Requirements & Resources for HVAC Contractors

For a home or multifamily building to be ENERGY STAR certified, several key commissioning tasks must be completed. Common examples include measuring HVAC blower fan airflow, HVAC blower fan watt draw, and checking the refrigerant charge. Specifics are defined by program, track, and equipment type, as described below.

ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes

For homes certified through the Single-Family New Homes program, the installation requirements are defined in two tracks:

Track A – HVAC Grading
Track B – HVAC Credential

A home may be certified under either track. After installation of the HVAC system, the installed performance is assessed relative to the design. Under Track A, the Rater completes this assessment using the ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes National Rater Field Checklist. Under Track B, the contractor is primarily responsible for this assessment using the ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes National HVAC Commissioning Checklist. When using Track B, the HVAC contractor must hold an EPA-recognized credential for HVAC contractors prior to completing this task.

ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction

Information about the commissioning and credential requirements for the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction program is available on the EPA-Recognized Credentials for Functional Testing Agents webpage.

Resources

Click on the links below to watch short technical training videos.

How to Measure HVAC Fan Airflow

Watch these five short videos to see how to measure HVAC fan airflow using total external static pressure – one critical commissioning task for homes and apartments certified using Track B.

Introduction (2:40)
How to Determine the Fan Speed Setting (2:35)
How to Measure Static Pressure (2:47)
Where to Measure Static Pressure (4:35)
Determining Airflow of the HVAC Fan (2:32)

How to Measure Whole-House Ventilation Airflow

Watch these four short videos to see how to measure dwelling unit mechanical ventilation airflow. While Raters are required to measure the airflow as part of the certification process, HVAC contractors can benefit from measuring it themselves before they leave the site to ensure that the system has been properly installed.