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Homebuyers

Image shows graphics from a Builders Challenge consumer advertisement. A man with a toolbelt and woman with a potted plant stand in front of a stately porch. Both wear t-shirts with the Builders Challenge EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale) sunburst. A horizontal banner at the bottom of the page reads 'House Proud.'

Your home is the largest and most important purchase you make in a lifetime - and rising energy prices make it one of the most expensive to operate and maintain. Homes account for 21% of the energy used in the United States every year, with an average annual utility bill of $1,767.00. Homebuyers are increasingly concerned about rising energy costs, and the impact of fossil fuels as a major source of greenhouse gases.

Increasingly, homebuyers are looking to energy efficiency and green building programs, such as the Department of Energy (DOE)/Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Program, The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Green Building Program, and the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED for Homes Program to help them buy or build a high performance home. Many local and regional programs are also valuable resources for homebuyers.

To help with the quest to reduce the energy consumption of their homes, the Builders Challenge helps homeowners:

Understand Home Performance with the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale)

The E-Scale is a simple, easy-to-understand format that compares the energy performance of homes.

Find Builders

The Builders Challenge provides a database of builders who have joined the Builders Challenge and can build homes to a 70 or better on the E-Scale.

Learn More About Energy Performance

The way you operate your home can have a big impact on energy use. To get more out of your high performance home, visit the Energy Savers web site.