Stories from Families Living in ENERGY STAR Homes
Angelica Ouameur • Pleasantville, NJ • RPM Development
"It is everything that my husband and I expected it to be, but the best part of living here is that we save a great amount of money on energy costs. Thanks to that, our family is saving and able to plan for our future."
Dean Harris • Phoenix, AZ • Beazer Homes
In my ENERGY STAR certified home, the builder paid extra attention to sealing every hole, having low-e windows installed to help reflect the sun's heat, and building a roof with a radiant barrier to further suppress heat intake into the home. I also added sunscreens on the outside of my new ENERGY STAR certified home, and added a 5 kilowatt solar package. Additionally, I have all ENERGY STAR appliances to cut down on energy consumption. To date, my highest electric bill has been around $92. These elements combined with the ENERGY STAR certification, and a well-placed tree or two, makes for a truly enjoyable, inexpensive living experience.
The Orrock Family • Las Vegas, NV • KB Homes
Being natives of Las Vegas, we know first-hand the importance of energy conservation, which is why we wanted to purchase an ENERGY STAR certified home. During the last year, we have noticed substantial savings, not only in our utility bills, but in our overall energy consumption. This is due to the added benefits of having ENERGY STAR appliances, effective insulation, and high performance, energy-efficient windows throughout our house. Going Green comes down to individual commitment and willingness to change our current routines. We truly appreciate the positive impact our ENERGY STAR home and community have on the planet.
The Dunson Family • Victorville, CA • KB Homes
This has been a milestone year for our family as we decided to buy a new home at the beginning of the year. After living in our previous home for over four years and thus becoming accustomed to high utility bills, we were excited for the opportunity to buy a brand new ENERGY STAR certified home as our first family home. Our utility bills are half of what they were in the previous home even though we have an additional five hundred square feet in our new home. I cannot say enough about how wonderful it is to be doing our part for a better tomorrow!
Leona Fisher and Will Sankhla • Southern California • KB Home
We've always been impressed with the savings we've gotten from ENERGY STAR CFLs and appliances, so we knew that ENERGY STAR would be a smart choice for our first home too. But it's not just about the savings. When researching builders, we liked that KB Home was such a progressive builder. They really build with cutting-edge technology, and the environment in mind. Protecting the environment is important to us too — and ENERGY STAR gives us one more way to be part of the solution.
The Reagan Family • Cottage Grove, MN • K. Hovnanian
We love the style, feel and location of our new home. It's a Parade of Homes showcase home from K. Hovnanian. We liked everything that we learned about the home. When we learned it was an ENERGY STAR home, it was the icing on the cake. Saving money is what did it for us. We doubled the size of our home, but our energy bills were comparable. Plus, the temperature throughout the house is consistent so we're always comfortable.
Ryan and Melanie Miller • Salt Lake City, Utah • Gold Medallion Homes
During the summer it definitely stays cooler. ENERGY STAR is exactly why we aren't losing air anywhere. You get a tight seal around your house that keeps the cool air in and hot air out.
Costa Family • Dallas, TX • KB Homes
Choosing an ENERGY STAR home has made a significant difference for us. Our first electric bill was extremely low-we love the savings! And knowing that we have an energy-efficient home we can live in for years is so comforting.
The Trial Family • Dallas, TX • Braselton Homes
For the past nine years I've lived in an apartment so moving into a new home was quite a thrill - a yard, an office, a large bathroom, I could go on and on. However, one thing impressed me more than most. My house is an ENERGY STAR certified house. Going from a 600 square foot apartment to a 2,000 square foot home, I expected at least a 30% increase in my electric bill, but I was wrong. When I opened my first bill I was shocked at how low my bill was! As the months went by I noticed my electric bill stayed consistently low. The air conditioning keeps the house extremely comfortable and my attic stays amazingly cool during the summer. I would definitely recommend an ENERGY STAR house to anyone that I know.