WATHEN-CASTANOS IS RECOGNIZED WITH A 2008 ENERGY STAR® LEADERSHIP IN HOUSING AWARD
Fresno, California, June 13, 2008 – Wathen-Castanos is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2008 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes the important contribution that our organization has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 270 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $128,790 on utility bills each year.
The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR qualified homes are the equivalent of:
• Eliminating the emissions from 132 vehicles;
• Saving 800,280 lbs of coal;
• Planting 218 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment 1,569,510 pounds of CO2 per year.
Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by EPA. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features, such as effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR qualified lighting and appliances.
ENERGY STAR is growing strong in the residential new construction market. In 2007, over 120,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines, bringing the total number of ENERGY STAR qualified homes to almost 840,000. Owners of these homes are saving more than $200 million annually on their utility bills.
According to Sam Rashkin, National Director of ENERGY STAR for Homes, “ENERGY STAR qualified homes are better homes that cost less to own, protect our environment, reduce our reliance on imported energy, and improve our economy. Leadership in Housing award recipients are making a meaningful difference at this critical time in our country’s history.”