April 19, 2006 – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Acting Director Robert W. Swanson today announced that five Michigan builders have been awarded grants from the Energy Star Home Grant Program to construct energy-efficient houses.

"With rising utility costs, this energy program is a great way to educate home builders and buyers about the latest technology and energy-efficient products," Granholm said.

Swanson presented the grants on April 19 at Urban Options Energy & Environmental Demonstration House in East Lansing to each of the five selected builders.  The recipients are:

• Timm Construction Company, Alpena – Project Location: Alpena. Grant: $6,100
  
  
• Bazzani Associates, Grand Rapids – Project Location: Grand Rapids. Grant: $6,910
  
  
• Cobblestone Homes, Linwood – Project Location: Linwood Area, North of Bay City. Grant: $7,975
  
  
• Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, Kalamazoo – Project Location: Kalamazoo. Grant: $6,540
  
  
• G. Mack - Builder, Morrice – Project Location: Perry. Grant: $8,000

Builders compete for the U.S. Department of Energy funded grants based on energy-efficiency, marketing plans and innovations.  Rated by the DLEG Energy Office on a scale of 1-5 stars, each house required a Five Star rating based on a National Home Energy Rating System to be eligible for the grants.  Home energy ratings help buyers identify energy efficient homes as well as understand energy costs and how to lower them.

Some of the innovative energy-saving features of the five houses include: geothermal heating and cooling, advanced framing, energy recovery ventilators, insulating drainage panels and Energy Star rated appliances and lighting.

The homes will be marketed through websites, presentations to associations, special displays at the sites, tours for students, area home builder's shows, open houses and Parade of Home showcases.

"Builders and consumers are becoming increasingly interested in energy-efficient products with each year we present these grants," Swanson said. "It's been our experience that energy-efficient products pay for themselves and then some with the money they save in future utility bills."

For more information, visit the Energy Office website at: http://www.michigan.gov/energyoffice.