ENERGY STAR
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ENERGY STAR® for New Homes:
Partner Update
Upcoming New ENERGY STAR
Requirements for Central Air
Conditioners and Air-source Heat
Pumps will Affect Some ENERGY
STAR Builder Partners
What's New?
On January 1, 2009, new ENERGY STAR requirements for central air conditioners (CAC) and air-source heat
pumps (ASHP) will go into effect. The new requirements for equipment to earn the ENERGY STAR label are as
follows:
Product Type
SEER
EER
HSPF
Split Systems
114.5
11.2
18.2
Single Package Equipment (including
a 14
111
18.0
gas/electric package units)



Equipment manufactured before January 1 is still eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR based on the old
performance level. Therefore, there will be a transition period when labeled equipment is commercially available at
both the old and new performance levels.
What does this mean to me?
•	Builders using a Building Option Package (BOP) that requires ENERGY STAR qualified CAC or ASHP must
transition to equipment meeting the new ENERGY STAR requirements as stocks of equipment qualified at the old
performance levels are exhausted.
•	Builders using a HERS Rating to qualify their homes are only affected by the change if they are using ENERGY
STAR qualified CAC or ASHP equipment to meet the Performance Path requirement for equipping the home with
at least one ENERGY STAR qualified product category.
Are the HERS Index requirements for ENERGY STAR qualified homes also
changing?
No. At this time, EPA is not proposing to change the HERS Index requirements for homes to earn the ENERGY
STAR. As a result, EPA recognizes that there will be a period where BOP requirements may be more stringent
relative to the Performance Path.

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However, EPA is now beginning the process of considering revisions to the requirements for ENERGY STAR
qualified homes, with a goal of putting the new requirements into effect in January 2010. EPA will formally solicit
partner comments on a proposal in the coming months.
Are there other changes that I should be aware of?
The Department of Energy recently announced its intent to revise the ENERGY STAR specifications for residential
windows, doors, and skylights. Additional detail can be found on the ENERGY STAR Web site.
Once adopted, these changes would also affect builders using the BOP, as well as builders using ENERGY STAR
windows to satisfy the Performance Path requirement to use at least one ENERGY STAR qualified product
category. It is expected that these changes will go into effect no earlier than Fall 2009.
Questions? Contact Us.
If you have questions about this upcoming change, please contact us at homes@energystar.gov.
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Homes that earn EPA's ENERGY STAR are more energy efficient, offer better comfort and lower utility
bills, and help protect the environment by reducing the greenhouse gases that contribute to global
warming.
Learn more at energystar.gov.
ENERGY STAft

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