If you’re wondering how well Energy Star homes really perform, a recent study conducted by Advanced Energy and Michael Blasnik Associates looks into the question of whether Energy Star Homes actually use less energy than baseline homes.
The Houston study compared the utility bills of thousands of Energy Star homes with thousands of comparable baseline homes. In recent years, about half of all the new homes built in Houston have received an Energy Star label but, on average, these homes use about 2% less electricity than comparable new homes without an Energy Star label.
The trouble with the EPA’s marketing pitches for its Energy Star Homes program is that they aren’t true. Although several researchers have tried, no one has been able to document energy savings anywhere close to the 15%, much less 30%, touted by the EPA for Energy Star Homes. (GreenBuilding Advisor.com)
