FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2006	CONTACTS: John Keith 720.219.2001 johnk@harvardcommunities.com
Harvard Communities Awarded Prestigious "Rising Star"
Harvard Communities was awarded the prestigious "Rising Star" award in the sixth annual 2006 New Millennium ENERGY STAR Builder Awards. The award is given to the Colorado home builder who shows the most improvement and commitment to building energy efficient, high-performance homes. An Awards Committee of distinguished energy experts, building science professionals and industry associates was selected by E-Star Colorado to select the winner. John Keith, president of Harvard Communities, accepted the award from Sam Rashkin, national director of ENERGY STAR Home Program, before 400 attendees at the ENERGY STAR Summit on December 4, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center. The award presentation noted Harvard's exceptionally energy efficient homes, their commitment to the rigorous testing of every home they build, as well as their on-going commitment to taking energy efficiency to even higher levels. “We have been building ENERGY STAR homes for several years,” Keith said, “and we continue to improve the energy efficiency of our homes with our current homes exceeding ENERGY STAR standards by more than 50 percent. ENERGY STAR is a great program which we are proud to be a part of." E-Star Colorado actively promotes the construction of ENERGY STAR qualified homes throughout Colorado. ENERGY STAR is a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program which labels homes, appliances and other products for their energy efficiency. To date, over 600,000 homes nationwide have been enrolled in the ENERGY STAR program. Approximately 8 percent of the new homes built in Colorado are registered in the ENERGY STAR program. Harvard Communities has a widespread reputation for building some of the most energy efficient homes in the Denver area. A Harvard home is approximately 40 percent more energy efficient that a new home built to current code. In addition to being exceptionally energy efficient, all Harvard homes feature enhanced indoor air quality and comfort achieved through careful design and construction techniques and technologies. Harvard will introduce even more energy efficient homes at the Architect Collection in Stapleton in early 2007 with the "Near-Zero Energy Homes" (NZEH). NZEH homes are intended to be at least 70 percent more energy efficient than new homes built to current energy codes. The goal is to have an annual energy bill of zero. Though it is hard to achieve this with homes that are 3,000 square feet and above, Harvard NZEH homes will come close with annual utility bills of approximately $500 or less depending on plan type and size. The Architect Collection in Stapleton is priced from the $600s and features four innovative plans. Please visit the decorated model at 9716 34th Avenue. From Quebec go east on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. approximately one and a half miles to Elmira St. and turn left. Take the next left on 31st Avenue (which turns into Dayton Street). Turn right on 34th Avenue. The model is on the right hand side across from the park. The sales office and model is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. For more information visit www.thearchitectcollection.com or call Sheri Ogilvie at 303.789.4440.