What You Need to Know About EPA’s ENERGY STAR Certified

Homes Program

Learn more at energystar.gov

1

Agenda

• The Basics• Certification Process and Key Roles• More About the Program Guidelines• Resources

The Basics

What’s the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program?

• A label for homes (“certified homes”)

• A partnership for builders, raters, architects, and sponsors of ENERGY STAR certified homes

Program Requirements

• Each ENERGY STAR certified home is independently verified to be at least 15% more energy efficient than a home built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and includes additional measures that deliver a total energy efficiency improvement of 20-30% compared to a typical new home.

A full list of program requirements is listed at: www.energystar.gov/newhomesguidelines

Who Can Partner?

• Builders and developers• Home Energy Raters and Providers (3rd party verifiers)• Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS: utilities,

state energy offices, local governments, etc.)• Manufacturers of modular/manufactured homes• Architects

Sign your partnership agreement at: www.energystar.gov/homesPA

Who Cannot Partner?• HVAC contractors*• Other contractors (insulation, dry-wallers, etc.)• Real estate agents

Resources for these stakeholders are available at: www.energystar.gov/newhomespartners

*HVAC contractors still play an important role in the ENERGY STAR certification process as discussed in the next section

Program Benefits

• Builders: market differentiation, increased energy efficiency, value, comfort, and durability, process & quality control

• Raters: process & quality control• HVAC contractors: market differentiation, expanded

market offering, process & quality control• EEPS: achieve demand side management goals,

meet regulatory obligations, environmental protection• Homeowners: lower utility bills, comfort & durable

home

Training Requirements

• Builders: hour-long online orientation course• Raters: ENERGY STAR Rater Training through an Accredited

Training Provider• HVAC contractors: proper credentialing through a third party

oversight organization

More information at www.energystar.gov/newhomestraining

Certification Process and Key Roles

Certification Process Overview

1. Build the home using the ENERGY STAR Reference Design.

2. Complete the inspection checklists.

3. Have Rater Verify Home4. Place ENERGY STAR

certification label on breaker box and provide homeowner with ENERGY STAR certificate.

Prescriptive Path1. Model the home and find the ENERGY

STAR HERS Index Target.2. Select upgrades that achieve a HERS

Index ≤ ENERGY STAR HERS Index Target and meet other program requirements.

3. Complete the inspection checklists.4. Have Rater Verify Home5. Place ENERGY STAR certification

label on breaker box and provide homeowner with ENERGY STAR certificate.

Performance Path

Home Energy Rater’s Role

Raters provide:• Third party verification• Quality assurance• A deep knowledge of building science

Raters are trained to:• Evaluate energy efficiency features and construction

techniques• Take key measurements• Perform inspections• Provide answers to common questions

HVAC Contractor’s Role

•Builders must work with a credentialed HVAC contractor to gain the ENERGY STAR certification. A builder’s current HVAC contractor can go through the credentialing process, or the builder can search for credentialed contractors in their area.

Visit www.energystar.gov/newhomeshvac for more information.

EEPS’ Role

• ENERGY STAR as a platform for energy efficiency programs

• Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS) can provide financial incentives, technical support, training, outreach, and marketing

• Include utilities, electric cooperatives, state agencies, municipal governments, home builders associations, and other organizations

More information at:www.energystar.gov/newhomessponsors

More About the Program Guidelines

Recent Changes

• More stringent core efficiency measures• New inspection checklists• Move from features to systems• Additional Quality Assurance• New marketing platform: “Better is Better”

Value in Every Certified Home

Value in Every Certified Home

• Guarantees that efficiency measures are included in every certified home

Value in Every Certified Home

• Sets standards for often-overlooked details that have a critical impact on efficiency, comfort, quality, & durability

• Reflects 15 years of experience from EPA, researchers, industry, and thousands of partners like you

Value in Every Certified Home

Unmatched value proposition for the homeowner:• Lower utility bills • Better comfort, durability, and quality• A more livable home

Value Through Building Science

If you want your homes to be..

Building science says to have a..1 2 3

Thermal Enclosure System

1 • Features– High-quality insulation installation– High-performance windows & doors– Tightly sealed home– Reduced thermal bridging in walls

Thermal Enclosure System

1 • Why is this important?– A well-insulated and air-sealed home,

with good windows and doors, reduces the amount of energy needed to keep the home comfortable.

Complete HVAC System

2 • Features– A right-sized and properly installed

heating, cooling, and duct system– A ventilation system that meets the

industry standard– Reduced safety and air quality risks

from combustion appliances

Complete HVAC System

2 • Why is this important?– Improved airflow & efficiency maintain

comfort with less energy– Proper sizing costs less and better

manages humidity levels– Ventilation systems remove indoor air

pollutants, provide outdoor air, and filter dust and particles

Water Management System

3 • Features– Water-managed roof, walls,

foundation, site, and building materials

Water Management System

3 • Why is this important?– Prolonged moisture in walls, floors,

and ceilings can cause rot and mold, hurting durability.

– Wet walls, floors, and ceilings in air-sealed homes don’t dry as quickly; therefore, it’s more important to not let them get wet.

Resources

Residential Professional Page

www.energystar.gov/newhomespartners

Consumer Brochures

www.energystar.gov/publications

Fact Sheets

• Thermal Enclosure• Water Management• Heating and Cooling• Lighting and

Appliances• Independent Testing

and Verification

www.energystar.gov/newhomefactsheets

Webinars

www.energystar.gov/newhomestraining

Social Media

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/energystarhomesLike us on Facebook: facebook.com/energystar

Additional Resources

• Partnership Agreements • www.energystar.gov/homesPA

• Program Guidelines & Inspection Checklists • www.energystar.gov/newhomesguidelines

• Recorded presentations • www.energystar.gov/newhomestraining• Partner Locator • www.energystar.gov/partnerlocator • Builder Orientation • www.energystar.gov/mesa• Verifier Training • resnet.us/energystar

• HVAC credentialing • www.energystar.gov/newhomeshvac

• Marketing Resources • www.energystar.gov/newhomesmarketing

• Consumer Website • www.energystar.gov/newhomes