January 09, 2009 – Herndon, VA: The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) is the number two EnergyStar rater in the state of Georgia based on number of homes rated. IBTS is also ranked in the top 16 percent nationally.
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designed to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The Designed to Earn the Energy Star program is an EPA-sponsored partnership which requires that home plans be reviewed and verified by a Home Energy Rater to meet the standard.
IBTS became an Energy Star Partner as a certified home energy rater in 2007. As an Energy Star Partner, IBTS agrees to promote the Energy Star Brand and rate at least one Energy Star-labeled home per year.
In 2007, IBTS rated 22 homes. Latest EPA figures credit IBTS with rating 558 homes nationally for the quarter that ended September 30, 2008. These figures are expected to jump dramatically as IBTS begins rating homes for clients at Andrews Air Force Base and MacDill Air Force Base, while continuing to conduct ratings for more than 2,000 homes at Fort Benning.
IBTS brings a non-biased, integrated approach to home energy rating.
“Because IBTS is not affiliated with any green building product, our approach to energy home rating is completely objective,” explained Kevin Powell, IBTS Deputy Program Manager for Energy, LEED, and Environmental Services. “In addition, whenever possible, we connect our home energy rating work with our plan review and building code inspection functions which views home construction as an integrated system.”
IBTS is also beginning to work with local governments to serve as a non-biased evaluator of green building programs as they develop local green building policies.
“The rapid growth in IBTS’s work as a home energy rater is part of our continuing commitment to supporting energy efficiency in the built environment,” said Ashok Goswami, Chief Executive Officer of IBTS. “We will continue to use our expertise in home energy rating, green building code inspections, plan review, and smart growth to pursue strategies that will ensure a sustainable future.”
Press Contact:
Karen Johnson
Market Engagement Program Director
kjohnson@ibts.org
