BPW adds Energy Star homes to Parade of Homes route

Holland?s Parade of Homes starts Thursday and, this year, the Holland Board of Public Works has gotten on board to showcase two Energy Smart homes.

The BPW is using the parade as a kickoff a new energy optimization program that will incentivize the purchase of Energy Star homes.

The two Energy Star-certified homes on the parade will have a video playing about what it means to be an Energy Star home. Similar to Energy Star appliances, new homes built to the Energy Star criteria are labeled.

Builders take extra time with insulation and sealings and inspectors look for that, said Katie Novakoski, BPW conservation program specialist.

The parade will help ?get a feel for what an Energy Star home is,? she said.

Along with the extra steps taken in the building process, the homes also have energy efficient lighting and appliances, she said.

The goals of the program are to encourage the building of Energy Star version 3-certified homes, which are expected to be 20 to 30 percent more efficient than the average home. The program is expected to also encourage making existing homes more energy efficient.

This energy optimization program is small in comparison to other programs being done by the BPW, Novakoski said. But ?we need to increase the demand for Energy Star homes.?

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Source: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/homepage/x296710437/BPW-adds-Energy-Star-homes-to-Parade-of-Homes-route?rssfeed=true

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