Your house emits more greenhouse gases than your car.
Just one ENERGY STAR qualified new home can keep 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gases out of our air each year.

If each house could in the U.S. could achieve just 10% energy savings through the use of Energy Star Rated products, that would eliminate the need for 40 additional power plants or be the equivalent of planting 1.6 million trees

Energy-Star Rated Homes

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances.

These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution. ENERGY STAR also encourages the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, as well as features designed to improve indoor air quality

Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes

PEACE OF MIND
Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the house of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.

LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 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. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial.

BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.

SMART INVESTMENT
To date, over 2,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct more than 500,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million homes are expected to earn the ENERGY STAR. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.

Tax Credits for Consumers:
Home Improvements
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided guidance for consumers:
 HYPERLINK "http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-06-26.pdf"
IRS Notice 2006-26
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 HYPERLINK "http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home.exit"
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ENERGY STAR is studying IRS guidance and will update this website with updates soon.
Tax credits are available for many types of home improvements including adding insulation, replacement windows, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment.
 HYPERLINK "http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits" \l "chart#chart"
See chart
. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined is $500 during the two year period of the tax credit. This tax credit applies to improvements made from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007.