Energy Efficient New Home Construction Program
(Home Advantage)

A Home Advantage new home is truly efficient because Progress Energy representatives actually work side by side with builders to design homes that will save energy and make new homes more affordable.

The Home Advantage Energy Saver home concentrates on the duct system and requires that your builder use a mastic sealant on all joints and connections. This ensures that your new home has a tighter system that won't waste energy through air leakage. A heat pump is also required in a Home Advantage home, to keep your family comfortable and your energy costs down year round.

A Home Advantage Energy Saver Plus home begins with your builder sealing the duct system with the same qualifications as a Home Advantage home. In addition, your new home must have either R-30 attic insulation or ductwork designed using a Manual D calculation so the right amount of conditioned air is delivered to each room. Your Home Advantage Plus home must also have a high efficiency heat pump so you and your family will have year round savings on heating and cooling.

A Home Advantage Premium Energy Saver/Energy Star home is at least 15 percent more efficient than the national Model Energy Code while maintaining or improving indoor air quality - the highest standard in new home energy efficiency. Builders who have partnered with Progress Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have pledged that they are committed to energy efficient design and delivering cost-effective, energy-saving homes that cost less to own and operate.

Energy Star homes use at least 15 percent less energy than required by the national Model Energy Code while maintaining or improving indoor air quality. This greater efficiency equates into a home that will cost less to own and operate.

The Energy Star Homes program is based on the concept that monthly utility bill savings can significantly exceed the small increase in the monthly mortgage payment for extra energy efficiency measures.

Energy Star New Home Construction

Buyers of Energy Star Homes have the potential to receive numerous advantages, including:

• Improved Comfort
  Homes with additional insulation and advanced windows feel more comfortable because wall surface temperatures are warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Tighter homes with efficient windows will not experience annoying drafts and airborne dust. Energy Star homes can be much quieter when builders provide better insulated walls and ducts and properly sized mechanical systems.
  
  
• Improved Indoor Air Quality
  Where Energy Star homes are tested for air leakage, homeowners are assured adequate ventilation is being provided. Homes with better-sealed ducts will be much less exposed to potential sources of indoor air pollutants, dust and radon that can enter through leaks in attics, basements and garages.
  
  
• Quality Construction
  Energy Star homes that are more tightly sealed have greater attention paid to many important construction details. High-efficiency heat pumps and furnaces may include quality features beyond improved performance, for example, higher-grade heat exchangers, fans, motors and longer-term warranties.
  
  
• Strong Position for High Resale Value
  Energy Star homes are more likely to boast up-to-date building technologies, and therefore, offer less risk of technology obsolescence. They may also offer high-efficiency appliances and lighting and can develop a track record of low utility bills. These benefits can translate into higher resale values when it's time to sell.
  
  
• Easy Access to Preferred Mortgage Financing
  National and local financing products currently available or under development can make it easier for homebuyers to qualify for Energy Star homes. To date there are three national lenders. Ask your lender about Energy Star mortgages.

For more information on Energy Star homes and other Energy Star programs, please contact the EPA Energy Star hotline at (888) STAR-YES (888-782-7937).

The following companies are participants of Progress Energy's Florida Home Advantage Builder Program and have made the commitment to energy-efficient design: