ATLANTA, GA — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently dedicated the “I Have a Dream House,” an energy-efficient and environmentally responsible home here in Atlanta. The house is a few blocks away from the boyhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. According to DOE tests, the home will use 75% less energy for heating and cooling than a comparable home in the Atlanta area.

“This event showcases how the department and its building industry partners are helping change the way home builders design and construct the American home,” said David Garman, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “This house will only cost the new owners about $300 a year to heat and cool, yet its construction costs are comparable to a conventional home.”

The 1,565-sq-ft home is certified under the Energy Star homes program. Its design is based on the whole-house systems engineering approach. The walls, roof, and floor are structural insulated panels (SIPs), factory-built, energy-efficient walls with foam insulation. The home also features Energy Star-qualified windows, tightly sealed ductwork, and a high-efficiency air conditioner for further energy savings.