The Christopher Companies earns award for building new homes that advance energy efficiency in the new construction industry
OAKTON, Va. – The Christopher Companies is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with as a 2014 ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Market Leader. This award recognizes the important contribution The Christopher Companies has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 75 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2013. Collectively, these homes will save homeowners approximately $23,100 on utility bills and reduce 286,748 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR certified homes are equivalent to the greenhouse gases:
- Produced by 27 passenger vehicles annually;
- Emitted from burning 139,755 lbs of coal; and
- Saved by planting and growing 3,311 coniferous trees, such as pine or spruce, for ten years.
To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that require an integrated approach to design combined with tried-and-true best building practices. These 2homes then undergo third-party verification of energy performance and are up to 30% more efficient than typical new homes built today.
“It is an honor and privilege to be among the industry leaders in producing quality, comfortable, energy efficient homes to families who can enjoy them for generations to come,” said David Kettner, project manager at The Christopher Companies.
ENERGY STAR certified homes offer homebuyers a new home that is built better from the ground up, and include value-adding energy efficiency features and a combination of materials and equipment that deliver better performance. Features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, and energy-efficient lighting and appliances all add up to better comfort, better durability, and reduced utility and maintenance costs.
“ENERGY STAR partners provide new homes that are designed and built to standards well above most others on the market today” said Jonathan Passe, Director of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. “Because ENERGY STAR certified homes undergo rigorous independent inspections and testing, homebuyers who choose ENERGY STAR can be confident that their new home will offer real energy efficiency, comfort, durability, and value for years to come.”
Together, families living in ENERGY STAR certified homes saved $558 million on their utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 643,000 vehicles last year alone. More than 90,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines in 2013, and more than 1.5 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built.
About The Christopher Companies
Christopher Companies was founded in 1974 as a design-conscious builder/developer with operations in Northern Virginia and the Tidewater area of Virginia. Since then, we’ve expanded to build in prime locations across Arlington, Reston, Fairfax, Prince William County, Caroline County, Loudoun County in Virginia and Sussex County in Delaware, and have fulfilled the dreams of over 4,400 satisfied homebuyers. Our diverse portfolio of offerings includes single-family homes, town homes, residential condominiums, apartments, office condominiums and mixed use properties.
About ENERGY STAR
Products, homes and buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements set by the U.S. EPA. In 2013 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved more than $30 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use from 38 million homes. Since 1992, the ENERGY STAR program has supported efforts to find innovative solutions for reducing GHG emissions, and the ENERGY STAR label can now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more than 4.8 billion sold over the past 21 years. Over 1.5 million new homes and 23,000 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR label.
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