It's what is on the inside of ENERGY STAR® homes that matters

Do you notice anything different about the model home pictured below? Probably not, but beyond the attractive furniture and fashionable cupboards, the ENERGY STAR® rated house from Country Joe Homes pictured below offers future owners more than a cozy looking home.

As with appliances, the ENERGY STAR indicates a higher level of energy efficiency in homes, and local builders, such as Country Joe Homes, are starting to take advantage of the ENERGY STAR program. “We've always built efficient homes,” said John Claypool, assistant vice president with County Joe Homes. “When we learned about the ENERGY STAR program from Dakota Electric, we thought it was a great way to get credit for the things we were already doing.”

Builders use a combination of design, construction techniques and materials to achieve their ENERGY STAR rating, which requires testing and evaluation from a third party company at various stages in the building process. Jimmie Sparks of Neighborhood Energy Connections tests homes for Country Joe Homes using blower door tests, infrared camera technology and duct blaster tests to ensure air sealing, insulation, duct work and windows meet the ENERGY STAR standards.

These features keep air from leaking in and out of the homes, helping owners save energy and money, but also making the environment more comfortable by reducing drafts and increasing indoor temperature control.

In addition, Country Joe Homes installs ENERGY STAR appliances, furnaces with variable speed fans and air-source heat pumps as standard features in many of their homes. “We realize that what matters is what you don't always see,” said Glenn Norman, new home consultant with Country Joe Homes. “We have a responsibility to our buyers to do the right thing, and energy-savings is a way to add value to a home.”

Learn more about ENERGY STAR homes

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