FirstCoast Builds ENERGY STAR® Homes

July 5, 2007 – Energy efficiency is the new standard at FirstCoast Homes as it announces its commitment to build all ENERGY STAR® qualified homes, beginning this summer.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). These homes perform better for the homeowner and the environment thanks to a variety of energy-efficient features that include:

  • Tight construction
  • Upgraded insulation
  • High performance windows that reduce incoming heat
  • Tightly sealed ducts
  • Highly efficient heating and cooling systems
  • Energy efficient lighting and appliances

Not only do these improvements provide a more comfortable living environment with better indoor air quality, but they can also save homeowners 25 to 30 percent on energy bills. For most homeowners, that translates to hundreds of dollars in savings each year.

Energy efficient homes also help protect the environment by reducing air pollution. Lower demand for energy equates to less greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. In fact, when taking air pollution into consideration, building 100 homes that meet ENERGY STAR standards is the equivalent of taking 40 cars off the road.

FirstCoast President Jeremy Graves says, “We are constantly in search of innovative construction methods and standards that improve the quality of our homes and the quality of life for our homebuyers. So we’re very pleased and excited that our homes will achieve this while also helping to improve the environment.”

FirstCoast built Berkeley County’s first ENERGY STAR qualified home as part of a five-day Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz in May. The company will begin construction in two new communities in Berkeley County this summer – Medway Landing and The Sanctuary at Cane Bay – and all the homes FirstCoast builds in these neighborhoods will be constructed to meet ENERGY STAR standards.

For more information on the ENERGY STAR program, visit www.energystar.gov.

Read more about the Energy Star new home certification in the Charleston Regional Business Journal