ENERGY STAR® Inspection 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.
Don Jahnke, our Home Energy Rater performs a blower door test
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. Following a BOP path can result in an ENERGY STAR Qualified home, but is not eligible for tax credits. 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 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).
Infared Camera
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.
If you have questions regarding the home inspections and testing, visit with Don Jahnke, our Home Energy Rater.
Click on the images below to view and download the Residential Home literature in Adobe Acrobat® format.
Did You Know?
A 2,500-square-foot home built to ENERGY STAR® specifications is designed to save the homeowner anywhere from $600 to upwards of $1,500 on annual utility bills. These numbers are comparisons to industry-standard averages for new home construction and due in large part to significantly less energy and water consumption.
The Minnesota State Fair Design Center shows several types of exterior siding.
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.
