Shea Homes Partners with U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR® Program

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) June 12, 2009 -- Shea Homes is proud to announce its partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR Program. Through this partnership, Shea Homes will provide homebuyers with energy efficient new homes that save money on utility bills, offer greater comfort and better performance, and help to protect the environment.

ENERGY STAR rated homes 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. To be considered ENERGY STAR rated, all homes must include improved insulation, high-efficiency HVAC systems, high-efficiency lighting and appliances, as well as Low-E, vinyl windows. And, homes at these communities will be tested and inspected to ensure they meet the requirements. Shea Homes' ENERGY STAR rated communities are Granite Ridge and Mountain Shadows at Arroyo Mountain Estates in Litchfield Park and Entrada and Mountain View Estates at Vistancia in Peoria.

"Shea Homes continually strives to provide environmentally friendly options for our home buyers increasing the value of our homes, and reducing our reliance on the earth's natural resources," said Ken Peterson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Shea Homes. "Partnering with the EPA's ENERGY STAR program is just another way for us to enhance the lives of our home owners. Not only are these homes ENERGY STAR rated, but they go hand in hand with Shea's initiative of Superiology to build homes which are energy wiser, eco-friendlier, designed smarter and built better."

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."

About Shea Homes

Shea Homes Arizona is driven by a passion to build the finest-crafted homes and communities in America and to make dreams of home ownership come true. We care passionately about design, workmanship, customer service, and the needs and wants of our customers. In fact, Shea Homes ranks highest in customer satisfaction with new home builders in the Phoenix market, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study. Shea Homes is committed to creating neighborhoods that age gracefully and mature over time to create a community atmosphere and an enhanced quality of life for all its valued customers. More information about Shea Homes is available by visiting www.sheahomes.com/superiology or calling 480-348-6000.

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).

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