ENERGY STAR

National Specifications

ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes [DRAFT 2/8/05]

General requirements for the ENERGY STAR Reference Home are specified in the table below. For a home to
qualify as ENERGY STAR, the following three conditions must be met:

1.	A home must either: a) meet the reference home requirements, or b) have an energy performance that is
equivalent or better than these requirements, as determined by a RESNET-accredited rating software program.

2.	A home must be verified and field tested according to the HERS Guidelines by a RESNET-accredited Provider.

3.	The home must meet all state and local codes.

For county specific information refer to the ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes Verification Checklist at www.enerqvstar.qov/homes.



Hot Climates1

(2004 IECC Climate Zones 1,2,3)

Mixed and Cold Climates1

(2004 IECC Climate Zones 4,5,6,7,8)

Cooling
Equipment2

(Where Provided)

Right-Sized ENERGY STAR Qualified
Central A/C or Heat Pump

Right-Sized 13 SEER Central A/C or ENERGY
STAR Qualified Heat Pump

Heating
Equipment2

Right-Sized Minimum Standard
Furnace, Boiler4 or ENERGY STAR
Qualified Heat Pump3

Right-Sized ENERGY STAR Qualified
Gas Furnace, Heat Pump3, Boiler4,or 85%
AFUE Oil Furnace

Thermostat3

ENERGY STAR Qualified Thermostat

Ductwork

Leakage Sealed and Tested to < 4 cfm to Outdoors /100 sq. ft.5; and
2004 IECC Compliant Insulation Levels67

Envelope

Infiltration Sealed and Tested to < 0.35 ac/h8 9; and
2004 IECC Compliant Insulation Levels7; and

in

Compliance with Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist

Windows 11

ENERGY STAR Qualified Windows

Water Heater

Gas 0.60 EF / Electric 0.92 EF / Oil Integrated with Space Heating Boiler4

Lighting and
Appliances 1213

Five or More ENERGY STAR Qualified Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans and/or Appliances

Climate Zones 4-8
(including Alaska)

Climate Zones 1-3
(including Hawaii)

Map is for illustrative purposes only and is based on figure 301.1 from the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code.

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Specification Notes
ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes

1.	The appropriate climate zone for each building site is determined by the 2004 International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC), Figure 301.1.

2.	All requirements for ENERGY STAR qualified equipment shall be based on the latest ENERGY STAR
specifications. Heating and cooling equipment should be sized according to ACCA Manual S specifications; ducts
should be sized to Manual D specifications; both should be based on Manual J load calculations.

3.	In homes with heat pumps, programmable thermostats must have "ramp-up" technology to prevent the excessive
use of electric back-up heating.

4.	In homes with oil or gas hydronic equipment, domestic water heating must be provided by the space heating
boiler (tankless).

5.	Ducts must be sealed and tested to 4 cfm to outdoors /100 sq. ft. of conditioned floor area. Duct leakage must
be determined and documented by a RESNET-certified rater using a RESNET-approved testing protocol.

6.	To prevent condensation, a minimum of R-4 insulation is recommended for ducts in conditioned space.

7.	Insulation shall meet the prescriptive requirements of the 2004 IECC table 402.1 or the U0 performance
requirements of table 402.1.2.

8.	Tested envelope leakage must be determined and documented by a RESNET-certified rater using a RESNET-
approved testing protocol.

9.	To ensure consistent exchange of indoor air, installation of a mechanical ventilation system that meets the
minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.2 is recommended.

10.	All items on the Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist must be verified. The Checklist includes the following 12
areas:

11. The specifications for ENERGY STAR qualified windows can be found at www.enerqvstar.qov. For homes with
window area exceeding 21% window to floor area (WFA), the following additional requirements apply:

a.	In IECC Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3, an improved window Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is required
and is determined by:

Required SHGC = [0.18 / WFA] * [ENERGY STAR SHGC]

Where the ENERGY STAR SHGC is the minimum required SHGC of a climate appropriate
ENERGY STAR qualified window.

Note: Solar window screens may be used to meet required SHGC beyond the ENERGY STAR SHGC.
The overall SHGC for a window unit with solar screen is determined by the following equation:

[(window SHGC) x (solar screen SHGC) x (% area covered)] + [window SHGC x % area not covered].

b.	In IECC Climate Zones 5, 6, 7 and 8, an improved window U-Value is required and is determined by:

Required U-Value = [0.18 / WFA] * [ENERGY STAR U-Value]

12.	Any combination can be installed to meet this requirement. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures installed in
the following locations can not be counted towards compliance with the ENERGY STAR reference home: storage
rooms of any kind (e.g., closets, pantries, sheds), laundry rooms or garages. Additional efficiency and savings
can be achieved by installing other ENERGY STAR qualified products throughout the house (e.g., additional
lighting, appliances, etc.). For more information, visit www.enerqvstar.gov.

13.	EPA currently plans to require the ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package (ALP) in 2009. To learn more,
refer to the ALP quick link at www.energystar.gov/homes.

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1.	Shower/Tub at Exterior Wall

2.	Insulated Floor above Garage

3.	Attic Knee Walls

7.	Flue Shaft

8.	Piping Shaft/ Penetrations

9.	Dropped Ceiling/Soffit

10.	Fireplace Wall

11.	Staircase Framing at Exterior Wall/Attic

12.	Whole-house Fan Attic Penetration

4.	Attic Hatch/Drop-down Stair

5.	Cantilevered Floor

6. Duct Shafts

Where the ENERGY STAR U-Value is the minimum required U-Value of a climate
appropriate ENERGY STAR qualified window.


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ENERGY STAR

Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist
ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes

Thermal Bypass

What to Inspect

Complies (Y/N)

1. Shower/Tub at
Exterior Wall

Exterior walls behind tub or shower have been fully insulated

Exterior walls behind tub or shower have been faced with air
barrier material

2. Insulated Floor above
Garage

Floor framing is completely filled with insulation or insulation
is snug against sub-floor

Air barrier is installed at any exposed edges of insulation

3. Attic Knee Walls

Air barrier is installed on attic side of insulated wall
Insulation is in complete alignment with interior wall finish

4. Attic Hatch/Drop-
down Stair

Attic opening is fully gasketed for an air-tight fit

Hatch is covered with insulation that is attached and fits
snugly in framed opening

5. Cantilevered Floor

Floor framing is completely filled with insulation or insulation
is snug against sub-floor

Air barrier installed at any exposed edges of insulation

6. Duct Shafts

Opening is enclosed as required with flashing and any
remaining gaps are sealed with caulk or foam

7. Flue Shaft

Opening is fully enclosed as required with flashing

Combustion clearance between flue and combustible flashing
(e.g., OSB panel) are properly closed with metal collars and
any remaining gaps are sealed with fire-proof caulk or foam

8. Piping Shaft/
Penetrations

Opening is fully enclosed as required with flashing and any
remaining gaps are sealed with caulk or foam

9. Dropped Ceiling/
Soffit

Air barrier is fully aligned with insulated framing and any gaps
are fully sealed with caulk or foam

10. Fireplace Wall

Air barrier is fully aligned with insulated framing in framed
shaft behind fireplace and any gaps are fully sealed with
caulk or foam

11. Staircase Framing at
Exterior Wall/Attic

Air barrier is fully aligned with insulated framing and any gaps
are fully sealed with caulk or foam

12. Whole-house Fan
Attic Penetration

An insulated cover is provided that is gasketed to the framed
opening

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