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

1. What You Need to Know About EPA’s ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program Learn more at energystar.gov

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

3. The Basics

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Certification Process and Key Roles

11. Certification Process Overview Prescriptive Path Performance Path Build the home using the ENERGY STAR Reference Design. Complete the inspection checklists. Have Rater Verify Home Place ENERGY STAR certification label on breaker box and provide homeowner with ENERGY STAR certificate. • Model the home and find the ENERGY STAR HERS Index Target. • Select upgrades that achieve a HERS Index ≤ ENERGY STAR HERS Index Target and meet other program requirements. • Complete the inspection checklists. • Have Rater Verify Home • Place ENERGY STAR certification label on breaker box and provide homeowner with ENERGY STAR certificate.

12. Home Energy Rater’s Role Ratersprovide: • 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. More About the Program Guidelines

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

17. Value in Every Certified Home Core Efficiency Measures System Inspection Checklists

18. Value in Every Certified Home • Guarantees that efficiency measures are included in every certified home Core Efficiency Measures

19. 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 System Inspection Checklists

20. Value in Every Certified Home Unmatched value proposition for the homeowner: • Lower utility bills • Better comfort, durability, and quality • A more livable home Core Efficiency Measures System Inspection Checklists

21. Value Through Building Science If you want your homes to be.. Durable Affordable Comfortable Building science says to have a.. 1 2 3 Complete Thermal Enclosure System Complete HVAC System Complete Water Management System

22. Thermal Enclosure System 1 • Features • High-quality insulation installation • High-performance windows & doors • Tightly sealed home • Reduced thermal bridging in walls Thermal Enclosure System Checklist

23. 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. Thermal Enclosure System Checklist

24. 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 HVAC System QI Checklists

25. 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 HVAC System QI Checklists

26. Water Management System 3 • Features • Water-managed roof, walls, foundation, site, and building materials Water Management System Checklist

27. 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. Water Management System Checklist

28. Resources

29. Residential Professional Page www.energystar.gov/newhomespartners

30. Consumer Brochures www.energystar.gov/publications

31. Fact Sheets • Thermal Enclosure • Water Management • Heating and Cooling • Lighting and Appliances • Independent Testing and Verification www.energystar.gov/newhomefactsheets

32. Webinars www.energystar.gov/newhomestraining

33. Social Media Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/energystarhomes Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/energystar

34. Additional Resources