In marketing his Newbury Village to home buyers, Marty Handshy is quick to point out the pleasing green outdoors of Brookfield where the condominium development sits.
In the next breath, he is sure to mention the “green” interior of the townhouses he is building.
With 39 units completed in 2006, Handshy”™s Charter Group led all Fairfield County builders in the construction of Energy Star-certified homes.
Administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy, the program recognizes builders”™ use of insulation, appliances, doors, windows and other items that conserve energy.
Nationwide, some 200,000 homes were built to Energy Star specifications last year; some 750,000 homes now carry the label. Connecticut builders constructed 1,600 energy-efficient houses last year, accounting for 23 percent of all single-unit homes constructed.?That ranks the state in the top 10 nationally; Nevada led the nation with seven in 10 homes built to the specification last year.
Haynes Development Co. of Seymour led the state by building 113 units to the Energy Star standard last year; followed by the 101 units erected by Toll Brothers Inc. in Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven counties.
Charter Group stumbled onto the program in 2005 after searching for exterior siding that would lessen paint and replacement costs. The company ultimately chose a product that also offered insulating qualities.
“Condos have a reputation for common charges, so we looked at ways to reduce the cost of maintaining the exterior,” Handshy said.
The siding change allowed the company to also take advantage of an Internal Revenue Service tax credit that rewards builders for employing energy-efficient materials, but which also carries stiffer requirements than the Energy Star program.
To earn the Energy Star stamp, homes must be independently verified as at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code. On average, Energy Star homes achieve 30 percent savings on their annual electricity bill, EPA estimates, lessening overall electricity demand by 5 percent nationally in 2006. That resulted in $14 billion in energy savings while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those emitted by 25 million vehicles, EPA indicates.
After the standards became tougher in 2006, Charter Group began sealing ducts as well, and the company is planning additional efficiency measures.
“My understanding is that there will be a whole new set of standards for 2008 ”¦ and the standards are already pretty high,” said Mike Carpanzano, a Charter Group project manager. “I think we have been doing a good job of staying ahead of the curve.”
Builders have no shortage of options to do so ”“ at last count, 44,000 products carried the Energy Star label, and some companies offer discounts for the use of such systems.
For instance, Connecticut Light & Power is issuing coupons for $2 off Energy Star-certified light bulbs purchased this year that cost at least $3; and for $10 off interior light fixtures costing more than $20.
Such programs contributed to Connecticut grabbing the top slot on a state scorecard issued in June by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. The report issues grades to states for adopting programs and technology to promote energy efficiency, encompassing everything from appliance standards to transportation.
