The Illinois Touchstone Energy Home program was developed by the Illinois Electric Cooperatives to provide our members with the guidelines they need to build energy efficient homes. These guidelines are consistent throughout all of the electric cooperatives in Illinois.
The main part of the Illinois Touchstone Energy Home program is the booklet Building the Home of Your Dreams. This booklet describes in common terms some of the methods and techniques of building energy efficient homes and is available at no charge to cooperative members or those that are building new homes on the cooperative's lines.
Why should I build to the standards of the Illinois Touchstone Energy Home Program?
-
By meeting the standards of the Illinois Touchstone Energy Home program, your home will have lower energy needs than had it been built with standard construction methods and techniques. This puts energy dollars in your pocket each month and not in your monthly utility bill.
-
If your home is certified to meet the standards, future buyers can make a purchase with confidence that the home is energy efficient. As energy costs continue to rise in the future, homes that are energy efficient will command a higher sales price and will also be easier to resell.
-
An energy efficient home is a more comfortable home. With fewer drafts and cold spots, temperatures are more even, meaning more comfort for you. Energy efficient homes are typically quieter, keeping outdoor noises outside where they belong.