The board appointing organizations include the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), the Council of State Governments (CSG), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National League of Cities (NLC), and International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
About ENERGY STAR:
Products, homes and buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved more than $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use from 38 million homes. Since 1992, the ENERGY STAR program has supported efforts to find innovative solutions for reducing GHG emissions, and the ENERGY STAR label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.8 billion sold over the past 21 years. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR label.
