Meritage Homes, Scottsdale (NYSE:MTH) has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for the sixth year running, the company said Monday.

Meritage Homes also was recognized for the eighth year as a leader in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR for Homes Program. More than 40,000 Meritage homes have been built to exceed ENERGY STAR requirements since 2010.

“Meritage was the first national home builder to be 100 percent ENERGY STAR qualified in every home it builds and far exceeds the EPA’s standards today,” said C.R. Herro, vp of environmental affairs for Meritage Homes. “We’re committed to educating and inspiring the industry to advance building practices as we continue to raise the bar to achieve our long-term energy efficiency goals and help home owners save energy and money.”

Among Meritage Home sustainability goals last year:

• Completing more than 7,500 ENERGY STAR certified homes in 2017, which are estimated to save more than 68 million kilowatts of electricity, eliminate more than 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and reduce homeowner utility bills by about $8 million annually.
• Achieving an average Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score of 55 for all homes rated in 2017.
• Working with local utilities to demonstrate cost-effective strategies that reduce total and peak energy demand costs.
• Partnering with the EPA and Department of Energy to develop a systematic ventilation program that reduces peak energy usage, maintains better comfort, and minimizes overall energy demand.
• Designing and constructing the Renewable Living Home, a proof-of-concept home that exemplifies leading ENERGY STAR efficiency.
• “The 2018 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year have demonstrated real leadership, showing how American families and businesses can save energy, save money, and reduce air emissions,” said Bill Wehrum, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

In 2016 alone, ENERGY STAR certified products, homes, buildings, and plants helped Americans save more than $30 billion in energy costs and approximately 400 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and while achieving broad emissions reductions.