ENERGY STAR: Saving Money and Energy in HUD-Assisted and HUD-Financed Housing

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HUD has joined with EPA and DOE to promote ENERGY STAR through all of HUD's programs. Through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Secretary Mel Martinez in September 2002, HUD will work with EPA and DOE to expand the use of ENERGY STAR products in assisted and public housing, as in projects financed through other HUD programs, such as CDBG and HOME.

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy efficient products and appliances. ENERGY STAR-labeled products save energy and money and protect the environment. Improving energy efficiency in HUD-financed and HUD-assisted housing can generate significant savings for property owners and building residents. There are three key ENERGY STAR applications:

ENERGY STAR Products and Appliances
ENERGY STAR appliances are significantly more energy efficient than standard models. There are 31 different products that have the ENERGY STAR label, including refrigerators, clothes and dish washers, HVAC equipment, windows, and lighting.

ENERGY STAR for New Homes
Single family and low-rise multifamily homes can achieve the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR qualified homes must be at least 30 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 1993 Model Energy Code, or 15 percent more efficient than state energy codes, whichever is more rigorous. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically achieved through a combination of building envelope improvements, high performance windows, controlling air infiltration, efficient furnaces, air conditioners and domestic hot water equipment and sealed ducts.

ENERGY STAR for Existing Homes
EPA has developed a range of tools for improving the energy efficiency of existing homes. These include a focus on sealing ducts and adding insulation, as well as diagnostic tools such as the Home Energy Advisor and the Home Energy Yardstick that homeowners can use to identify possible energy efficiency improvements.

Benefits

• HUD spends more than 10% of its annual budget-an estimated $4 billion-on energy. These funds are distributed through utility allowances to renters, housing assistance payments to private building owners, and operating grants to public housing authorities. HUD estimates that installing basic efficiency measures in public housing alone can save taxpayers at least $800 million over the next 10 years.
  
  
• Renters can save 15% to 20% on their energy bills by installing ENERGY STAR qualified products such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, and lighting.
  
  
• ENERGY STAR qualified new homes can save 30% a year or more ($200 to $400) on heating and cooling bills.

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