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Comprehensive Plan Housing Element <br />• Economic Benefits <br />o Reduces operating costs <br />o Creates, expands, and shapes markets for green produce and services <br />o Improves occupant productivity <br />o Optimizes life -cycle economic performance <br />• Social Benefits <br />o Enhances occupant comfort and health <br />o Heightens aesthetic qualities <br />o Minimizes strain on local infrastructure <br />o Improves overall quality of life <br />To promote energy efficiency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides several programs. <br />These programs are: <br />EPA and U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star® program. This <br />program promotes partnerships with homebuilders, office building <br />managers, product manufacturers, and many other organizations to <br />improve the energy efficiency of homes, buildings, and various building <br />components and appliances. <br />o Energy Star for New Homes is a partnership focused on new <br />home construction <br />o Energy Star for Home Improvement provides information and <br />resources for energy-efficient home renovation <br />o Energy Star for Business is a program to help businesses <br />improve their buildings' energy performance <br />• EPA's Green Power Partnership. This program provides information <br />about renewable power sources, the benefits of using them, and how to <br />participate in the Partnership. <br />• EPA's Heat Island Reduction Initiative. This program works with <br />communities and other partners to reduce the heat island effect caused <br />by urban patterns of development. <br />o Cool Roofs provides information about energy saving roofs <br />o Green Roofs provides information about water and energy <br />saving vegetated roofs <br />22 <br />Community Development Department Indian River County <br />