Why buy an Energy Star^® Labeled home?

Lower Utility Costs

Unless you paid cash for your home, each and every month you will pay a portion of the purchase price in the form of a mortgage payment. Each month you also pay utility bills based on your home's monthly energy usage. Together, these expenses form the operating cost of your home. Through better construction and the use of energy-efficient features, ENERGY STAR qualified new homes offer lower operating costs (i.e., mortgage plus utility bills) than typical homes of the same, or sometimes even lower, purchase price.


How does it work?

As illustrated in the table above, because of the energy efficiency features, the utility bills of an ENERGY STAR qualified new home can be significantly lower than those of a typical home. This savings can more than offset any additional mortgage costs, often making it cheaper to own an ENERGY STAR qualified new home than a typical home.

You don't have to wait until resale to realize the financial benefits of buying an ENERGY STAR qualified new home. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes offer savings every month through utility bills that are significantly lower than those of standard homes. These savings begin the month you move in and can amount to hundreds of extra dollars every year. In addition to saving money on your utility bills, the energy-efficient features of an ENERGY STAR qualified new home tend to be more durable and carry better warranties than standard homes, which could reduce or eliminate many repair costs.

Not only do ENERGY STAR qualified new homes' lower utility bills translate into lower monthly costs, but owners can also qualify for other financial benefits such as preferred utility rebates. Our New Homes Partner Locator provides contact information for local home builders that build ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, lenders that offer ENERGY STAR mortgages, utilities and other sponsoring programs that offer incentives for buying and building ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, and home energy raters that verify the energy efficiency of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes. Make the choice to enjoy the superior efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality of an ENERGY STAR qualified new home, and you can also enjoy more home for less money.

Increased Comfort & Indoor Air Quality

Tight Construction. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes increase your comfort with tighter construction, which eliminates drafts, blocks the entry of airborne pollutants, pests, and moisture, and reduces outside noise, all while maintaining your desired temperature throughout the house.

Tight Ducts. Tight ducts provide improved indoor air quality and adequate ventilation, reducing your exposure to potential sources of indoor air pollutants that can enter through leaks in attics, basements, or garages.

Quiet Atmosphere. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes block out outdoor noises with their tight construction, effective insulation and advanced windows.

Environmental Benefits

In buying a new ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, you are helping protect the environment. Home energy use accounts for nearly 17 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and 15 percent of energy consumption nationwide.

Since 1995 more than 350,000 of the nation's new homes have earned the ENERGY STAR label, saving homeowners an estimated $200 million and eliminating approximately 4 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions of about 150,000 vehicles.
Therefore, by buying ENERGY STAR qualified homes, YOU can help reduce air pollution and lessen other environmental problems such as global warming, smog, and acid rain. ENERGY STAR has a goal of preventing about 9 million metric tons of carbon emissions by the year 2012 through the qualification of homes for the ENERGY STAR label.