The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) earned its fourth ENERGY STAR Award for the National Housing Center, its Washington, D.C.-based headquarters.
The award recognizes buildings that conserve natural resources, while providing a comfortable and healthy environment for employees and visitors.
The building was expanded and renovated in 2001, and Transwestern, the Housing Center's property manager, continues to fine-tune the details of the original energy-efficient construction project.
"This year, the improvements included at least two measures that consumers can try at home," says NAHB Executive VP Jerry Howard.
"We continue to replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs, which use two-thirds of the energy and last 10 times longer.
"We have also installed more motion detectors in little-used rooms rather than leave the lights on when they aren't in use."
Transwestern also regularly inspects and maintains the heating and air conditioning systems in the building, optimizing performance and prolonging its life, Howard said.