EPA Recognizes AEP Texas with 2010 ENERGY STAR® Leadership in Housing Award

Braselton Homes, Inc. and Hogan Homes, Inc. also honored for participating in program that promotes construction of new homes that protect the environment through energy efficiency

Corpus Christi, TX – AEP Texas has been awarded a 2010 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes AEP Texas’ efforts to promote energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by Sponsoring an ENERGY STAR for New Homes program in its service area last year.

Two local home builders – Braselton Homes, Inc. and Hogan Homes, Inc. – have also been awarded the honor. The awards will be presented today at a Builders Association of Corpus Christi luncheon at Mansion Royal, 8001 S.P.I.D., at 11:30 a.m.

To earn the ENERGY STAR certification, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by EPA. ENERGY STAR homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to local code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

“This is AEP Texas’ third year to promote Energy Star New Homes,” said Melissa Proske, Energy Efficiency and Demand Response coordinator. “We are pleased with the success of the program as each year the number of homes that meet Energy Star standards has increased.”

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers energy-saving features such as 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. More than 1 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995. Thanks to the dedication of partners like Braselton Homes, Inc. and Hogan Homes, Inc., families living in ENERGY STAR qualified homes will save more than $270 million this year on their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 370,000 vehicles.

“EPA is privileged to work with a diverse group of utilities, state programs, and home builder associations who effectively support ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes,” said Sam Rashkin, National Director of ENERGY STAR for Homes. “Thanks to the leadership of these sponsors, home buyers across the country have greater access to ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes that cost less to own while improving comfort, indoor air quality, durability, and our environment.”


About AEP Texas
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).