This evening, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is formally recognizing two Colorado organizations for being named Energy Star Partners of the Year. Berthoud-based EnergyLogic, along with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, are two of 72 organizations being recognized nationally in a ceremony in Washington DC.
EnergyLogic provides services, training, and software to residential builders that are constructing energy efficient homes and homeowners that are looking to make improvements. Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver builds high-quality, energy efficient homes to save low-income homeowners hundreds of dollars each year on utility costs.
Tonight’s awards ceremony comes a week before the Senate is scheduled to consider the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014, cosponsored by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. The bill includes a number of measures that promote energy efficiency.
“EnergyLogic is proud to be honored for the sixth consecutive year by the U.S. EPA with the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award,” EnergyLogic CEO Steve Byers said. “Every year, EnergyLogic pours its heart and soul into working with our deeply committed homebuilder clients to improve the efficiency, safety, and durability of new homes in Colorado. The homebuilding industry in our state is rebounding and energy efficient practices are part of that new landscape.”
“Building energy efficient homes and making energy efficient upgrades are good for business and good for our air and water,” Bennet said. “Colorado firms like EnergyLogic and Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver are leading the way and this award by the EPA and the DOE is a well-deserved and earned distinction. We need to continue to encourage these types of investments in energy efficiency.”
The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014 includes two provisions written and introduced by Bennet: the SAVE Act and the Better Buildings Act. The SAVE Act is designed to help create incentives for energy efficient construction and improvements by allowing mortgage lenders to take into account a home’s expected energy savings when determining the size of a home loan.
“It’s time for the value of energy efficiency to be recognized in the mortgage underwriting process,” Byers added. “The SAVE Act is a key piece of legislation that has broad bipartisan support – support from leading energy efficiency organizations and homebuilders alike. EnergyLogic is optimistic that the SAVE Act will be a central part of continuing Colorado’s drive to save energy by building and improving homes in a rational, revenue neutral way.”
The Better Buildings Act, also part of the 2014 Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, creates a new, voluntary “Tenant Star” certification, similar to the Energy Star certification for building owners, to recognize tenants that operate energy efficient leased spaces. It’s estimated that tenants use 50 percent or more of the energy in all commercial office buildings.