INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS:  Mon., June 29, 2009

 KB goes all Energy Star

 

KB Home says it is now building all of its homes in Arizona to Energy Star guideline standards, which it says are as much as 45 percent more energy-efficient than homes built 10 years ago.

Mark Rodocker, executive vice president of KB Home’s in Arizona, said homebuyers in the Tucson area want homes that are  energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and affordable – both at the time of purchase and over the lifetime of operating the home. He said it’s particularly relevant this time of the year with the summer heat.

To be designated as an Energy Star qualified home, a third party must verify the home meets a set of requirements developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Among the standards being used in KB Home homes are tight duct work and insulation meeting the EPA’s thermal bypass checklist, Low-E (low emissivity) glass, and 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) central air conditioning units.