RESNET and Lennar Enter Into Agreement to Label Energy Efficiency of Homes

Oct. 10, 2011
The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) and Lennar, one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes, today announced that they have entered into an agreement to include RESNET’s Home Energy Ratings System (HERS) Index as part of Lennar’s Everything’s Included program.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. - The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) and Lennar, one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes, today announced that they have entered into an agreement to include RESNET’s Home Energy Ratings System (HERS) Index as part of Lennar’s Everything’s Included program.

The HERS Index, a nationally recognized standard for measuring home energy performance, operates much like the MPG rating for automobiles. Recognized by the federal government and private industry, the HERS Index has been used to monitor and calculate energy efficiency for more than 1 million homes across the country.

Under the HERS program, Lennar will include a label that indicates the energy efficiency of the home in comparison to a typical existing home, as determined by the U.S. Department of Energy. Lennar also will provide an estimate of how much money homebuyers can save on annual utility bills. Excluding mortgage payments, one of the highest costs of home ownership is energy.

“Smart consumers examine the HERS Index to determine a home’s energy efficiency before buying, much like checking the MPG sticker on a car,” said Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET. “We are thrilled to be working with Lennar, already the nation’s leading builder of solar homes, and its continued leadership in advancing the energy efficiency objectives of the nation.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home built today is at least 30 percent more efficient than the average existing home.

David J. Kaiserman, president of Lennar Ventures and chairman of RESNET Housing Industry Advisory Council, said homebuilders view energy savings as another benefit of buying a new home today. “Energy efficiency is top of mind for home purchasers and RESNET and its HERS Index have long been the industry’s dominant standard,” Kaiserman said. “Lennar is very excited to be working with RESNET to help demystify the complexities of energy efficiency ratings by promoting the HERS Index.”

About RESNET:

RESNET was founded in 1995 as an independent, non-profit organization to help homeowners reduce the cost of their utility bills by making homes more energy efficient. As well as developing the HERS Index, RESNET is responsible for the national training and certification standards for rating energy efficiency. Those standards are recognized by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. mortgage industry. In order to qualify as a certified RESNET rater, home energy professionals must first complete the rigorous training and testing required and agree to abide by the RESNET Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. RESNET certified home energy raters have rated more than a million homes since 1995. For more information, go to www.resnet.us

About Lennar:

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. The Company builds affordable, move-up and retirement homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides primarily mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of the Company's homes and others. Lennar's Rialto Investments segment is focused on distressed real estate asset investments, asset management and workout strategies. Previous press releases and further information about the Company may be obtained at the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website, www.lennar.com.


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