The Role of Licensed Professionals
Licensed Professionals work closely with Developer Partners to ensure that all of the program requirements are met including the submittal of design and verification documentation to an EPA-recognized MRO.
To verify energy savings and protect the integrity of the ENERGY STAR brand, a Licensed Professional working on behalf of the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise (MFHR) Developer Partner must provide an EPA-recognized MFHR Review Organization (MRO) or its designated agent with program specific submittals. These submittals are used to demonstrate that the program’s requirements have been met, that all mandatory measures are included, and that each energy conservation measure is installed to specification.
The Licensed Professional must be a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect in good standing and possess a current license. The Licensed Professional should also have:
- A license in a discipline related to residential and/or commercial building systems (e.g. mechanical engineering or commercial/residential architecture)
- Working knowledge of building systems, ASHRAE Standard 90.1, ASHRAE Standard 62.1, and ASHRAE Standard 62.2.
MRO’s may also allow Developers to work with professionals with different credentials to provide the program submittals. Contact your MRO for more information.
The ENERGY STAR MFHR Developer partner or the Licensed Professional working on their behalf may engage another third party, who does not need to be a Licensed Professional, to conduct some or all of the inspections and diagnostic testing required per the ENERGY STAR MFHR Testing & Verification Protocols. However, the ENERGY STAR MFHR Submittal Validation Form must bear the seal and signature of the Licensed Professional who remains responsible for all work performed by others under his or her direction and control. The Certification Process page also outlines the responsibilities of both Developer Partners and Licensed Professionals during the design and construction phases.
ENERGY STAR Licensed Professional Directory
Licensed Professionals that have worked on ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise projects can be listed on the Licensed Professional Directory (PDF, 370 KB) located on the Developer Partner page. If you would like to be included in the directory, please email MFHR@energystar.gov for more information.
ENERGY STAR MFHR Project Application and Submittals
The Licensed Professional or Developer Partner must submit an ENERGY STAR MFHR Project Application (PDF, 497 KB) to EPA for each project. This will ensure each project is allowed to adhere to the program requirements in place at the time the Project Application is submitted, and will not be subjected to additional requirements as the program progresses. Once the Project Application has been accepted and the building has been designed, the Licensed Professional must submit a complete Proposed Design Submittal. After construction, the Licensed Professional must submit a complete As-Built Submittal. EPA or its designated agent will not approve incomplete submittals but will communicate with Developer Partners and Licensed Professionals on how to bring an unapproved submittal into compliance with program requirements. Information on both submittals is included in the table below.
Proposed Design Submittal | The Proposed Design Submittal is used to ensure that the project design meets the requirements based on the Path selected and that all required measurements are included in the construction documents. The Licensed Professional is responsible for submitting a Proposed Design Submittal, with an ENERGY STAR MFHR Submittal Validation Form (PDF, 80 KB) to an EPA-recognized MRO for approval, prior to beginning construction. See the table below for a list of documents required for the Proposed Design Submittal. If eligible, the units could earn the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR mark when the Proposed Design Submittal is accepted. More information is available in the document Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR for MFHR available on the Guidance Documents page. |
---|---|
As-Built Submittal | The As-Built Submittal is used to ensure that the energy conservation measures chosen by the design team are installed to specification. After the final inspection, the Licensed Professional is responsible for submitting an As-Built Submittal, with an ENERGY STAR MFHR Submittal Validation Form (PDF, 80 KB) to an EPA-recognized MRO for approval. See the table below for a list of documents required for the As-Built Submittal. Once an EPA-recognized MRO has determined that the project has fulfilled all of the program requirements, the Developer Partner will be notified that the project has earned the ENERGY STAR and that it can be marketed and promoted per the ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines. |
For more guidance on submittals, see the Licensed Professional’s Guide to the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise Program (PDF, 87 KB).
Performance and Prescriptive Path Submittal Requirements
There are two paths to earning the ENERGY STAR. Developers may choose a prescriptive package developed by EPA or a customized approach using ASHRAE approved energy modeling software. A list of required documentation and resources for both the Performance Path and the Prescriptive Path are included below and available for download on the Guidance Documents page in a downloadable .zip file.
Performance Path |
|
---|---|
Prescriptive Path |
|
Performance Path |
|
---|---|
Prescriptive Path |
|
ENERGY STAR Service and Product Provider Partnership
Architects working on ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise projects may also qualify for the ENERGY STAR Service and Product Provider partnership as an MFHR Architect of Record (AOR). Partnership is free and offers you access to utilize ENERGY STAR marks to promote your commitment to energy efficient design and construction.
For basic eligibility, your company must have been the AOR for an ENERGY STAR MFHR project that earned Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR. To find additional eligibility criteria and apply for partnership, please see the ENERGY STAR Service and Product Provider Partnership Agreement (PDF, 125 KB) for Multifamily High Rise. For more details on using the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Mark, visit the Guidance Documents page.