KB Home to lure buyers with energy-bill savings

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Homebuilders say one of the biggest advantages of buying a newly built home is energy efficiency.

However, some of the ways that builders make homes burn less cash might not be as recognizable to buyers as say, kitchen appliances, generous closets and bathroom amenities.

So now some builders are boiling energy efficiency down to something every buyer understands: money.

This week, Los Angeles-based builder KB Home will start giving prospective homebuyers an estimate upfront of what their monthly gas and electric bill will be if they buy one of the company’s homes.

The estimate label also will clearly show buyers where the home ranks on an energy-efficiency-based scale.