Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes honors home building industry leaders
Portland, Ore. – May 2 – Northwest ENERGY STAR® has named Legend Homes as the 2010-2011 Regional Builder of the Year award for outstanding accomplishments and contributions in the field of energy efficient home building. The annual awards program, now in its fifth year, recognizes builders and verification companies that support the advancement of Northwest ENERGY STAR new homes throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. As Regional Builder of the Year, Legend Homes will be featured on the program’s website, www.NorthwestENERGYSTAR.com, over the next year.
“We are so impressed by the dedication of ENERGY STA R builders to continue to build high quality, energy efficient homes in a market where downward price pressures are causing many builders to cut costs and cut corners. ENERGY STAR builders’ commitment to excellence is exemplified by Legend Homes who is a true leader in building high performance, energy efficient homes and educating the home buyer on the importance of energy efficiency and better quality construction.”
Homes earning the ENERGY STAR label are at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to standard state building codes. During 2010, Legend Homes built 60 ENERGY STAR certified homes in Oregon. The awards are judged on a range of criteria including the number of ENERGY STAR certified homes built, marketing and sales efforts for certified homes, commitment to quality control standards, and other contributions and success related to the ENERGY STAR program.
“Our primary intention for producing our EarthSmart energy-efficient line of homes was to bring a higher level of energy efficiency and a sustainable-lifestyle benchmark to the mainstream,” said Jim Chapman, president of Legend Homes. “Ultimately, our goal was to redesign and right-size our homes to fit a more affordable, sustainable and efficient style of living, in addition to providing a precedent in order to help lead the homebuilding industry into the future.”
In 2010, 3,207 Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes were constructed by more than 1,600 active builders in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Since the program’s inception, 11,337 homes have been certified. In order to gain certification, homes are performance-tested and inspected by an independent third party to ensure all requirements are met to earn the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR qualified homes employ a combination of energy efficient construction practices, such as increased insulation, tightly sealed ducts tested to ensure comfort in every room, high-efficiency windows, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, and appliances. The result is better-built, more comfortable homes that save energy and money every month.
About ENERGY STAR and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today, the ENERGY STAR program delivers the technical information and tools that organizations and consumers need to choose energy-efficient solutions. For a complete list of ENERGY STAR qualified products, retailers, manufacturers and energy savings information, call 1-888-373-2283 or log onto: www.energystar.gov.
ENERGY STAR qualified homes in Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington are built by home builders participating in the Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program, which is funded by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). NEEA is a non-profit corporation supported by the Bonneville Power Administration, electric utilities, public benefits administrators, state governments, public interest groups and energy efficiency industry representatives. These entities work together to make affordable, energy-efficient products and services available in the marketplace. In 2009, NEEA was awarded the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in part due to the implementation of the Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program. For more information regarding NEAA, visit: www.neea.org. Consumers can learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified homes by visiting www.northwestENERGYSTAR.com or calling 1-800-539-9362.
About Legend Homes
At Legend Homes, our goal is to provide you with more than just a solidly-built new home. Better plans, more standard features, a strong focus on energy conservation and efficiency and state-of-the art building practices are what drive Legend Homes to be the very best. And, as the proven market leader, Legend Homes is committed to providing the best new home value and the best homebuying experience for our homebuyers. The history of Legend Homes is more than just the passage of time. The commitment, foresight, and craftsmanship that began more than 40 years ago is evident in the communities that thousands of Oregonians now call home. The guarantee of this legacy continues today in the new neighborhoods being built in the Portland metropolitan and Corvallis areas. At Legend Homes, our commitment to our homebuyers is simple and straightforward. We stand solidly behind every home we build. From our beautifully planned neighborhoods in choice locations, to the fine craftsmanship and materials used in every home, to the way we treat you before, during and after the sale, the Legend experience is …… legendary. Please visit www.LegendHomes.com for more information.
