GPU Energy, an affiliate of FirstEnergy Corp., in coordination with other New Jersey electric and gas utility companies, announced plans for a comprehensive promotional campaign for the New Jersey Energy Star Homes program, the first statewide, fuel-neutral, residential new home construction program.
The campaign is designed to raise public awareness of the program benefits, encourage new home builder participation and stimulate demand for energy-efficient homes in New Jersey.
A part of the larger U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star program, New Jersey Energy Star Homes promotes the construction of energy efficient homes, which, they say, benefits the environment and lowers customers’ energy costs. New Jersey adopted the program and requires all electric and gas utility companies to participate.
In 2001, GPU Energy, PSE&G, Conectiv Power Delivery, NUI/Elizabeth-town Gas, New Jersey Natural Gas, Rockland Electric Co. and South Jersey Gas Co. collaborated on the development of statewide guidelines and incentive levels for the New Jersey Energy Star Homes program.
The program is available to all builders and developers of single- and multi-family residential structures that are individually metered for heating and cooling, and are on a residential utility rate. To promote builder enrollment, GPU Energy and the other participating utilities provide a wide range of resources and benefits such as financial incentives, training, technical and marketing support. The utilities also provide independent, third-party quality control inspections as well as a performance test of each home by a certified Home Energy Rater. An Energy Star home is certified on a point basis and is recognized by the EPA to be at least 30 percent more energy efficient than a standard home.
In addition to energy cost savings and environmental benefits, the advantages of the program include higher-quality construction, improved indoor air quality, less noise, all-season comfort and opportunities for special mortgages.
For additional information on the New Jersey Energy Star Homes Program, call the GPU Energy Conservation Center at 1-800-823-6462. Information on program enrollment, benefits, guidelines, upgrades and energy efficient building practices are available in detail at the New Jersey Energy Star Homes Web site, www.njenergystarhomes.com or upon request at 1-866-ESTAR-NJ.
FirstEnergy, which merged with GPU Inc. in November, is a registered public utility holding company headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
FirstEnergy’s electric utility operating companies and Jersey Central Power & Light – comprise the nation’s fourth largest investor-owned electric system, based on serving 4.3 million customers within a 32,100-square-mile area that stretches from the Ohio-Indiana border to the New Jersey shore.