The ENERGY STAR home certification was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ENERGY STAR qualification is mainly based on the energy efficiency of a home (as opposed to other green home certification systems that take into account all five of the green principles).
When purchasing a new home, home buyers and REALTORS® can look for homes that have earned the ENERGY STAR label—homes that have been inspected and tested by an independent Home Energy Rater to ensure the home meets the EPA’s guidelines for energy efficiency.
| Did You Know?: Regardless of green features, the larger a home is the more natural resources it will consume; it also will require more heating, air conditioning, and lighting. Choosing a smaller size home will help you be more environmentally friendly. |