Construction of energy efficient new homes is the most cost-effective way of achieving an energy efficient housing stock over the course of time. The Energy Office is involved in a number of activities to encourage energy efficient new construction, including promoting the use of effective energy building codes, high energy efficiency rating systems, and other activities and publications, including a manual on passive solar construction.
The Energy Office maintains a list of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) (PDF) that is not vendor specific but the ECMs are known to reduce energy consumption independently or as part of a system with efficiency optimized. All purchases of Appliances and Commercial Equipment must meet or exceed the minimum federal standards for energy efficiency, which can be found on the US Department of Energy website and at EnergyStar.
Be sure that all products and projects meet or exceed the provisions of 2009 IECC.
Several programs are available for builders desiring official certification of energy efficient design and construction, such as EarthCraft House and ENERGY STAR-certified homes.
EarthCraft House
EarthCraft House is a creation of Southface Energy Institute. In South Carolina, EarthCraft is promoted through a partnership among the Energy Office, Trident Home Builders Association, the Greenville Home Builders Association, and others.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
The Energy Office promotes energy-efficient design through the national Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The Energy Office helped to establish the South Carolina Chapter of the US Green Building Council.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary design and assessment tool that helps architects, engineering, and construction professionals improve building efficiency and measure the sustainability of their projects.
Members of the US Green Building Council (USGBC), representing all segments of the building industry have developed LEED certification.
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR-qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. The Green Building Initiative's Green Globes Program also facilitates third-party certification of energy-efficient homes and is the basis for the Columbia Association of Homebuilder's green building program.