With advances in technology, decreased component costs, more experience with building designers and contractors......the guidelines for meeting the Energy Star certification change over time. Version 3 of the EPA Energy Star guidelines have just gone in to affect as of 7/1/12.
According to V3 guidelines each ENERGY STAR certified new home is independently verified to be at least 15% more energy efficient (i.e. a HERS rating of 85 or better) than a home built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and features additional measures that deliver a total energy efficiency improvement of up to 30 percent compared to a typical new home.
In the state of Florida alone there were 6,987 Energy Star certified homes built in 2011. Energy Star certified homes built in 2011 are the equivalent of:
- Eliminating emissions from 3,424 vehicles
- Saving 20,709,468 lbs of coal (yep, that's eight places left of the decimal)
- Planting 5,659 acres of trees (acres....not individual trees)
- Saving the environment 40,615,431 lbs of CO2
{Can we get a......"Gee Whiz!!"}
Source: EPA
We now have the technology and capability to retrofit and GREEN renovate existing homes (average HERS of around 130) down to HERS ratings in the 65 range. That's a 65% increase in energy efficiency (performance) and a corresponding decrease in the cost of ownership.
We have the technology and capability of building new (and really fine) homes to performance standards that correspond to a HERS rating in the 45 range....!!!
We are doing both (new and existing renovate) in Gainesville Florida currently.
I am available to discuss.....
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