Double R Builders has received Certified Energy Star ratings for two of their recently completed homes.

“Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.” To earn an Energy Star rating, the home must “meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.”

Creating an Energy Star home starts in the planning stage. Consideration must be given to such things to name a few as the orientation of the house to the sun, the choice of insulation, the size and type of windows and doors, the energy rating of the appliances and water heater, even down to the light bulbs that will be used. (See the list of energy features in the Lakeway Custom and the Villas #26 homes.)

Double R Builders worked with the homeowners to ensure their new home would be comfortable and energy efficient for years to come.

Double R Builders has entered the Lakeway Custom home into the 2009 Energy Value Housing Award Competition. This home is an outstanding example of the energy efficiency one can achieve with sound building material choices and quality construction. This home recently received an Energy Star rating.

This national competition is organized by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In the past 13 years, builders from 34 states and the District of Columbia have competed.

"The Energy Value Housing Award (EVHA) recognizes builders who successfully integrate energy efficiency into all aspects of new home production, as exemplified by a specific home. Judging will be based on the evaluation of criteria essential to the value of energy efficiency in new home construction." In addition, the homes may be evaluated on their whole house energy performance by an energy analysis conducted by the NAHB Research Center. The energy analysis follows U.S. DOE Building America's performance analysis procedures. A panel of energy-efficiency experts representing the disciplines of engineering, construction, design, and/or marketing will judge each entry.