Conservation program builds

Builders in the Northwest have a new tool in their belts to attract conservation-minded consumers shopping for new homes.

The federal Energy Star program, which, since 1992, has promoted energy-efficient appliances, is now certifying entire homes. Homes that achieve the Energy Star label are guaranteed to be 15 percent to 30 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to standard regional building codes.

“At some point, the Energy Star program isn’t going to be a program, it’ll be the norm,” said Michael Cramer, construction manager for Victory Homes, which built an Energy Star-certified home off Huetter Road in Kootenai County. “All of the custom homes Victory Homes will do will be in compliance with Energy Star standards. We want to be on the leading edge of promoting that.”

No homes in Spokane County have achieved the certification yet, but builder Rob Young has a home that is likely to earn it soon, said David Hales, building systems and energy specialist with Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Hales’ office certifies that homes meet the Energy Star requirements.

A home achieves the certification by using energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, insulation, fixtures and ductwork. Each state has a person like Hales who trains others to work as “verifiers” — inspectors who visit homes to ensure they meet Energy Star requirements. Builders must pay to have their homes certified under the program. The price for such inspections varies. Most local utilities also offer incentives to homeowners for using energy-efficient equipment.

”(Energy Star) is being used as a marketing tool to show consumers which houses should perform significantly above a basic code home,” Hales said. “The target is 30 percent less energy use, and that’s a significant improvement on your heating bills.”

The Energy Star program has been used to certify entire homes in other states for a couple of years. However, building codes in Washington, Oregon and parts of Idaho already required a high degree of energy efficiency in building, Hales said. So the Energy Star program being applied here is more stringent than the rest of the country, he said.

Energy Star Homes Northwest is being marketed by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a nonprofit group of utilities, state governments and industry representatives working together to promote energy efficient products and services.

Any additional costs incurred from building to the Energy Star certification should be offset by increased sales to environmentally minded customers, said Margie Gardner, executive director of the alliance, in a news release. Cramer said constructing a home to Energy Star requirements adds $1,000 to $2,000 to the cost of the home. However, he estimates the additional cost is earned back in energy bill savings within three to seven years.

Roger and Sharon Harte purchased the Energy Star home built by Victory Homes in Kootenai County. Roger Harte said the home may have cost slightly more, but with the energy savings and rebate incentives offered by local utilities, the costs even out. The home recently was featured in the Parade of Homes and many of the visitors were interested in the energy savings, Harte said.

“I think if everybody did it, it would help,” Harte said. “Once it catches on, it’ll be the standard.”