Inside the Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center (Courtesy of Pepco)
Inside the Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center (Courtesy of Pepco)

A new home is one of the biggest investments youโ€™ll ever make, so be sure itโ€™s built to last. Thatโ€™s the confidence youโ€™ll get when you purchase an ENERGY STAR certified new home in Maryland from a participating builder in Pepcoโ€™s ENERGY STAR New Homes Program. An ENERGY STAR certified home meets stricter requirements that make it at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to standard building codes. And saving energy saves you money โ”€ approximately 20 percent on annual utility bills. Over the years, you also can save thousands of dollars on maintenance costs. But savings are just the beginning.

If youโ€™re in the market for a new home in Maryland, Pepco can help you find a builder who is committed to constructing energy-efficient homes. Pepcoโ€™s ENERGY STAR New Homes program offers builders financial incentives to encourage them to build homes with energy-efficient features that help homeowners save energy and money.

โ€œAt Pepco, weโ€™re committed to advancing technologies that empower our customers, promote sustainable solutions, and drive a 21st century economyโ€ said Karen Parham, program manager, Pepco. โ€œBeing a local sponsor of programs like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyโ€™s ENERGY STAR for New Homes is part of that commitment,โ€ she added. As a result, Pepco was awarded the EPA 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award and has won EPAโ€™s Market Leader Awards for its contribution to energy-efficient construction. Pepco also recently recognized its top builders and raters that contributed to its ENERGY STAR New Homes Program in 2016, with several companies earning recognition for building homes that can save you money and that are built to last.

Better Homes, Greater Value

Compared to standard construction, ENERGY STAR certified new homes are simply built better. Comfort is ensured with consistent temperatures between and across rooms. Indoor air quality is enhanced by reducing dust, pollen, bugs, and excessive humidity. Durability is improved with comprehensive water protection and higher quality equipment throughout. Plus, a recent study indicated that 75 percent of consumers are interested in owning an energy-efficient home. So if you sell your home in the future, you can set it apart by highlighting that it has earned the trusted ENERGY STAR label, making your decision to build an ENERGY STAR home a good investment now and for tomorrow too.

Each ENERGY STAR certified home includes energy-efficient features that deliver improved performance, greater comfort, and a healthier indoor environment. From the moment you walk in the door, youโ€™ll see, feel, and hear the difference thanks to:

More insulation
Increased insulation means your home can stand up to winterโ€™s chill and summerโ€™s heat.

Tighter shell
Air leaks around pipes and air ducts can make a home uncomfortable and increase energy costs. In an ENERGY STAR certified home, better sealing makes your home at least 20 percent tighter than building code requirements.

Better HVAC ducts
Your new home will have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct systems that work about 33 percent more efficiently to deliver the right amount of air to every room in your home.

High-efficiency windows
A special invisible coating on windows helps keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter. Plus, the coating helps protect carpets, drapes, and furnishings from the fading effects of sunlight.

If youโ€™re ready to invest in lasting quality, find a participating homebuilder at pepco.com/newhomes. For more information on Pepcoโ€™s other energy efficiency programs, visit pepco.com/saveenergy.

This correspondent is a guest contributor to The Washington Informer.

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