Stephen Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency to Preside Over WaterSense T Presentation Ceremony for Vanguard Homes
Posted: 11-18-2008 : CHAPEL, HILL, N.C.

Chapel Hill, NC -- On November 25th, 2008 at 1:30pm the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will recognize the Vanguard Homes’ “Sensibly Green” Concept Home as the first home in the country to be a WaterSense ™ Labeled. A press conference will be held at Vanguard Homes Concept Home, located in the community of Briar Chapel (1256 Great Ridge Parkway, Chapel Hill, NC 27516) with a reception to immediately follow.

Stephen Johnson, the 11th Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Jimmy Palmer, Region 4 Administrator, Atlanta, GA, will be special guest speakers and will speak about the WaterSense ™ New Homes Pilot Program. NC’s leading Energy Star builders, Vanguard Homes and its sister company Anderson Homes, continue to lead the way in “green” innovation by being chosen as one of only seven (7) builders in the country to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense ™ New Homes Pilot Program. Vanguard Homes’ WaterSense ™ labeled new homes be at least twenty (20) percent more water efficient than homes currently being built under traditional standards, saving homeowners more than 10,000 gallons of water per year. These homes are designed to use significantly less water inside and out, through efficient plumbing fixtures, hot water delivery, appliances, landscape design, and irrigation systems.

“This kind of WaterSense ™ label is a milestone for us as a builder and leader in the industry, and we strive to achieve that kind of excellence every day,” says Kip Guyon, President of Vanguard Homes. “It is so important to maximize home site integrity, while minimizing environmental impact”, he also added. Vanguard Homes’ WaterSense ™ labeled new home conserves water by using WaterSense ™ labeled dual flush toilets, bathroom faucets aerators and low flow high-efficiency shower heads. In addition ENERGY STAR® rated clothes washers, dishwashers, a whole house filtration system and a hot water circulation pump work in harmony to save water.

WaterSense ™ was created by the U.S. EPA in 2006 to help Americans save water for future generations. WaterSense ™ labeled new homes, while saving water resources as well as money for the homeowners; also lessen the stress on water and wastewater infrastructure systems across the country.

About Vanguard Homes – With homes uniquely tailored to the affluent lifestyles of today’s homebuyers, Vanguard Homes offers quality, efficiency and innovation in every home. Vanguard Homes focuses on conservation by building homes that utilize advanced building practices and innovative products that measurably reduce energy and water usage and ensure their homes are efficient, healthy, comfortable, and environmentally sound. The mission of Vanguard Homes is to deliver a higher quality and higher value home that reduces environmental impact over the home’s lifetime. With a strong focus on environmental stewardship, Vanguard’s communities exist in carefully selected locations designed to maximize home site integrity, while minimizing environmental impact.

As the only 2006 and 2007 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in the Carolinas, and a 2008 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award recipient, Vanguard Homes has shown they have embraced the future of green building. Vanguard Homes’ “Sensibly Green Concept Home” in Briar Chapel has also achieved gold level certification from the Green Home Builders of the Triangle and National Home Builder’s Association Green Building Standard.

For more information/education of the importance of WaterSense ™ labeled new homes by Vanguard Homes, please visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

To learn more about Vanguard Homes, visit www.VanguardHomesNC.com.