Merrick said she was pleasantly surprised when she received the first electric bill for her new home.

"With my new energy-efficient home, my electric bill was significantly less than what I anticipated. I can truly say I am not disappointed with my decision to purchase an Energy Star home."

In addition to the monetary benefits, Merrick said she was also impressed with the environmental benefits of owning a certified energy-efficient home.

"I have always been concerned with saving natural resources and want to do my part to conserve energy, so Energy Star seemed like an easy choice," she said.

Concordia Homes is a member of Nevada Energy Star Partners, a coalition of Southern Nevada home builders, developers, retailers, mortgage providers, energy consultants and local utilities promoting energy conservation. Energy Star-rated homes meet building guidelines for energy efficiency set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Energy Star-qualified homes can include a variety of energy-efficient features, such as effective insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and Energy Star-qualified lighting and appliances.

These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, in addition to lowering energy demand and reducing air pollution, according to Energy Star representatives.

Energy Star, the national U.S. government symbol for energy efficiency, was created by the EPA originally for energy-conserving computers in 1992 and is now jointly implemented with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Since its origins, the program has been expanded to include more than 40 product categories that conserve energy and protect the environment.