5 SIMPLE ENERGY-EFFICIENT TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE CHILLY HOLIDAYS

1. Save gas by bundling your errands! Make a list and plan your trips. Head towards where you need to go and purchase as many products as possible the first time - instead of going back and forth to the store and wasting the gas because you forgot one thing.

2. To maximize holiday energy savings, use timers to limit light displays to the hours you want. These timers are readily available and also save you the hassle of running around at dusk plugging in or turning on lights.

3. Use LED lights, which look the same as traditional incandescent bulbs, last longer, use about 85 percent less energy and stay cool to the touch, which is safer for those families with curious younger children. The lights are fairly inexpensive in the long run - a strand of 60 Philips LED dome string multi-color twinkle lights uses up to 88 percent less energy and lasts up to 20 times longer than standard bulbs.

4. Americans generate millions of additional trash over the holidays that requires additional energy to process. Try to be creative about wrapping presents-use linens or other reusable items instead. If you need wrapping paper, be sure to use recycled. Rather than using new tissue paper to wrap ornaments and things you don't want to break, reuse the bubble wrap and wrapping paper that your family's gifts arrived in.

5. Cut your heating bills and stay warmer by sealing air leaks. Make sure your fireplace damper is closed, or better yet, install an inflatable chimney balloon that seals off leaks. Check to ensure your windows are all sealed tight. Mount storm windows. Weatherstrip doors and the attic access hatch.

What is the difference between Built Green® Colorado and ENERGY STAR®?

Built Green Colorado, is a voluntary industry-led program created through the joint efforts of the HBA of Metro Denver, The Governor’s office of Energy Management and Conservation, Xcel Energy, and E-Star Colorado. While Energy Star and Built Green have the same energy efficiency minimum requirement – 15% above IECC 2006 – Built Green is a “green building” program, not just an energy efficiency program. The Built Green Checklist provides builders a flexible approach to building homes that provide greater energy efficiency and comfort, have improved indoor air quality, save water, preserve natural resources, and have improved durability and reduced maintenance needs. Homes are verified for compliance on a random basis by third-party verifiers.

Energy Star is a voluntary government-backed program that focuses on improved energy efficiency. New homes earn the Energy Star designation by meeting energy efficiency guidelines outlined by the U.S. EPA. The guidelines are set to exceed the IECC 2006 by 15%. Energy Star’s primary focus is on energy efficiency. Homes must be verified for compliance by third-party verifiers.

Energy Star and Built Green are compatible programs; participation in one does not exclude participation in the other. A builder can fulfill the 2007 Built Green Checklist Energy Requirement by meeting the requirements of Energy Star, and then make selections from the Checklist to address the additional components relative to IAQ, water and resource conservation, durability and reduced maintenance. Both Built Green and Energy Star use the same third-party verifiers to conduct inspections, including an insulation inspection, and blower door and duct pressurization tests. Built Green home inspections also include documentation and/or visual inspection to verify compliance with the Built Green Checklist. Please see the “List of Approved Raters” at: http://builtgreen.org/directory/raters.aspx, to select a HERS rater to complete these inspections.