Have you ever wondered about all the energy certifications a home could have? Or did you ever want your home to have a special distinction that your neighbors? Well here are some options that you can explore.
· LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification: a third party certification program that sets design, construction, and operational standards for high performance green buildings. LEED is awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and available in multiple categories. Qualified properties have the following certification awards: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Check out their website for more details. www.usgbc.org
· ENERGY STAR: is a program that helps consumers identify energy efficient products and can also be a qualification awarded to homes and buildings by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An ENERGY STAR qualified home is one that is 15% more energy efficient than a standard baseline home. Wow that is a great savings in my book! www.energystar.gov
· HERS®: Home Energy Rating System® is an energy-evaluation standard maintained by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®). There is a relative value assigned to a home’s energy efficiency. This is recognized by the EPA for ENERGY STAR qualification. www.natresnet.org or www.epa.gov
Some other websites to check out on these subjects.
- US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: www.eere.energy.gov
- RESNET ® website: www.natresnet.org
- REGREEN Guidelines: www.regreenprogram.org
- Stop Waste Organization: www.StopWaste.org
- National Association of Home Builders: www.nahb.org
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