If you are a Populus client with homes enrolled in the Xcel ENERGY STAR for New Homes Rebate program, Xcel has announced new changes to the rebate program that may substantially affect your potential rebate.

For any home enrolled in the rebate program AFTER AUGUST 1, 2010, NO REBATES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CITY OF BOULDER OR BOULDER COUNTY HOMES OVER 3,000 Square Feet.  What does this mean for Populus clients?  First, if you have a home over 3,000 square feet in these jurisdictions that you would like to have enrolled in the program, please contact Populus AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to provide the information that we need to register your home.  Second, if you are building a home over 3,000 square feet that was registered prior to August 1, 2010, the current rebate levels will remain available to you only if you complete construction prior to December 15, 2010. This means that anyone building a home in the City of Boulder or Boulder County that is larger than 3,000 square feet will not be eligible to receive any rebates if you don’t complete construction before December 15, 2010 (even if you registered the home in the program before August 1st).

We understand that this change to the program may cause some of our builders not to receive rebates that they were expecting.  Unfortunately, Populus has no control over the Xcel ENERGY STAR for New Homes program and the rebate levels available to our clients (or eligibility rules governing the program).  For our clients in the City of Boulder and Boulder County who are building homes that are 3,000 square feet or below, the rebate level available will be increasing.  We will continue to update you as more information regarding these changes becomes available.

For all projects registered after August 1, 2010, the new Xcel ENERGY STAR for New Homes rebate structure will be as follows:

Interested in energy codes?  Check out this article by the Washington Post that discusses the significant effect that energy codes have in keeping housing affordable for vulnerable groups.

Are you an ENERGY STAR builder?  Find out what the new version 3 of ENERGY STAR will mean for you.  From the EPA:

With the finalization of the ENERGY STAR for Homes Version 3 Guidelines last week, EPA is writing to notify partners on how they plan to roll-out the new requirements and what training and resources will be available.

EPA is committed to ensuring that our ENERGY STAR partners are prepared to successfully implement the new guidelines. Below is a brief summary of EPA’s planned activities and implementation schedules:

Guidebooks: EPA is currently developing comprehensive guidebooks that will explain the construction details required in each of the ENERGY STAR for Homes Version 3 checklists. These guidebooks, along with accompanying PowerPoint slides, will be posted on the ENERGY STAR web site at www.energystar.gov/homes. EPA estimates that these materials will be available in early October 2010 (materials will be posted earlier, if completed).

In the interim, EPA will post narrated PowerPoint presentations on the ENERGY STAR Web site that can be used by partners to understand the key systems that will be required by the new guidelines.   We expect to post these presentations by the end of May 2010.

Rater Training: EPA will be requiring that all Home Energy Raters take ENERGY STAR for Homes Version 3 training through a RESNET-accredited Training Provider to be eligible to qualify homes under the new guidelines. EPA estimates that this will be a two-day class and will be eligible for RESNET professional development credit. Training should be available at the beginning of 2011 and Raters will be required to take the training by the end of 2011 to continue qualifying homes for ENERGY STAR under the Version 3 guidelines.

Builder Training: EPA will be requiring that all builder partners take a self-guided, online ENERGY STAR Orientation/Version 3 training. This training, estimated to take an hour to complete, will be available by the end of 2010. Builders will be required to complete the online course by the end of 2011 as a condition of continued partnership with the program.

HVAC Contractors: EPA is currently working with representatives from the HVAC industry to ensure that there are a sufficient number of HVAC contractors qualified to deliver the HVAC Quality Installation requirements of the new guidelines. Beginning in 2012, only contractors who have the requisite training and industry recognition will be eligible to install HVAC systems in ENERGY STAR qualified homes. Builder and Rater partners should encourage their HVAC contractors to ensure that they meet these minimum requirements. More details on this will be available in the coming months.

Revised Communications Materials: EPA is currently developing a new ENERGY STAR qualified homes consumer brochure and online content that will focus on the features and benefits of homes that earn the ENERGY STAR label under the Version 3 guidelines. A new sticker label will also be developed that will allow partners to identify which version of the guidelines a home was qualified under. EPA plans to have these materials available by the end of 2010.

Should you have any questions, please contact the program at: energystarhomes@energystar.gov.

Interested in learning about upcoming changes to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR for New Homes program?  Learn more by registering for these free ENERGY STAR webinars:

To register, click on the corresponding date and time below and complete the registration form.

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced that the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) along with more than 50 statewide partners has been has been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award for the second consecutive year.

Colorado’s program was selected for its success in supporting the construction of energy-efficient ENERGY STAR New Homes. These homes are typically 20 percent to 30 percent more efficient than standard homes, improving quality and comfort while reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

“Congratulations to our many outstanding statewide partners and the GEO for this award,” Gov. Ritter said. “Energy efficiency is one of the most important components of Colorado’s New Energy Economy. Building new homes that save energy and money means jobs in the efficiency industry. It also bolsters our energy security and protects our environment and climate.”

The EPA has linked significant cost and pollution savings to its ENERGY STAR program. Last year alone Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.

In 2009, the GEO partnered with more than 50 community sponsors – including local governments, non-profits, utilities, real estate professionals, homebuilders, home energy raters – on the construction of ENERGY STAR qualifying new homes. The hard work of partnering organizations has made the program successful across Colorado.

“Chaffee County is really benefiting from its partnership in the ENERGY STAR program.  Due to the support from the Governor’s Energy Office many of our new homes are being built to ENERGY STAR standards,” said Kathryn Wadsworth, Chaffee County ENERGY STAR Coordinator. “Chaffee County is committed to energy efficiency and conservation efforts and the ENERGY STAR New Home program is helping us meet that goal.”

The work of GEO and its partners resulted in 2,350 new homes in Colorado earning the ENERGY STAR label in 2009, making for a record of nearly 33 percent market share of all new home construction – and up dramatically from 8 percent in 2006. The GEO also helped register more than 70 new Colorado ENERGY STAR New Homebuilders in 2009, pushing the total of qualified ENERGY STAR homebuilders to more than 356 in the state.

Other accomplishments the EPA considered in its ENERGY STAR award to the GEO and its Colorado partners:

• The GEO and partners presented more than 57 ENERGY STAR trainings to more than 1,880 Colorado building industry professionals.

• Highlights of Colorado’s efforts include grants from GEO totaling $248,500 for training, education and promotional efforts statewide.

• The program established 11 regional ENERGY STAR New Homes Programs in Colorado, supported by 54 local sponsors, including cities, counties, utilities and nonprofits.

“The GEO and its partners are leading the way in creating and implementing solutions to climate change through greater energy efficiency,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “The Colorado program has helped its customers understand how they can help protect our environment while saving energy and money.”

The ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

For additional information, visit www.coloradoenergystarhomes.com/