Veridian Homes is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2009 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes the important contribution Veridian Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save its customers approximately $162,600 on utility bills each year.

The environmental benefits of these Veridian ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:

• Eliminating the emissions from 98 vehicles;
• Saving 592,800 lbs. of coal;
• Planting 162 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment 1,162,600 lbs. of CO2 per year.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

"For Veridian Homes, the ENERGY STAR program complements our award-winning building process by approaching home building as a comprehensive and interactive system," said David Simon, President of Operations, Veridian Homes. "The end result is a beautiful, high-performing home that is more earth-friendly."

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the benefits they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.

"Most homebuyers focus on what's outside the walls," said Sam Rashkin, National Director for EPA's ENERGY STAR Homes Program, "but they also need to look behind the walls for the energy-efficient features found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes that help ensure comfort, quiet, improved indoor air quality, and low utility bills for years to come."