Jun 24 2013
As the housing market continues to evolve, it is increasingly important for potential homebuyers to be better informed about a home's energy efficiency features. KB Home has been providing this kind of information directly to consumers for all of its homes since 2011, and was the first homebuilder to do so, with its Energy Performance Guide™ or EPG™.
Now, with the support of KB Home's partner RESNET, a home energy rating standards organization, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has added a new category to Colorado's Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for "Green Features and Certifications," including items like ENERGY STAR® certification and HERS scores, which function much like an MPG for homes.
"We applaud the forward-thinking efforts of RESNET and the Colorado Energy Office in recognizing the importance of providing information about a home's energy efficiency for today's sophisticated homebuyer," said Matt Mandino president of KB Home's Colorado division. "There will soon be a day that homebuyers will demand to know a home's HERS score or its estimated energy bill—and we are well-prepared for this today. We know that an energy-efficient home is a better value by helping lower the total cost of homeownership. In fact, in the state of Colorado, on average, a new KB home is up to 70% more efficient than a typical resale home."
In choosing a KB home, buyers enjoy the benefit of increased energy- and water-efficiency thanks to all new KB homes being ENERGY STAR certified and including WaterSense labeled fixtures.
"KB Home was the first production builder to put HERS score labeling on every home they build, recognizing that utility costs are an extremely important piece of information for homebuyers wishing to compare the real-world operating cost of one house to another they are considering purchasing," said Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET. "Putting HERS scores in the MLS makes it easy for Colorado's consumers to make the best value-based decisions. In our experience, most consumers will choose an energy-efficient home over a less-efficient one."
Energy bill estimates and HERS scores for KB homes are provided by independent energy raters certified and trained by RESNET. In addition to work underway in Colorado, RESNET strives to create more consumer and industry awareness for the importance of home energy rating practices and standards nationwide. KB Home's EPG is posted in its model homes nationwide.
To find a KB Home community near you and learn more about the energy-efficient new homes available, visit kbhome.com or call 888-KB-HOMES.