Local Builder Opens Region’s First ENERGY STAR Subdivision

With Three New Energy Efficient Homes Already Underway

Only “Good Intentions” of Government Stand in the Way Now


SPRINGFIELD – Springfield home builder Richland Homes this week will unveil its plans for the area’s first 100% ENERGY STAR subdivision, with three ENERGY STAR homes already underway. Richland Homes owner Brian Willaby will be joined by representatives of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield, Meek’s, and suppliers and subcontractors who are working together to build highly efficient new homes at an affordable price in Pearson Park subdivision in northeast Springfield.

The project illustrates two important newsworthy points:

  1. New home construction has a heartbeat. Most of the news about home building hasn’t been positive in recent years, but here is a vibrant new subdivision with three quality new homes having broken ground in the last month.
  1. Green Building doesn’t have to break the bank. Homes built to the ENERGY STAR standard will save anywhere from 15% to 50% on monthly utility bills, compared to homes of similar size built to minimum building codes. Meanwhile, the high-quality ENERGY STAR homes built in Pearson Park sell for competitive prices, beginning at $189,900. On a price-per-square-foot basis, these homes are priced comparably to non-ENERGY STAR homes. And these homes actually pay their owners back each month in lower utility bills.
  1. The free market holds the key to going green. As the U.S. Senate prepares to take up “Cap and Trade” legislation (the House already has approved the bill), projects like this one illustrate that the best innovation originates in the private sector. For all the good intentions of the federal government, the legislation would cripple positive, market-based green efforts like this one, and put off any hopes of an impending invigorated housing sector and overall economic recovery. Costly and unnecessary regulations imposed by the federal government on new and existing housing, paired with the skyrocketing utility rates the bill would spark, would price homeownership out of the reach of millions of Americans. That means more new and efficient homes like the ones in Pearson Park simply won’t be built at all.

The media availability and news conference will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 18 at the site of three new homes that are under construction in Pearson Park subdivision. Members of the media are invited to attend the news conference, interview those involved, and tour the homes.

  • WHO: Brian Willaby (Richland Homes); Matt Morrow (HBA of Greater Springfield); Michael Meek (Meek’s); Key subcontractors, suppliers and trades responsible for the green components of ENERGY STAR homes.
  • WHAT: News Conference & Media Availability
  • WHEN: FRIDAY, September 18 at 12 noon
  • WHERE: Pearson Park subdivisionThe area’s first ENERGY STAR subdivision
  • DIRECTIONS: Take Division (YY) 2.5 miles east of Hwy 65 to Farm Road 203, Left ½ mile on the right. Directions info: Tom Barr (894-4799)

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are third-party certified to perform more efficiently than standard new home construction. ENERGY STAR is one of the most widely recognized and accepted green building programs in the U.S. ENERGY STAR homes often include a variety of “tried-and-true” energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution. To learn more about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov .

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