AVR Homebuilders wins National EPA Award 2nd Year in a Row

AVR Homebuilders, one of the region's leading home building companies, has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award. This is the second consecutive award for AVR Homebuilders, making it the only builder in the country to have received the Partner of the Year - New Home Builder Award in its category for both 2012 and 2013. The award recognizes AVR's commitment to protecting the environment and promoting the Energy Star program. The accomplishments of the company were recognized at the EPA's annual ceremony in Washington, D.C. The 2013 Partner of the Year award winners were selected from 20,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program. AVR Homebuilders joins a host of major national and international corporations recognized by the EPA for their contributions to the program, including PepsiCo, General Motors, Boeing, Toyota, Samsung Electronics, 3M, Sharp Electronics, Merck and Colgate-Palmolive. "The EPA recognizes AVR Homebuilders for their leadership in new home construction with Energy Star," said Bob Perciasepe, acting administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "Thanks to the work of builders like AVR Homebuilders, home buyers can find more comfortable homes that save money on energy bills and protect the environment." An Energy Star partner since 2006, AVR Homebuilders has built to date a total of 448 Energy Star-certified homes in the New York metropolitan region. "AVR takes great pride in providing extra value to our customers by building homes that earn Energy Star certification," said Mark Eickelbeck, COO of AVR Homebuilders. "Homes built to Energy Star standards are more comfortable, protect the environment, and ensure long-term savings on energy bills that we can pass onto the residents in all our communities. We see the Energy Star program as an extension to the other green building techniques and practices our company has implemented over the years, including our Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credentials for environmentally sensitive design and construction of our communities." Eickelbeck said, "AVR is, once again, greatly honored to be recognized by the U.S. EPA as one of the nation's leaders in the design and construction of energy-efficient homes that has met stringent Energy Star standards and guidelines. Being the only new home builder in the nation to win two Energy Star Partner of the Year awards in our category for 2012 and 2013 is truly a tremendous achievement for our company, and a testament to our ongoing commitment to building quality homes that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient." Recognized by the EPA for working with a "Home Energy Rater," AVR provided technical training for construction staff and subcontractors to ensure that its staff has a proper understanding of ENERGY STAR construction methods and quality controls. The EPA also lauded AVR's efforts in ensuring that its sales staff is well trained and fully versed regarding ENERGY STAR-certified homes. AVR sales personnel are trained to conduct hardhat tours of home models and to be able to point out the benefits of ENERGY STAR certified homes throughout the building process. The goals and objectives of the ENERGY STAR program are implemented throughout every phase of the design and construction process, ensuring that every home built by AVR Homebuilders includes high-efficiency features that conventionally built homes don't have. To start, the home's exterior shell is made as airtight as possible through advanced framing techniques and a combination of spray foam, rigid and batt insulation. Energy-efficient windows and doors are installed, along with additional caulking and sealing of all joints and seams. Each ENERGY STAR-certified home features high-efficiency heating and cooling systems with their own fresh air supply from the exterior, which makes a more efficient and healthier home. Other important features included in ENERGY STAR homes built by AVR are whisper-green bathroom fans in every unit to help the home breathe and ventilate to the outside, and a complete water management system to protect the roof, walls, and foundation from water damage. The home is completed with installation of the required ENERGY STAR-certified lighting and appliances. The final and crucial step in building an ENERGY STAR home is an independent energy inspection conducted by a home energy rater certified by the EPA. When a home passes inspection, the results are printed on a familiar blue ENERGY STAR sticker that is presented to each homeowner. AVR Homebuilders, a division of private real estate developer AVR Realty Company, LLC, currently has five active home development properties, all of which are located in the greater New York metropolitan area and will be built to ENERGY STAR standards: * Rivers Edge at Powell Cove Estates, the final phase of the 202-unit condominium development nearing completion on the East River waterfront in North College Point, Queens, NY. www.PowellCoveEstates.com * Overlook Pointe, a Hudson riverfront community of condominiums and town homes currently under construction in West Fishkill, NY. www.OverlookOnTheHudson.com * Southampton Meadow Estates, a planned community of 48 single-family homes on 52 acres in Southampton, NY. www.SouthamptonMeadowsEstates.com * The Meadows at Yaphank, a mixed-use master planned sustainable community with 850 residential units on 300 acres on Long Island that will include a mix of residential, retail, office/flex space, restaurants, and hotel. www.MeadowsAtYaphank.com * Hudson Landing, a mixed-use master planned community with 1,750 residential units on over 500 acres of Hudson River waterfront property in Kingston, NY. www.HudsonLanding.com