An energy-saving initiative launched by the federal government has reached a milestone. The EPA said Wednesday the number of so-called "Energy Star" homes in the United States has hit one million. To earn Energy Star status, homes must meet strict energy-conservation guidelines through steps such as the installation of insulation systems, high-performance windows, tight construction and ducts, and efficient heating and cooling equipment, lighting and appliances.

Since the EPA began labeling newly built homes in 1995, the effort has saved an estimated 1.2 billion dollars in energy bills and reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by 22 billion pounds.

Top markets for Energy Star homes include New York City; Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento, California; Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Indianapolis, Indiana; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Orlando, Florida, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.