The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened the public comment period on revisions to the guidelines for Energy Star-qualified homes. The new proposed guidelines, called Energy Star 2011, are the third generation of Energy Star Qualified Homes guidelines and are intended to ensure that homes earning the Energy Star label continue to represent meaningful energy efficiency improvements over homes built to code or standard building practices.
Energy Star 2011 guidelines include several new requirements to ensure a comprehensive approach to building science and put greater emphasis on installation of high-efficiency equipment and products such as lighting, appliances, efficient water distribution systems, and low-flow water fixtures. Under the new guidelines, houses of all sizes will remain eligible for the Energy Star label, but larger homes will be subject to a “size adjustment factor” with a reduced HERS Index Target threshold and required additional energy efficiency measures.
Also, new guidelines consider state energy code requirements by giving such code requirements precedence over Energy Star Reference Design and mandatory elements; when a state’s energy code is more rigorous than Energy Star, it will replace Energy Star’s mandatory elements. Additional inspection checklists also have been proposed for Energy Star 2011, including evaluations for quality framing, quality HVAC installation, indoor air quality, and water-managed construction.
The Energy Star 2011 guidelines also propose several process changes, including establishing a benchmark home size, a prescriptive path, a performance path, and new quality assurance requirements for qualification using the performance path.
Several other changes have been proposed for the Energy Star Qualified Homes program. Visit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.nh_2011_comments to download the proposed Energy Star 2011 guidelines, FAQ sheets, and background information, and to submit comments.
The public comment period is open through July 10, 2009.
