MERITAGE HOMES IS RECOGNIZED WITH A 2012 ENERGY STAR® LEADERSHIP IN HOUSING AWARD

Meritage Homes earns award for building new homes that protect the environment through energy efficiency

ORLANDO, Fla – Meritage Homes was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2012 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes the important contribution Meritage Homes has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 789 ENERGY STAR certified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $352,683 on utility bills each year.

The environmental benefits of these ENERGY STAR certified homes are equal to the equivalent of:

• Eliminating the emissions from 387 vehicles;
• Saving 2,338,596 lbs of coal;
• Planting 639 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment 4,586,457 pounds of CO2 per year.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 20% more efficient than standard new homes built today.

ENERGY STAR certified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-saving features like effective insulation systems, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, properly-sized and installed efficient heating and cooling equipment, efficient products, and third-party verification of energy performance.

“ENERGY STAR builder partners offer new homes that are designed and built to standards well above most others on the market today” said Jonathan Passe, Director of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. “Because ENERGY STAR certified homes undergo rigorous independent inspections and testing, homebuyers who choose ENERGY STAR can be confident that their new home will offer real energy efficiency, comfort, durability, and value for years to come.”
Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR and partners, Americans saved nearly $400 million on their utility bills and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 510,000 vehicles. More than 1.3 million ENERGY STAR homes have been built in the United States since the program first began labeling homes in 1995.

About Meritage Homes
Meritage Homes is listed on the NYSE under the symbol MTH. Visit http://investors.meritagehomes.com

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 127,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines in 2011, by partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).