(Energy Star: Obviously needs Repeating)

In direct answer to a previous post/response by Augustaga stating that I was
misinformed, let me offer the following research as to what Energy Star is
really all about.

Misinformed? I think not!

You're talking apples and oranges here. You seem to be lumping every
manufactured home into one giant category, thus simply using Energy Star as
your comparison guideline as to whether it is a quality built home or not.
Apparently, you did not do all your home work, for Energy Star appears to be
nothing more than a marketing criteria to allow lesser quality built homes
to meet the more stringent requirements of select areas - only. In reference
to my original statement, it is indeed correct, for all it would take for a
Hallmark Home to get a Energy Star label, would simply be to upgrade an
appliance or two. That's it! Yet, common sense and logistics must prevail
here. When building a top quality home to begin with, easily exceeding all
the strictest requirements of our general sales area, why opt to pay for a
label that is actually is designed for far lesser quality built home to
appear to be a better built home, and then just for select areas only.

What are the clues (from Energy Star's own statements)?

* Energy Star Homes is a performance-based program wherein homebuilders that
can select from a variety of energy efficient practices, equipment, and
materials to construct a home that will meet ENERGY STAR's performance
guidelines.

* Although the national program does not directly offer rebates or
incentives for the purchase of ENERGY STAR qualified homes, incentives are
offered in several states.

* BOPs (Builder Option Packages) are sets of construction specifications
designed for different climate zones that will enable a home's energy
performance to qualify for the ENERGY STAR label.

On the surface, this sounds like a great program, and probably is as a way
to make a far less quality built home more competitive in select markets.
The key factor here is the term "homebuilders can select...", which simply
paints the picture of what's going on here. The bottom line appears to be,
you can take a cheaply built car, add super upgraded snow tires to meet
certain conditions, but you still have a cheaply built car.

Now, this is not to imply that an Energy Star home is not a good thing. I'm
sure it is, and may actually be necessary in certain areas and under certain
conditions. I just found it odd that virtually no one is this area, even
select factories themselves even know what this program was. The bottom line
is, I guess if a builder needs it in order to sell a home that doesn't meet
upscale conditions to begin with, then at least they can compete in select
areas. Yet, as I said before, if one have to pick and choose select upgrades
just to have a home appear to be of better quality, why not opt for a
superior built home to begin with - and on all fronts?


The bottom line is... "Energy Efficient - Hallmark Homes are 30% more energy
efficient than the Model Energy Code."


John Sisker, Chief Sales Consultant &
Manufactured Home Specialist
www.ourfamilyalbums.net

jsisker@sprynet.com
(714) 536-3850 - field/home
(714) 246-1418 - pager

Mesa Homes
12080 Beach Blvd
Stanton, CA 90680
(714) 899-0588 - office

thanks for sharing dude!
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