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Home Buying Just Got Simple

Picture of ENERGYSTAR® Logo.The ENERGY STAR new homes program is part of a family of ENERGY STAR programs designed to prevent atmospheric pollution while saving money and increasing profits for Americans. To meet this objective, ENERGY STAR programs make it easy for consumers to choose cost-effective, energy savings homes and products that can offer a wide range of additional user benefits. Florida ENERGY STAR Homes are designed to reduce energy use by 15% relative to new Florida homes built to code. Look for advertisements featuring the ENERGY STAR new homes program in your local newspapers or simply ask builders and their real estate agents if they offer ENERGY STAR new homes as a standard feature or upgrade option. A list of builder partners is available. Builders can also contact an Energy Rater to determine the requirements to achieve ENERGY STAR for their homes. ENERGY STAR is a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). FSEC is proud to be an ally in the ENERGY STAR new home program.

What are you going to do with all the money?   

The true cost of a house is not its "sticker" price, but what it costs you to own and operate every month. The ENERGY STAR Home cost advantage is based on the concept that for conventional home mortgages, the monthly utility bill energy-efficiency savings often significantly exceed the small increase in the monthly mortgage payment for the extra energy efficiency measures. Putting this concept into practice results in positive cash flow the very first day home owners move into their ENERGY STAR homes with the potential to accrue tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their mortgages.

Many extra benefits mean more value!

ENERGY STAR Home buyers can expect much more value from their home purchase, including: Improved Comfort Homes with additional insulation and advanced windows are blanketed in comfort because surrounding surface temperatures are warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Tighter homes with efficient windows will not experience annoying drafts and airborne dust. Better insulated walls, tightly sealed ducts and properly sized efficient mechanical systems can deliver quiet performance year-round ENERGY STAR home advantages include the following:

Improved Indoor Air Quality: Where ENERGY STAR homes and ducts are field verified to be tightly sealed, significant sources of indoor air pollution are effectively blocked from entering your home. These pollutants include moisture, dusts, pest, pollen and radon that could otherwise enter through leaks in attics, basements, and garages.

Quality Construction: Look for ENERGY STAR homes to have greater attention paid to many important construction details. Where provided, high-efficiency equipment, such as ENERGY STAR air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces may include quality features beyond improved performance, such as higher-grade heat exchangers, fans, motors, and longer-term warranties.

Higher Resale Value: ENERGY STAR homes are more likely to boast up-to-date building technologies with less risk of technology obsolescence. In addition, ENERGY STAR Homes can develop a long track record of impressively low utility bills. Maybe most important, where ENERGY STAR becomes a preferred consumer "brand" for new homes, the ENERGY STAR label can become a strong selling advantage. As demonstrated in research published in the the Appraisal Journal, these benefits can translate into higher resale values when it's time to sell.

Preferred Mortgage Financing: National and local ENERGY STAR Mortgages can make it easier for home buyers to qualify for ENERGY STAR Homes. In some cases, home buyers may be eligible for discounted loan origination fees along with easier loan qualification requirements.

Experience All These Benefits and Help the Environment Too!

It's a great feeling to know that a smart consumer decision can have an important impact on helping the environment. American household energy use contributes significantly to air pollution, including 20 percent of all US carbon dioxide emissions. By constructing more energy-efficient homes, we can make a difference. ENERGY STAR Homes built by the year 2012 are projected to lock in over $100 billion in utility bill savings and prevent pollution equivalent to removing more than 3 million cars from US roads.

How Can I Buy an ENERGY STAR Home?

With so many benefits,ENERGY STAR is the smart, simple choice for new homes. Look for advertisements featuring the ENERGY STAR Homes program logo in your local newspapers or simply ask builders and their real estate agents if they offer ENERGY STAR Homes as a standard feature or upgrade option. You also can contact the ENERGY STAR Homes Program hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES or check out EPA's page for a list of builder partners. Remember to save the earth while saving your money, ask for ENERGY STAR!

Using products with the ENERGY STAR label can save energy. Saving energy reduces air pollution and lowers utility bills.