Selecting Appropriate Energy-effcient 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 qualifed in advanced, energy- effcient construction techniques to advise builders on how to select and install the most appropriate features for their ENERGY STAR certifed homes. This means you get a home that is specially designed to operate effciently 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 effciency, comfort, quality, and durability. A Rater will inspect an ENERGY STAR certifed home at different stages of the construction process to verify critical details before they are “hidden” behind the walls.
Thermal Enclosure Inspections – ENERGY STAR certifed 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 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-effcient features to include in the home. Raters are specially trained and qualifed in advanced, energy- effcient construction techniques to advise builders on how to select and install the most appropriate features for their ENERGY STAR certifed homes. This means you get a home that is specially designed to operate effciently 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 effciency, comfort, quality, and durability. A Rater will inspect an ENERGY STAR certifed home at different stages of the construction process to verify critical details before they are “hidden” behind the walls.
Thermal Enclosure Inspections – ENERGY STAR certifed 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
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-effcient features to include in the home. Raters are specially trained and qualifed in advanced, energy- effcient construction techniques to advise builders on how to select and install the most appropriate features for their ENERGY STAR certifed homes. This means you get a home that is specially designed to operate effciently 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 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.
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 are minimal leakage and proper air flow.
Water Management Inspections – Each ENERGY STAR certifed home is built with comprehensive water and moisture management system to protect the roof, walls, and foundation from water- and mold-related problems. Builders use a detailed inspection checklist to confirm that
necessary steps are taken. They also take special care to protect building materials on site 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® is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For 25 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that correspond to negative health and environmental impacts. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world. Since 1992, the program and its partners have helped families and businesses save $430 billion on energy bills and 4.6 trillion kilowatt-hours of energy while achieving broad emission reductions—including 2.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Join the millions across America already making a difference atenergystar.gov.
West Rock Development builds energy efficient new homes. Information on this website is for illustration purposes only and not part of a legal binding contract. Subject to change without notice.
