ENERGY STAR® Certified Home Features
ENERGYSTAR
Energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
A COMPLETE WATER
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
ENERGY STAR certified homes include a comprehensive package
of water management practices and materials that help to protect
your home from water damage and reduce the risk of indoor air
quality problems. During construction, ENERGY STAR builder
partners must meet EPA's comprehensive water management
requirements to prevent rain and moisture from building up in
living areas, attics, basements, crawlspaces, or behind walls.
These water management requirements help ensure that—
•	Water is directed off the roof, down the walls, and away from
the foundation.
•	Your home is built with moisture-resistant barriers to prevent
water damage.
•	Building materials are protected during construction to
minimize the possibility of mold and rotting.
When builders meet these rigorous requirements, you get a home
with a complete water management system—a better approach
to building a better home.
WATER-MANAGED CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
ENERGY STAR certified homes feature a comprehensive
package of measures to ensure that water will be
effectively drained away from your new home.
Site and Foundation - To help prevent damp foundations,
ENERGY STAR builder partners install moisture-resistant
barriers to protect the foundation from water in the ground.
The area around the home is also graded so water flows
away from the foundation, and is coupled with underground
drains for some house types. These types of water
management strategies help improve the durability of the
foundation, reduce the potential for water damage, and
even improve the comfort and indoor air quality in your home.
Walls and Roofs - ENERGY STAR certified homes are built
with features designed to safely drain water off roofs,
down walls, and away from the home. To help achieve this,
ENERGY STAR builders wrap the walls of the home from top
to bottom in a continuous layer of overlapping moisture-
The final grade slopes away from the house. Neglecting to consider
exterior water management could lead to water damage.

-------
resistant material to create a "drainage plane." In areas
that are particularly susceptible to water problems, such as
roof-wall intersections and openings around windows and
doors, the drainage plane is supplemented with a second
layer of protection, called flashing. Flashing consists of
water-resistant material that directs water away from the
areas of concern and onto the drainage plane, where it can
be safely drained away.
Building Materials - Moisture problems in homes can
start before the home is even built. Building materials
that are improperly stored and exposed to the elements
during construction can lead to rotting and mold growth.
ENERGY STAR builder partners take steps to properly
select and store building materials onsite so water-
damaged materials are not used in the construction of
your new home. In addition, they use moisture resistant
materials in walls behind tubs and showers and avoid
installing carpets in close proximity to wet areas of the
home, such as in bathrooms.
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
An ENERGY STAR certified new home delivers better energy
efficiency and so much more. An ENERGY STAR certified
home is built better and built to last because the best, tried-
and-true, integrated construction practices are used from the
ground up. The result is better quality and durability, better
comfort, better systems, a better value for today, and a better
investment for tomorrow—plus a label backed by EPA. In
short, better is better.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency in 1992 as a market-based partnership
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy
efficiency. ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers
energy-efficient solutions to decrease energy consumption,
save money, and help protect the environment for future
generations. Nearly 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR
partners, committed to improving energy efficiency in homes,
products, and businesses.
Proper Installation
The below-grade concrete walls have damp-proof coating.
Proper Installation
The drain slopes away from the foundation and terminates at the
proper distance.
ENERGY STAR Certified Home Features
•	A Complete Thermal Enclosure System
•	A Complete Water Management System
•	A Complete Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling System
•	Efficient Lighting and Appliances
•	Independent Inspections and Testing
Ask your builder for more information.
Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency
guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.energystar.gov
ENERGYSTAR

-------