New England homes show energy leadership

BOSTON – New England states were among the leaders in building new single-family homes that earn the government’s Energy Star rating for energy efficiency, according to a report released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The agency reported that more than 12 percent of homes built in 15 states gained the Energy Star label in 2006, including Connecticut (23 percent), New Hampshire (17 percent) and Vermont (24 percent). Rhode Island and Massachusetts each had between 3 and 11 percent of new homes with the designation, while Maine had fewer than 3 percent.
Homes built to the EPA’s guidelines for energy efficiency are at least 15 percent more efficient than home built to the 2004 International Residential Code, according to the EPA, but typically they are between 20 and 30 percent more efficient than standard homes.
Nearly 200,000 homes built in 2006 were certified with the Energy Star label, adding to the half million already built to the standard. Together, those homes have saved more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, 100 million therms of natural gas, as well as more than $180 million for homeowners, said the EPA.
For more information about Energy Star homes, go to www.energystar.gov. For more information about energy issues in New England, go to www.epa.gov.