Overview

About ENERGY STAR® Labeled Homes

The ENERGY STAR® label is the identifying mark of energy efficient equipment, appliances, electronics, and new homes. It provides consumers an easy way to recognize energy efficient homes verified by a third-party to meet ENERGY STAR® performance guidelines.

An ENERGY STAR® labeled home uses less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating than a home built to the new Texas residential energy efficiency building code called IECC. In addition to energy savings, an ENERGY STAR® labeled home offers quality construction, improved comfort and indoor air quality, and higher resale value. Energy efficient features typically include a tighter home envelope, tighter duct sealing, improved levels of insulation, high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and energy efficient windows.

For a home to receive an ENERGY STAR® label its performance must first be tested by a third-party. During the performance testing the home's Home Energy Ratings System (HERS) score is calculated. If the home scores higher than an 86 on the HERS scale, it meets the ENERGY STAR® performance criteria. Once the home has met this criteria it can be given a certificate and an ENERGY STAR® label can be displayed in the home.

The ENERGY STAR® label is part of a comprehensive, voluntary program of the Environmental Protection Agency that promotes energy efficient products, electronics, equipment, and new homes. To learn more about ENERGY STAR® visit www.energystar.gov/homes.

Program Overview

2007 Entergy ENERGY STAR® Homes Program Summary

In January 2007, Entergy will award a limited number of monetary incentives to builders for ENERGY STAR homes they have committed to the program. The number of incentives awarded to each builder is determined through a competitive bid and scoring process. In addition to the incentives, builders accepted into the Entergy program will have a unique opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition by participating in an Advertising Partnership while benefiting from outreach activities that will raise awareness of the ENERGY STAR brand, promote the benefits of purchasing energy-efficient homes, and increase demand for ENERGY STAR homes in the Entergy service area.

Builder Incentive Program

An incentive of $200 will be paid to builders for each ENERGY STAR home delivered to the program with a HERS index less than 85. Requirements for receiving incentive are:

• Must be in Entergy's service territory;
• The home must be new, separately metered, residential construction;
• The home must be tested and certified by a certified HERS rater;
• Builder must have subscribed to Entergy's program.

How to Receive Incentive Payments

Entergy will make incentive payments the (20th) of every month for ENERGY STAR homes delivered by builders. To receive incentives payments in a timely manner, Entergy encourages builders to work closely with their respective HERS rating provider to ensure that the information required by Entergy is submitted immediately after the homes are tested and certified.

Important Dates

The following milestones were established to help ensure that participating builders receive all of the financial incentives they’ve been awarded and to achieve their commitments to deliver ENERGY STAR labeled homes and during the 2007 program. Entergy reserves the right to re-allocate incentive awards if a builder does not meet the June 20, 2007 milestone.