Fox Energy Specialists Is Recognized With a 2010 ENERGY STAR(R) Leadership in Housing Award

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Energy Specialists, a division of The Nelrod Company, is pleased to announce that it was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2010 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award.  This award recognizes the important contribution Fox Energy Specialists made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by verifying more than 2800 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $1,261,434 on utility bills each year.

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

• Eliminating the emissions from 1383 vehicles;
• Saving 8,364,408 lbs of coal;
• Planting 2,286 trees; or
• Saving the environment 16,404,286 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 happy to win an EPA award for the seventh year in a row.  We have certified over 40,000 homes in the last eight years. It pleases us to be able to collectively save our clients over $17 million dollars annually in utility bills while helping the environment.  Our patented energy testing process takes the guess work out of energy efficiency projects.  We know it really works," says Nelson Rodriguez, President/CEO.

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."

More than one million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, families living in ENERGY STAR qualified homes will save more than $270 million this year on their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 370,000 vehicles.

About Fox Energy Specialists

Fox Energy Specialists is accredited to provide certified energy testing services in all 50 states.  Fox offers energy testing and inspection services for residential, commercial, and government clients and participates in ENERGY STAR, Green Building, LEED, IECC, and other programs. The principal office is located in Fort Worth, Texas with additional offices in Houston and Washington D.C. areas.  For additional information visit www.foxenergyspecialists.com or call 1-866-448-0961.

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 17,000 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).

SOURCE Fox Energy Specialists