What’s all the buzz about green building and Energy Star®?  What does it mean for your business?  It can mean a lot, actually, for attracting customers and increasing the bottom line and the ability for people to buy a home, all while reducing carbon emissions, whether you set out to do so or not.

Green building represents five key components: sustainability, energy efficiency, recycled materials, indoor air quality and an overall commitment to healthy housing.  Different organizations have different standards that a home or building must meet to achieve a particular designation, ranging from the siting of a building on the land to reduce the impact of the sun’s strongest rays to the flooring materials used, to the fixtures and appliances installed. 

Because a key component of green building is energy efficiency, interest in energy efficiency has increased.  Energy efficient housing is very important because buildings produce more carbon emissions than transportation or industry.  Energy efficiency means many things; however, from a building industry standpoint, energy efficiency can be best discussed with two words:  Energy Star®. 

Energy Star® is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency in appliances, building materials and construction methods.  Started by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency, the Energy Star® standard was extended to the building industry in 1995 with the assistance of the Department of Energy, DOE. 

It has become a strong brand and recognizable logo that adds value to the items it adorns, based on EPA’s high research-backed standards for each appliance, material and method that earns the designation.  As a result, Energy Star® items are perceived as superior by purchasers and have added value compared to their conventional (inefficient) counterparts.

Many people don’t know that the Energy Star® brand can be applied for construction to homes and residential buildings up to three stories high.  Further, builders and developers can become designated as Energy Star® partners and benefit from extensive co-marketing opportunities. Research has shown a preference by buyers for Energy Star® labeled homes. 

Probably the most recognizable Energy Star® item is the spiral bulb.  Every Energy Star® qualified bulb uses 75% less energy than a standard bulb, lasts up 10 times longer and can save about $30 or more in energy costs — while preventing more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime. 

HUD, DOE and EPA have worked together in supporting Energy Star ® in various programs since 1995.  The three agencies have created a joint website, www.energysavers.gov, as part of their Partnership for Home Energy Efficiency established in 2005 to help households reduce their energy bills by making homes more efficient and to help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.  “For most owners and renters, utility bills are the second largest household expense.” HUD Secretary Jackson said when the Partnership was formed, “That’s why housing affordability and energy efficiency go hand in hand.” 

An example of this collaboration is the Change a Light Change the World Campaign, which asks every individual in America to pledge to replace one incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star qualified one.  The 8th annual Campaign starts on October 3, 2007. 

To take the pledge, visit energystar.gov/joincal.  Don’t forget to indicate that HUD invited you to take the pledge by selecting “U.S. Department of HUD Miami Field Office” as your pledge driver. 

You can also sign up your company as a pledge driver, collect pledges under your name, and if you have multiple offices or associates, you can register as an umbrella pledge driver and compare the number of pledges each achieves as individual pledge drivers under your team.  By reaching a goal of even 500 bulbs you will be potentially preventing approximately 223,000 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions and saving money.  Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?