Main Street Homes is proud to announce that it received the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for the third year in a row.

The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor bestowed by the ENERGY STAR program. Winners are part of a distinguished group that have made a long-term commitment to fighting climate change and protecting public health through energy efficiency. They are among the nation’s leaders in driving value for the environment, the economy, and the American people.

A new construction home by Main Street Homes means that your home will be built according to the strict U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and inspected by a third-party energy expert as part of the certification process. This reassures homebuyers that they will live in a home that is built to save energy and save money.

For homebuyers shopping for a home with energy savings, this offers an additional safeguard. Homes built and certified by Main Street Homes are rated by the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), which measures a home’s energy efficiency. This allows homebuyers to compare the energy savings of any new home by Main Street Homes against the average new or resale home. On average, a new home by Main Street Homes is 60% more energy efficient than older resale homes. That translates to a savings of up to $100 a month in utility bills over the life of a 30-year mortgage.

“ENERGY STAR award-winning partners are showing the world that delivering real climate solutions makes good business sense and promotes job growth,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Many of them have been doing it for years, inspiring all of us who are committed to tackling the climate crisis and leading the way to a clean energy economy.”

Main Street Homes, founded in 1996 by Vernon McClure, has always had one goal in mind— to Build Value in Our Community. In 2014, the company announced that all homes would meet 100% of the U.S. government’s Energy Star builder criteria. Since then, Main Street Homes has built over 1,500 ENERGY STAR Certified homes in the Richmond area, and has been a MARKET LEADER with ENERGY STAR for the annual volume of ENERGY STAR homes built in RVA.  Main Street Homes has grown to become one of the largest new construction home builders in the Richmond, Virginia area; building new homes in Chesterfield, Henrico, Powhatan, New Kent, Dinwiddie, Hanover, and Goochland Counties in over 20 communities—Everywhere You Want to Live!

The key elements of a Main Street Homes Energy Star built home include:

1. 95% Efficient HVAC Systems with Programmable Thermostats. Programmable thermostats are ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. With proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save over $100 per year in energy costs.

2. HVAC Returns in Every Bedroom- As much as half of the energy used in the average home goes to heating and cooling. Returns in every bedroom create more consistent temperatures throughout a home, making it more comfortable while saving on energy costs. No more hot and cold rooms bedrooms.

3. Low-E Windows- Energy Star Certified windows use advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames that help keep heat in during winter and out during summer− translating into real savings. They also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor photographs, carpets, and furnishings. These windows can also help reduce the potential for condensation, which can damage windowsills, cause paint to crack, and encourage mold growth.

4. House Wrap- Air that leaks through the average home’s envelope− the outer walls, windows, doors, and other openings − wastes a lot of energy and increases your utility costs. A well-sealed home envelope, coupled with the right amount of insulation, can make a real difference on utility bills.

5. Sealed Ductwork to Prevent Leakage- Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump can be big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of the heating and cooling system by at least 20% or more.

6. Drywall Sealed at the Top Plate at all Interfaces with Unconditioned Areas- It’s not just the amount of insulation; it’s also the quality of the installation that makes all the difference. Proper installation includes careful placement to eliminate gaps, voids, and compression; complete air barriers that prevent air from bypassing the insulation; and building techniques that minimize heat flow through framing. This ensures consistent temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort.

7. All Contact Areas between Air Conditioned and Unconditioned Space are Sealed- More disciplined sealing means less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating. This in one of the key reasons Main Street Energy Star Certified Homes deliver approximately 35% savings on annual utility bills.

8. Pre-Drywall Inspection Conducted by a 3rd Party Engineering Firm- This ensures that your home is sealed properly, and that the ductwork meets or exceeds Energy Star standards for duct leakage.

9. Final Inspection Conducted by a 3rd Party Engineer -Blower Door and Duct Blaster Tests are performed to verify that the house meets Energy Star criteria, resulting in energy cost savings of up to 35% versus other new homes. Winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners. For a complete list of 2021 winners and more information about ENERGY STAR’s awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners.

Did you know that each ENERGY STAR® certified home reduces greenhouse gases (GHG) by 3,700 lbs. per year compared to a typical home? This is equivalent to the GHG emissions absorbed by planting 43 trees. In 2020, Main Street Homes built over 325 homes which would be the equivalent of planting over 14,000 trees.

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $450 billion in energy costs and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR can be found at:  https://www.energystar.gov/about and  https://www.energystar.gov/about/origins_mission/energy_star_numbers

Learn more about Energy Star by Main Street Homes at https://www.gomsh.com/energy-star.