Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

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What to Expect from Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

Be a Smart and Engaged Homeowner by Following a Whole-House Approach

A Whole-House Approach

Before getting started on your home performance work, you may want to learn more about how to get the most out of your investment. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR offers a whole-house approach. Rather than focusing on a single problem, like an old heating or cooling system, not enough insulation in the attic, or leaky windows, our participating contractors look at how improvements throughout your home can work together to give you the best results.

Common Recommendations

Each home’s problems are different, but there are some recommendations that Home Performance with ENERGY STAR participating contractors frequently makes:

  • Sealing Air Leaks and Adding Insulations

    These are critical first steps to improving the energy efficiency of your home.

  • Improving Heating and Cooling Systems

    If your furnace or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, your participating contractor may recommend that you replace it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label.

  • Sealing Ductwork

    Sealing leaks, making sure ducts are straight and properly connected, and insulated where needed, will greatly improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

  • Replacing Windows

    If it’s time to replace your home’s windows, your participating contractor may recommend ENERGY STAR qualified models specific to your climate.

  • Upgrading Lighting, Appliances, and Water Heating Equipment

    Energy used in these areas can account for nearly half of your utility bill, so there’s a big opportunity to save by installing ENERGY STAR qualified products.

  • Installing Renewable Energy Systems

    Once energy efficiency improvements have been made to your home, your participating contractor may recommend additional measures, like installing solar panels or a solar hot water system.

Follow these important guidelines to help ensure your energy efficiency investments pay off – not only by lowering your utility bills, but also by improving your comfort, enhancing indoor air quality, and ensuring safety.

  • Your participating Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor will conduct diagnostic tests, such as blower door and combustion safety tests, before and after the work is completed.
  • If you are not ready to perform all of the recommendations provided by your contractor, choose to make energy improvements in a logical order because they can affect one another. For instance, in most houses the attic floor should be air sealed before installing attic insulation because it will prevent warm, moist air from migrating through the insulation. Moisture in your attic insulation can reduce its performance and potentially cause mold, roof rot, or ice dams to form on your roof.
  • Ask your participating contractor about their plans for addressing combustion safety, indoor air quality, and moisture when making your energy improvements.
  • The quality of the installation is at least as important as the quality of the equipment and materials. Your participating contractor should be committed to following all manufacturer installation guidelines for insulation, heating and cooling equipment, and other components.
  • After you’ve made improvements, make sure to follow the maintenance requirements suggested by your contractor and the equipment manufacturer.

Find out if a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program is available in your area.

To learn more about how homeowners like you have benefited from Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, read our homeowner success stories.