LG&E and KU Recognize 2011 Top-Performing Program Partners

A competitive trend is growing among local builders in Kentucky to earn the ENERGY STAR^®-qualified accreditation and construct more energy-efficient homes.

Louisville Gas & Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company recently recognized the best-of-the-best within the companies' service territories during the Midwest Regional ENERGY STAR^® Conference held in Lexington. The utilities honored eight local builders and three home energy raters for their outstanding contributions to the local ENERGY STAR^®-qualified housing market and "excellence in energy efficiency" in 2011.

The utilities recognized three builders and two HERS raters for introducing the most homes with at least a 25-percent efficiency code or higher into the LG&E and KU service territories in 2011.

The winners in each category are:

• Chris Zitelli of Ecos Materials and Services
  HERS Rater, Multi-Family Homes, LG&E and KU


• Eric George of The Building Performance Group
  HERS Rater, Single & Multi-Single Family Homes,LG&E and KU


• Design Build Partners
  Builder Partner, Multi-family Homes, LG&E


• Renzo Construction, LLC
  Builder Partner, Single & Multi-Single Family Homes, LG&E


• Ball Homes
  Builder Partner, Single & Multi-Single Family Homes, KU

In addition, the utilities also recognized five builders and one HERS rater for having the most energy-efficient, highest performing ENERGY STAR^®-qualified homes available on the market in the LG&E and KU service territories.

The winners in the "Best Scoring Home" category are:

• Shawn Purcell of MetroFirst, LLC
  HERS Rater, LG&E and KU


• Dominion Homes
  Production Builder, LG&E


• Design Build Partners
  Multi-Family Builder Partner, LG&E


• Kimbel Construction Inc.
  Custom Builder, LG&E


• Barlow Homes/Commonwealth Designs
  Production Builder, KU


• Coulter Building Corporation
  Custom Builder, KU

Since February 2009, more than 2,300 homes ENERGY STAR^®-qualified homes have been built within the LG&E and KU service territories. The estimated energy savings achieved through more efficient construction standards from 2,400 homes are the equivalent of planting 1,944 acres of trees and reducing 14 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year.