About ENERGY STAR Homes
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is the nationally recognized symbol for energy efficiency, as designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Perhaps you have seen the ENERGY STAR label when shopping for energy-efficient electronics and appliances. Now ENERGY STAR can help you to find the home of your dreams. ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer you all of the features you want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, a healthier environment, and lower energy bills. As a result, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have made a financially sound investment as well as an environmentally responsible choice.
What is an ENERGY STAR qualified home?
How does a home earn the ENERGY STAR?
How do I know my home is an ENERGY STAR qualified home?
What is an ENERGY STAR qualified home?
An ENERGY STAR qualified home uses less energy than a home built to minimum residential code and provides you with a better lifestyle for less money. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are tested by an independent energy consultant to ensure they meet the specifications required to receive the ENERGY STAR designation.
The energy savings in an ENERGY STAR qualified home are based on heating, cooling, water heating, appliances, lighting, and on-site power generation energy use and offer the following features (features vary by home and homebuilder) and benefits:
- Building envelope (shell) construction upgrades
- High-performance windows
- Air sealing of the duct system
- Sealing holes that allow air to enter the house from the outside
- High efficiency heating and air conditioning systems
- High efficiency water heaters
- Installation of high efficiency appliances
- Design and installation of efficient lighting systems (CFL, low voltage, etc.)
- Installation of on-site solar (PV) or wind generation systems
- Money savings each month with lower monthly energy bills
- Greater comfort than homes only built to minimum residential code
- Increased buying power with the more favorable financing options of an Energy Efficient Mortgage
- Faster return on your investment
- Higher resale value
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How does a home earn the ENERGY STAR?
All of the criteria that a home must meet to earn the ENERGY STAR are determined by the EPA. Guidelines set by EPA include:
- Ensure that ENERGY STAR qualified homes continue to perform significantly better than code
- Continue to offer the choice to qualify homes by either a performance path (a full Home Energy Ratings System - or HERS) or a prescriptive path (a Builder Option Package - or BOP)
- Ensure the presence of ENERGY STAR qualified products and appliances in homes that earn the ENERGY STAR label
- Enhance the value of independent verification through a required inspection called the Thermal Bypass Checklist (TBC)
- Homes built using ENERGY STAR guidelines must also use the HERS. Independent Home Energy Rating System Raters (HERS Raters) conduct a home plan analysis to determine the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures for the home.
During the homebuilding process, the HERS Rater conducts the required Thermal Bypass Inspection and performs diagnostic tests to analyze the home’s energy performance. The results of the diagnostic tests provide input into the determination of the home’s HERS Index.
The HERS Index is a relative energy use index where an Index of 100 represents the energy use of a new, single family home built to minimum state energy codes (HERS Reference Home) and an Index of 0 represents a home that will use no net purchased energy (a Zero Energy Home). The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy-efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.
Each one-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1 percent reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus, a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15 percent more energy-efficient than the HERS Reference Home, and a home with a HERS Index of 80 is 20 percent more energy-efficient.
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How do I know my home is an ENERGY STAR qualified home?
After a home passes the performance tests and receives a HERS Index of 85 or less, an ENERGY STAR label and certificate for the home are issued and the home can be marketed as an ENERGY STAR qualified home.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label, which should be prominently displayed on the home’s circuit breaker box. You can also ask your homebuilder for the home’s ENERGY STAR certificate.
