ENERGY STAR® Certified Home Features ENERGYSTAR Energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) INDEPENDENT INSPECTIONS AND TESTING I CfLIR j. be g F |\ 4 U/ff/QS /l;ia:29 p •¦0.9? r> When you're choosing a new home, you want to know it will be as comfortable, durable, and energy efficient as possible. With an ENERGY STAR certified home, you'll know that you've made a good decision for you and your family. Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR stand above other homes because they must meet stringent energy efficiency requirements set by EPA. The better performance and better quality built into every ENERGY STAR certified home is independently inspected and tested by a Home Energy Rater. Home Energy Raters work with ENERGY STAR builder partners throughout the construction process to ensure that— • Your new home has the appropriate energy-efficient features that fit your climate region. • Critical construction details are verified at different building stages. • The key systems in your new home are working properly to deliver better efficiency, durability, and comfort. When builders work with Home Energy Raters to meet rigorous ENERGY STAR requirements, you get an energy-efficient home built better from the ground up—a better approach to building a better home. SELECTING APPROPRIATE ENERGY-EFFICIENT FEATURES Before construction begins, ENERGY STAR builder partners submit their home plans to a Home Energy Rater for review and analysis to determine the precise energy-efficient features to include in the home. Raters are specially trained and qualified in advanced, energy-efficient construction techniques to advise builders on how to select and install the most appropriate features for their ENERGY STAR certified homes. This means you get a home that is specially designed to operate efficiently in your region of the country. CONDUCTING ONSITE INSPECTIONS AND TESTING Raters conduct important onsite inspections and tests of homes built to earn the ENERGY STAR to ensure they meet rigorous program requirements. This inspection process follows a set of comprehensive ENERGY STAR checklists designed to deliver better efficiency, comfort, quality, and durability. A Rater will inspect an ENERGY STAR certified home at different stages of the construction process to verify critical details before they are "hidden" behind the walls. Thermal Enclosure Inspections - ENERGY STAR certified homes are designed and built with a complete thermal enclosure that acts as a barrier to effectively keep the cold out during winter and the heat out during summer so your home is comfortable all year long. Raters conduct a series of inspections to verify the thermal enclosure is constructed to reduce unwanted leaks and drafts (as well as pollen, pests, dirt, and noise) by making sure that gaps, cracks, and other openings in the house are fully sealed. In addition, the Rater performs a blower door test to ensure that your home meets the comprehensive air sealing requirements of the ENERGY ------- 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. STAR program. The Rater also documents that insulation used throughout the home is at the appropriate level and that it has been installed properly. This translates to better comfort, durability, and lower utility bills for you. HVAC Quality Installation Inspections - ENERGY STAR builder partners work with credentialed contractors who make sure your home's heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) system is designed and installed for optimal performance that improves the indoor air quality and comfort throughout your home and helps you save on utility bills. Raters perform additional quality inspections to check system installations and test the home's ductwork to confirm that there is minimal leakage and proper airflow. Water Management Inspections - Each ENERGY STAR certified home is built with a comprehensive water and moisture management system to protectthe roof, walls, and foundation of your house. Builders use a detailed inspection checklist to confirm that necessary steps are taken to better protect your home from water- and mold-related problems. They also take special care to protect building materials onsite to make sure they don't become water- damaged during the construction process. THE TRUSTED SYMBOL OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY The blue ENERGY STAR label on your home will give you peace-of-mind knowing your home has been independently verified to meet the stringent requirements set by EPA. A Rater will issue an ENERGY STAR label for your home only after the final inspection is completed and the Rater has determined that all program requirements are satisfied. This label is typically placed on the circuit breaker box and documents that your home is ENERGY STAR certified. 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 protectthe environment for future generations. Nearly 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners, committed to improving energy efficiency in homes, products, and businesses. 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 ------- |