ENERGY STAR Version 3 Program Requirements for The Tropics

Should I use the Version 3 Program Requirements?

• Homes in Guam permitted after April 1, 2014 must be certified under the Version 3 Program Requirements for the Tropics.
• Homes in Hawaii permitted on or after July 1, 2012 must be certified under the Version 3 Program Requirements for the Tropics.
• Homes in Puerto Rico permitted after April 1, 2013 must be certified under the Version 3 Program Requirements for the Tropics
• Homes in The Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands permitted on or after 07/01/2016 must be certified under the Version 3 Program Requirements for the Tropics.

For more information about the transition from Version 2.5 to Version 3 see the Transition Timeline for the Tropics.

How to Certify a Home

Select the core energy efficiency measures

• ENERGY STAR Version 3 Program Requirements for The Tropics (151KB) — This document defines the core efficiency specifications under Version 3 of the program.
• ENERGY STAR Version 3 HERS Index Target Procedure for The Tropics (155KB) — This document defines how to configure the ENERGY STAR Reference Design Home and calculate the associated HERS Index value.

Complete mandatory measures

Certification of a home in the tropics also requires the completion of the following:

• Rater Design Review Checklist and Rater Field Checklist for the Tropics (474KB)
• HVAC Design Report (338KB)
• HVAC Commissioning Checklist (184KB)
• Water Management System Builder Requirements (120KB)

Policy Changes and Clarifications

EPA periodically makes policy changes and clarifications, typically in response to a unique situation within a particular climate zone, and shares frequently–asked questions. See Recent Policy Changes and Clarifications.

Puerto Rico Version 3 Development Archives

• Summary of Public Comment Period for Draft Version 3 Hawaii & Puerto Rico Program Requirements (53KB) — This document contains a summary of comments received during the Puerto Rico comment period, along with EPA's response to each point raised and the resulting policy change, if any.