Evergreen Insulation Partners Evergreen Insulation is proud to partner with the following organizations that share our passion for building quality homes that are environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. To learn more, check out the links and information below:   EarthCraft House EarthCraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship. Building an EarthCraft House is about constructing a healthy, more valuable home while minimizing environmental impacts. EarthCraft House follows a systems approach to home building that stresses an understanding of how the different components of a home work together. This approach results in a home that performs better, is more economical for the homeowner and costs little more to build than a comparable home built with standard construction practices. Today's home buyers want to get the most house for their money. In addition to paying a monthly mortgage, home owners must also pay for utilities, maintenance and repair. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when determining the true cost of home ownership. (http://www.earthcrafthouse.com/About/about.htm)   Energy Star Making your home more energy efficient with ENERGY STAR can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. Improving energy efficiency is also an important first step for homeowners interested in green remodeling. Sealing and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home - its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors - is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. ENERGY STAR estimates that a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating. Evergreen Insulation uses products approved by ENERGY STAR. (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing.hm_improvement_sealing) GREENGUARD The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM. As an ANSI Authorized Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings. GEI's mission is to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. The GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM is an industry-independent, third-party testing program for low-emitting products and materials. All GREENGUARD Certified products are listed in the GREENGUARD Online Product Guide, which features products that are regularly tested to ensure that their chemical and particle emissions meet acceptable IAQ pollutant guidelines and standards. GREENGUARD Certification is a voluntary program available to all manufacturers and their suppliers. (http://www.greenguard.org/Default.aspx?tabid=22) Additional Resources Ready to learn more about building better and building green? Click on the links below for more information and learn how you can build better for your family and for the environment: The Green Home Guide - From the U.S. Green Building Council Guide to Home Energy Savings - American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Health House - From the American Lung Association Home Energy Calculator - Calculate your home's energy costs from AEP Home Lighting Calculator - Calculate your home lighting costs from AEP