Astoria Homes Incorporates ENERGY STAR and
ComfortWise in Their New Homes

Award winning builder Astoria Homes has incorporated the energy efficient program, ENERGY STAR® by ComfortWise™, into several of their communities. Auburn Hills and Canyon Trails in Rhode Ranch, Stonegate Encore in Silverado Ranch, and Ironwood in Centennial Hills will now offer the program.

Astoria Homes has been searching for several years now to find an appropriate business partnership to offer more to their homeowners and potential homebuyers. It was simple for Astoria Homes to implement the construction requirements necessary in order to certify the homes Energy Star®

"Because of the way Astoria Homes builds their houses, quality is not an issue. Review of the HVAC engineering, spectrally selective glass, along with rough and final inspections were the only items deemed necessary to start the ComfortWise program," says Phil Mester, ComfortWise Energy Efficient Home Program.

The fundamental features needed for the ENERGY STAR certification include: engineered HVAC design, tight ducts, spectrally selective glass, inspection and diagnostics, and a Home Energy Rating. A recent study found that a home's value increases $20 for every $1 in reduction in an average utility bill. The Energy Star homes have a 5 star rating (a score of 86 or better on a Home Lender Report) compared to homes that are Model Energy Code compliant with a 4 star rating (a score of 80).

"You will see more homes change to this type of energy efficiency, especially since the California Energy Shortage and Nevada's increasing energy costs," replies Mestler.

The ENERGY STAR by ComfortWise program is guaranteed for life. Homeowners will experience a quieter home due to sealing process, less dust, lower heating and cooling costs, better air distribution, and less fabric, carpet and artwork fading.

Astoria Homes is proud to announce this partnership with ENERGY STAR by ComfortWise for their new homes, but would also like to point out the quality construction Astoria Homes is known for and has been doing prior to the ENERGY STAR program: caulking around window, doors, and points where the 2 x 4's meet to reduce air infiltration, the assurance of an R13, R19 or R30 rating for installation of insulation, vinyl frame windows to reduce heat gain, and tight ducts using mastic (a "heavy caulk" like product, gray in color, used to seal all ducts connections and joints) to reduce air leakage into the attic spaces.