Monique O'Grady: If you are buying a new home, look for the ENERGY STAR label, because homes can be ENERGY STAR rated just like your appliances. Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified home are 20 to 30% more energy efficient on average, lowering home energy builds by $200 to $400 a year. Since the average family lives in a home for almost 8 years, that can add up to thousands of dollars in savings. And if you finance your home with an ENERGY STAR mortgage you can save even more. Now you may be asking yourself, how does a home get this prestigious label? When built, a home needs to have high performing windows, effective insulation systems, tight constructions and ducts, energy efficient heating and cooling equipment, lighting and appliances, and verification by an home energy rater, adding up to huge energy and money savings. And these improvements also lead to better protection against heat, cold, droughts, moisture, pollution and noise. You also see consistent temperatures across rooms, improved indoor air quality and better home durability. If you are looking for an ENERGY STAR rated home, there are over one million certified homes in United States and over 8500 home builders have partnered with ENERGY STAR. To find one near you, use the new homes partner locater map on the ENERGY STAR website. So, when you look for a new home or decide to get a new home built, think about getting one that is certified to save energy and money.