Southern Energy Management's new energy efficiency program for builders recognized for innovation.

MORRISVILLE, NC - Less than two months after its official launch, ecoHOME has already earned its first award. The energy efficiency program for builders by Morrisville-based Southern Energy Management took home the "Entrepreneurial Effort/Innovation Idea of the Year" at the Triangle Business Journal's 2012 Clean & Green Awards last week.

The ecoHOME program is designed to help builders simplify the method of testing and verification associated with building energy efficient homes that maximize health, comfort and energy performance. ecoHOME achieves these goals by combining common sense energy efficiency, water efficiency and indoor air quality requirements with the RESNET Home Energy Rating System (HERS). A typical ecoHOME Qualified Home will score 75 or lower on the HERS Index, meaning it is 25% more energy efficient than a house built to code. RESNET has officially endorsed the program, naming it one of just six "EnergySmart" programs nationwide.

"Getting ecoHOME up and running has been a team effort from a lot of people here. We are proud of what this program is already accomplishing," SEM Building Performance Operations Director Michael Peaden said. "To be recognized with a Clean & Green award so soon shows that we're off to a great start, and it's quite an honor for the entire building performance team."

So far, 13 builders representing close to 600 new homes a year have committed to the ecoHOME program, and nine of those builders have already completed 133 ecoHOME Qualified Homes. Southern Energy Management initially rolled out the program as a beta test for a handful of clients before officially launching ecoHOME in July.

"We immediately saw the value in the ecoHOME program, and it didn't take long for us to sign on. It's something that homeowners are able to grasp quickly," said Ned Johnson, Purchasing Manager at H&H Homes. "And as a builder, the flexibility of this program helps us build homes in the best way to achieve energy efficiency benchmarks and effectively differentiate our product in the marketplace."

For more information, visit the ecoHOME website at buildecoHOME.com. Homeowners can visit the consumer-focused ecoHOME page at getecoHOME.com. Additional certification program options offered at southern-energy.com.

Media Contact: Chris Cowperthwaite - chris@southern-energy.com or (866) 575-9151

About Southern Energy Management:
Southern Energy Management is a North Carolina-based sustainable energy company offering energy efficiency, green building and turn-key solar services for homeowners, builders, and business owners across the Southeast. A certified B Corp, SEM's two-part mission is to improve the way people make and use energy and to build a prosperous company that supports people and the planet. SEM was founded in a living room in Raleigh in 2001, and is now consistently recognized as an industry leader both locally and nationally. It is among a small handful of companies in the U.S. to earn the national 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award for being named Partner of the Year six consecutive times. SEM was named a CED NC Company to Watch in 2011 and received the 2011 City of Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award and the 2010 Green Jobs Award from SJF Institute & Green For All. For more information, visit www.southern-energy.com.