Monday, May 18th, 2009

Benchmark Homes Inc IS RECOGNIZED WITH A 2009
ENERGY STAR® LEADERSHIP IN HOUSING AWARD

Benchmark Homes Inc. earns award for building new homes that protect the environment and save money through energy efficiency 

Mobile, Alabama – Benchmark Homes Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2009 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award.  This award recognizes the important contribution Benchmark Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building 224 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year.  Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $90,000 on utility bills each year.

The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equal to the equivalent of:

• Eliminating the emissions from 110 vehicles;
• Saving 663,936 lbs of coal;
• Planting 181 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment 1,302,112 pounds of CO2 per year.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

“We are proud to build Energy Star rated homes and have found the extra effort that goes into building Energy Star homes to be well worth it to us, and more importantly to our customers”, says President Robb Cunningham.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.

“Most homebuyers focus on what's outside the walls,” said Sam Rashkin, National Director for EPA's ENERGY STAR Homes Program, “but they also need to look behind the walls for the energy-efficient features found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes that help ensure comfort, quiet, improved indoor air quality, and low utility bills for years to come.”

Benchmark Homes Inc. has been in business since 1989 and builds homes in South Alabama and Mississippi.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).