Incorporating Pre-Approved ENERGY STAR Design Packages

Normally, estimating total energy use requires performing a computer analysis of each home design. However, to simplify the process, we have developed pre-approved design packages of energy features that meet or exceed the ENERGY STAR requirements.

For each climate region, pre-approved ENERGY STAR design packages are provided. The variety of packages gives the plant fairly wide latitude in deciding how to design an ENERGY STAR qualified home.

A package contains requirements for several features that must be used together to qualify as an ENERGY STAR qualified manufactured home. All the packages are roughly equivalent in energy terms. That is, applied to the same home, all packages will result in approximately the same total energy use. Therefore, saving energy in one area (e.g., by using tighter ducts or installing a programmable thermostat) will result in offsets elsewhere (e.g., by allowing a higher Uo-value).

The design packages are divided into four sub-tables, one for each climate region. Each sub-table is divided into two or three sections according to expected maximum duct loss percentages (e.g., 3%, 5%, or 7%). Each of these sections is further divided into two or three parts, one for each heating system type: gas/oil, heat pump, and electric resistance, if applicable.

Finding the right package of energy measures is a four-step process:

climate regions

These regions are NOT the same as the thermal zones contained in the HUD Standards for manufactured homes, nor do the ENERGY STAR region boundaries coincide with state boundaries. A state may include more than one ENERGY STAR climate region.

First: Identify the Climate Region & Basic Requirements

In cases where a state has more than one climate region, the state-by-state climate region tables provide the “primary” climate region and lists counties in the other regions as “exceptions.” Where the destination of a home is not known prior to manufacture, and the plant's typical shipping radius covers more than one region, it is advisable to select an ENERGY STAR package from the region with the more stringent thermal envelope requirements (Climate Region 1 is the most stringent, Climate Region 4 the least).

Print the Climate Region tables and Design Package Tables PDF (1.9MB)

Once you have printed the tables, select the climate region where the ENERGY STAR qualified home(s) will be sited. Once you have identified your correct region, select the ENERGY STAR design package for that region following the steps described below.

The column “High Efficiency WH” indicates requirements for water heater efficiency, and the column “Programmable Thermostat” indicates if a programmable thermostat is required.

Get explanations of the features of ENERGY STAR’s design packages for manufactured homes.

Second: Select the duct leakage level that the plant expects can be consistently reached and has been identified by testing.

Third: Select the heating source, either the gas/oil heat, heat pump, or the electric resistance section followed by the heating efficiency.

Fourth: Select the rows containing appropriate Uo-value and, for Regions 3 and 4, the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) values.

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