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Independent Inspection and Testing
Helps Make Sure a Home is Energy Efficient
All new homes look great from the outside. But to make sure that your next new home is truly energy efficient, it’s important to look “behind the walls.” How can home buyers really be sure? Look for homes that have earned the ENERGY STAR— these homes have been inspected and tested by an independent Home Energy Rater. These professionals advise builders how to select the most appropriate energy-efficient features for a home; Raters inspect and test the home during and after construction to verify that the home meets EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency.
BENEFITS OF INDEPENDENT INSPECTION AND TESTING
- Peace-of-Mind for Making a Smart Purchase. Before
buying a used car, consumers often take the car to a trusted mechanic not
affiliated with the seller to have an expert verify its performance. This
helps ensure they are making a smart purchase. Homebuyers can have similar
peace-of-mind by looking for the ENERGY STAR label—typically located on a
home’s circuit breaker box. This label assures homebuyers
that the home has been verified by an independent Home Energy Rater to be truly energy efficient. In addition to lowering monthly utility bills, the energy efficiency features typically found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes can also contribute to improved home durability and homeowner comfort. - Climate-Specific Recommendations. An energy-efficient home built in Florida would not necessarily be energy efficient if it were built in Michigan. For a home to be energy efficient, it must be designed for regional weather characteristics. Home Energy Raters are trained in climate-effective energy saving techniques, and their knowledge and field experience helps ENERGY STAR builder partners construct high-quality, energy-efficient homes.
- Additional Inspections for Quality. Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR typically undergo more inspections and testing than code-built homes. The ENERGY STAR verification process helps identify and correct mistakes before they are hidden behind the walls and holds builders constructing ENERGY STAR qualified homes to a higher standard. As a result, independent inspection and testing can help improve the quality and energy efficiency of a home.
HOW INSPECTION AND TESTING WORKS
Home Energy Raters are trained to evaluate construction techniques, take key measurements, and perform inspections and testing procedures to verify a home’s efficient performance. Here’s how the process works:
Selection of Energy-Efficient Features. Raters help builders choose energy-efficient features for their ENERGY STAR qualified homes in two ways:
- With a traditional Home Energy Rating, a Rater simulates a home’s energy use with specialized computer software. The results of this analysis allow the Rater to identify the most effective upgrades to meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines.
- With a Builder Option Package, a Rater does not calculate the home’s energy use. Instead, the builder and Rater use a set of climate-specific construction specifications developed by EPA called a Builder Option Package (BOP). Based on extensive analyses, the BOP specifications have been determined to result in homes that consistently meet ENERGY STAR guidelines.
Completion of Field Verification. Regardless of how the energy efficiency features are selected, Home Energy Raters must also conduct on-site inspections and testing of a home. This field verification ensures that energy-saving measures are consistent with ENERGY STAR guidelines. The process usually includes a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house), a duct blaster test (to test the leakiness of the duct system), and completion of a thermal bypass checklist (a visual inspection of common construction areas where air can flow through or around insulation).
The standards for Home Energy Ratings, inspection protocols, and testing guidelines are maintained by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). For more information, visit the RESNET Web site at www.resnet.us.
A BETTER FUTURE
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary partnership between the government and more than
9,000 organizations, including more than 3,500 of the nation’s home builders.
Together with home buyers and their families, we are working to achieve a common
goal—protecting the environment for future generations by changing to more
energy-efficient practices and products today.
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. It
identifies new homes, buildings, and more than 50 types of products that are
energy efficient and offer the features, quality, and performance that today’s
consumers expect. Products that can earn the
ENERGY STAR include windows, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, and
appliances. To learn more about ENERGY STAR, visit
www.energystar.gov.
More About Energy Star
