Overview

About ENERGY STAR® Qualified 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 new homes verified by a third-party to meet ENERGY STAR® performance guidelines.

An ENERGY STAR® labeled home uses less energy for heating, cooling, water heating, lighting and appliances 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) index is calculated. If the home -achieves 85 or lower 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 -on the home’s breaker box 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

2009 Entergy ENERGY STAR® Homes Program Summary
In January 2009, 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 -Cooperative 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 of 85 or less -. An additional incentive of $100 will paid to builders that deliver the Advanced Lighting Package (ALP) included in their ENERGY STAR qualified homes. 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.
• ALP information can be found at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=fixtures.alp_consumers

How to Receive Incentive Payments
- 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. The total incentive budget is limited.  Incentive payments will be made on a first-come, first-paid basis for homes properly submitted and documented to Entergy Texas. Requirements for receiving incentive payment are:

1. Access the 2009 database using the link above to enter the required home and verification information
2. Submit homes with completed data monthly. Include a copy of the ENERGY STAR Certificate or fax a copy of the certificate for each home submitted for payment.
3. Entergy will review submitted homes to verify eligibility and complete data for homes provided.
4. A check for approved incentives will be mailed or delivered on approximately the 20th of each month.
5. Errors will be returned to the database for correction and can be resubmitted for payment.

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 2009 program. Entergy reserves the right to re-allocate incentive awards if a builder does not meet the June 10, 2009 milestone.