Meritage Homes Awarded U.S. EPA's Prestigious 2013 ENERGY
STAR(R) Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award for
Outstanding Energy Efficiency in Production Homebuilding

PHOENIX, March 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meritage Homes has earned
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of
the Year--Sustained Excellence Award. The award recognizes ongoing
leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient
products, services, new homes, and buildings in the commercial,
industrial, and public sectors.

An innovator in production homebuilding, Meritage was recognized for
its continued leadership in protecting the environment. Meritage
received the EPA's 2012 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award, the
2011 Energy Star Builder of the Year award and the 2010 Department of
Energy's Building America Partner award. Meritage's accomplishments in
earning these awards include being the first 100% ENERGY STAR
production builder; offering the first fully EPA-certified home for
ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS and WaterSense; and the first Net Zero
Energy production builder in the U.S.

"Meritage has redefined the way homes can and should be built, setting
a new standard in production homebuilding," said Steve Hilton, the
company's chairman and chief executive officer. "Through our work with
customers, engineers and ENERGY STAR, we've continually advanced our
initiatives by giving specific consideration to all features, systems,
materials and construction methods to bring homeowners unparalleled
energy efficiency and both short- and long-term savings."

With a variety of homes across the southern and western states,
Meritage Homes integrates advanced technologies into their design and
building from the ground up. Together, these technologies can save
homeowners, on average, 50 percent on their home energy use, compared
to standard homes. With optional upgrades, Meritage offers cost
effective Net Zero Energy throughout its markets. In 2012, with more
than 4,000 home sale closings, the company reduced homeowners' utility
bills by more than $3.5 million every year. These homes eliminate
nearly 30 million kWh of electrical demand every year -- the equivalent
of a 60 watt light bulb being lit for 57,000 years or the emissions
from over 4,000 cars.

"EPA is recognizing Meritage Homes for earning EPA's highest ENERGY
STAR award - the 2013 Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence
Award," said Bob Perciasepe, acting administrator, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. "Meritage leads the field with their commitment to
energy efficiency and demonstrates how all Americans can save energy,
save money, and create a healthier environment."

With every home it builds, the company is focused on creating value and
improving family lifestyles through dozens of features that work
together to provide improved home function. The results are homes that
are quieter, cleaner, healthier, and have reduced pollution, allergens
and dust in the indoor air. The energy-efficient features save money
without sacrificing lifestyle or compromising design.

Meritage Homes is the only large national homebuilder to earn the EPA's
ENERGY STAR seal of approval on every home it has built since 2009.
These homes meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the EPA
and be at least 20 percent more energy-efficient than homes built to
the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). A third-party certified
home energy rater must perform an independent audit and verification to
ensure that a home meets ENERGY STAR guidelines.

Meritage will be honored at an awards ceremony on March 26 in
Washington, D.C., with other award winners selected from the nearly
20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

About Meritage Homes Corporation

Meritage Homes is the ninth-largest public homebuilder in the United
States based on homes closed in 2011. Meritage builds a variety of
homes across the Southern and Western states to appeal to a wide range
of buyers, including first-time, move-up, luxury and active adults. As
of December 31, 2012, the company had 158 actively selling communities
in 15 metropolitan areas, including Northern California, East
Bay/Central Valley and Southern California, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth,
Austin, San Antonio, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Tucson, Las Vegas, Denver,
Orlando, Tampa and Raleigh-Durham. In 2012, Meritage also announced its
entry into the Charlotte market.

Meritage is an industry leader in innovation and energy efficiency.
Meritage was the first national homebuilder to be 100 percent ENERGY
STAR(R) qualified in every home it builds, and far exceeds ENERGY STAR
standards in most of its communities. Meritage has designed and built
more than 75,000 homes in its 27-year history, and has a reputation for
its distinctive style, quality construction, and positive customer
experience. For more information, visit meritagehomes.com.

The Meritage Homes Corporation logo is available at
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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.
Nearly 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to
improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, and buildings. For
more information about ENERGY STAR, visit energystar.gov or call
toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).