Thursday, May 13, 2010


Excellence in ENERGY STAR® Promotion Award

On Top of the World Communities has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the 2010 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award for its energy-efficient homes and consumer-education programs. Moreover, On Top of the World Communities was the only Florida builder and one of just six home builders across the country to be so honored at recent ceremonies in Washington, D.C. Winners were selected from more than 17,000 companies and organizations nationwide.

According to the EPA, On Top of the World Communities was selected “for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by educating new home buyers about the value of choosing an ENERGY STAR-qualified home.” All On Top of the World homes are steel-reinforced concrete block construction, and every home meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR guidelines ... verified by independent inspectors. And On Top of the World is Florida’s first active-adult community to receive 100 percent ENERGY STAR qualification on all new homes.

One example of On Top of the World’s continued commitment to this effort was last year’s decision by company officials to offer a solar-power option on every new home it builds. In fact, one home in the community's new model-home center – the 2,324-square-foot Huntley II – features solar panels as a secondary source of energy that saves as much as 75 percent on monthly energy bills. An average ENERGY STAR qualified home receives a Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) score of 85 or below. The Huntley II model received a remarkably low HERS of 18. That’s a lot of energy savings! In addition to introducing the solar model, the company hosted an “It’s So Easy Being Green” consumer expo last fall where home buyers could speak directly with building industry vendors about how their products and services support the ENERGY STAR program.

In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of our homes, building energy-efficient homes also makes for happy homeowners:

"For years we have been ENERGY STAR® advocates. Once we decided to retire, we searched for the perfect place that would afford us beautiful weather, friendly neighbors and the perfect energy efficient home. We went online to www.energystar.gov and clicked on our state of choice, and found On Top of the World Communities. We wanted a well constructed home with low carrying costs and a home that was certified energy efficient. At On Top of the World Communities, we found all that and more." - Joseph and Linda Patanella

The EPA reports that last year alone, Americans ... with the help of ENERGY STAR ... saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to what is produced by 30 million vehicles.