A Morrisville company is being recognized for energy efficiency in a time when many people are trying to go green.

Southern Energy Management gives efficiency ratings to homes and has been named an Energy Star "partner of the year."

They're one of only five companies in their category nationwide to get that recognition.

Monday morning, a Southern Energy technician put a new Cary home through its final exam: using a fan to test the cubic feet of air per minute passing through to make sure it's sealed up better than most standard homes.

"The target was 2800 and it hit 1800," builder services liaison Michael Peaden said. "So it's even higher than most energy star homes."

After the home passes all its tests, it will be the next in a long line of "energy star" qualified homes in the Triangle.

"[They are] at least 15 percent more energy efficient than one that was built to code," Dan McFarland, Southern Energy's director of builder services, said. "As a result, we also know we'll have lower utility bills."

The Energy Star seal means everything from special window panes to efficient appliances and insulation.

"Think of it like wearing a fleece jacket, but we're making sure the zipper is zipped all the way up to the top," McFarland said.

Southern Energy Management has made this type of efficiency a top priority, and has sold a lot of area home-builders on the idea too.

"We obviously weigh the cost versus the benefit," Dave Hausfelder, division president for Drees Homes, said. "The cost is certainly well worth it."

Energy Star isn't specifically singled out in the new stimulus bill, but some energy efficient improvements make people liable for tax breaks like the Non-Business Energy Credit.

"The credit was $500, now it's gone up to $1500. So that's been increased," Lori Moshinski with H & R Block said. "And then the Residential Energy Credit has been expanded out to 2016."

Tax experts say the goal is to help ease people into doing improvements that will pay off year after year in lower bills.

Builders say that despite the recession, the demand for energy-efficient homes has gone up because people are willing to pay a little more now to save later.

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