Meritage Homes Awarded EPA's Prestigious 2011 ENERGY STAR Partner Of The Year

PHOENIX, March 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH) has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's coveted ENERGY STAR™ 2011 Partner of the Year Award for leading the industry in reducing energy use in its innovative, high-performance homes.

The company will be honored at an awards ceremony on April 12 in Washington, D.C.

Since January 2010, Meritage has been opening extreme energy-efficient communities that surpass ENERGY STAR guidelines throughout the western and southern United States. It was the first large national homebuilder to earn the EPA's ENERGY STAR seal of approval on every home it has built since then. Homes in these communities integrate advanced technologies into their design and building from the ground up.

Meritage's advanced building technologies range from cutting-edge renewable energy features and a sophisticated water management system to a redesigned "building envelope," with polyurethane spray foam that bonds to wood to create tighter overall construction and improved air quality.

Meritage also uses Low-E coatings on windows that reduce energy loss by as much as 50 percent over regular windows. Together, these technologies can save homeowners up to 80 percent on their home energy use, compared to standard new homes.

"With unprecedented energy savings and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, Meritage has set a new standard for homes across the country," said Sam Rashkin, national director, ENERGY STAR for Homes at the EPA.

To earn the ENERGY STAR award, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the EPA and be at least 15 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). A third-party certified home energy rater must perform an independent audit and verification to ensure that a home meets ENERGY STAR guidelines.

"Meritage Green is part of our company's vision to set a new standard in the way homes in America can and should be built," said Steve Hilton, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "We want to enrich our customers' lives with sustainable homes that not only save them energy, but also improve their quality of life."