03.06.2004
California Builders Increase Construction of Energy-Efficient
New Homes by 1,200 Percent

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Mar. 6, 2004 – At the national ENERGY STAR® awards ceremony the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that California builders completed 19,000 new homes last year that met the rigorous ENERGY STAR® energy-efficiency guidelines – a 1,200 percent increase compared to the 1,500 units built in 2001.

At the March 2 ceremony in Washington, D.C., the EPA attributed California’s emergence as a national leader in energy-efficient new home construction to a unique, joint utility campaign called the “California ENERGY STAR? New Homes” program first offered in 2002.
The program, run by Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Co., Pacific Gas and Electric Company, provides builders with information on the benefits of energy-efficient homes plus financial incentives for offering customers ENERGY STAR? homes. Approximately $11.5 million in such incentives were provided in 2003 alone to help offset the added construction costs of energy-efficient building practices.

Homebuilders can partner with ENERGY STAR® by signing a partnership agreement, which allows the builder to take advantage of the ENERGY STAR® name, logo, and a variety of other resources. Current partners have reported increased profits, customer satisfaction, and recognition, along with the satisfaction of helping the environment.

Because California has some of the most rigorous energy efficiency requirements in the nation, homes that earn ENERGY STAR® certification are 35 to 45 percent more energy-efficient than the National Model Energy Code, instead of the 30 percent criteria required in other states. Nevertheless, a record 32,000 new homes conforming to ENERGY STAR® guidelines were permitted in the state last year because of the utility campaign.

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Mar. 6, 2004 – At the national ENERGY STAR® awards ceremony the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that California builders completed 19,000 new homes last year that met the rigorous ENERGY STAR® energy-efficiency guidelines – a 1,200 percent increase compared to the 1,500 units built in 2001.

At the March 2 ceremony in Washington, D.C., the EPA attributed California’s emergence as a national leader in energy-efficient new home construction to a unique, joint utility campaign called the “California ENERGY STAR? New Homes” program first offered in 2002.
The program, run by Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Co., Pacific Gas and Electric Company, provides builders with information on the benefits of energy-efficient homes plus financial incentives for offering customers ENERGY STAR? homes. Approximately $11.5 million in such incentives were provided in 2003 alone to help offset the added construction costs of energy-efficient building practices.

Homebuilders can partner with ENERGY STAR® by signing a partnership agreement, which allows the builder to take advantage of the ENERGY STAR® name, logo, and a variety of other resources. Current partners have reported increased profits, customer satisfaction, and recognition, along with the satisfaction of helping the environment.

Because California has some of the most rigorous energy efficiency requirements in the nation, homes that earn ENERGY STAR® certification are 35 to 45 percent more energy-efficient than the National Model Energy Code, instead of the 30 percent criteria required in other states. Nevertheless, a record 32,000 new homes conforming to ENERGY STAR® guidelines were permitted in the state last year because of the utility campaign.

ENERGY STAR® homes were built in the Inland Empire and Orange County with features that contributed to lower energy usage and reduced air pollution.

“These new energy efficient homes look like any other home, but cost less because homeowners spend less on home utility bills each month,“ said SCE spokesperson Marlon Walker.

The savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically achieved through a combination of:
• building envelope upgrades,
• high performance windows,
• controlled air infiltration,
• upgraded heating and air conditioning systems,
• tight duct systems and
• upgraded water-heating equipment.

To improve the efficiency of older homes, ENERGY Star® recommends adding insulation, sealing leaks, and maximizing the energy efficiency of home heating and cooling systems. There are a variety of products such as Energy Star® light bulbs, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, heating and cooling systems, and clothes washers that will further reduce home energy costs. A combined consumer effort will reduce state energy usage and help improve the environment.

"The statewide effort by California’s investor-owned utilities exemplifies the best in national, regional and local teamwork bringing the money saving and environmental benefits of Energy Star? technologies to thousands of families," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "California is fortunate to have this strong coalition of utilities delivering Energy Star? information and resources to consumers.”

When completed, the electricity savings of California’s 2003 Energy Star? homes will equal approximately 1,100 megawatt-hours – the output of one large power plant. The heat savings from the utilities’ 2003 Energy Star® natural-gas programs will be an estimated 1.2 million therms per year or the equivalent of the amount of energy needed to heat 2,300 single-family homes for an entire year.

“We salute Southern California builders who responded to our encouragement to design and build homes for our customers that use the latest energy-efficient practices,” said Lynda Ziegler, SCE’s director of customer programs and services. “And we thank the EPA and DOE [Department of Energy] for their recognition of our efforts and those of our sister utilities.”

About California’s Investor-Owned Utilities
Southern California Edison. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Co. have a 28-year history of effectively marketing energy-efficiency and energy conservation programs. For years, these utilities have managed highly successful rebate programs supporting the use of Energy Star? products for the home.

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