Technical Bulletins

  • Pre-Drywall Inspection Always Required Technical Bulletin, May 1, 2023 (PDF, 636 KB)
    Partners have periodically asked if there are alternative verification protocols available when a builder or developer installs drywall before the pre-drywall inspection has been completed by the Rater. This technical bulletin affirms that the only recourse when drywall has been installed prior to visual verification is to remove the drywall to allow the inspection to occur. It also instructs Raters on how to assess what drywall must be removed, explains how EPA will reinforce its current policy, and provides action items for Raters and builders. 

  • Track A - HVAC Grading by Rater Now Available for Use with ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program! Technical Bulletin, October 5, 2021 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
    Track A - HVAC Grading by Rater is a collection of requirements built upon ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC Standard 310 that can be used to satisfy many of the HVAC design and functional testing components of the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC) program. This technical bulletin highlights its key benefits, outlines how to use it, and compares it to the original set of requirements, now named Track B - HVAC Testing by Functional Testing Agent.

  • Track A - HVAC Grading Now Available for Use! Technical Bulletin, October 5, 2021 (PDF, 887 KB)
    Track A - HVAC Grading is a collection of requirements built upon ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC Standard 310 that can be used to satisfy many of the HVAC design and commissioning components of the ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes program. This technical bulletin highlights its key benefits, outlines how to use it, and compares it to the original set of requirements, now named Track B - HVAC Credential.

  • Achieving Grade-I Insulation in Fire-Rated Roofs Technical Bulletin, September 9, 2021 (PDF, 820 KB)
    The ENERGY STAR team collaborated with UL, the global safety certification company, to identify three roof design options that can achieve Grade I insulation in townhomes and multifamily buildings requiring fire-rated construction.

  • A Rater's Guide to the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program Paths Technical Bulletin, December 16, 2020 (PDF, 360 KB)
    This technical bulletin highlights the differences and similarities between the three different ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction paths (ERI, ASHRAE and Prescriptive) and clarifies the Rater's responsibilities for each Path.

  • How to Get Your ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Project Team Ready Technical Bulletin, August 12, 2020 (PDF, 360 KB)
    The transition to EPA's ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC) program is fast approaching. Is your project team ready? Key participants for the Multifamily New Construction program include builders / developers, raters, functional testing agents, and ASHRAE path energy modelers. This technical bulletin highlights the key steps to complete before starting an MFNC project.

  • Four Misunderstood Facts About ENERGY STAR Homes Technical Bulletin, October 29, 2019 (PDF, 346 KB)
    Builder partners sometimes misunderstand ENERGY STAR program requirements and overestimate the level of upgrades needed to participate. The truth is that ENERGY STAR might be an easier lift than you think. This technical bulletin presents four facts about ENERGY STAR program requirements that are commonly misunderstood.

  • Whole-House Ventilation Rate Responsibilities for Designers, Contractors, and Raters Technical Bulletin, March 14, 2019 (PDF, 207 KB)
    Whole-house mechanical ventilation plays a critical role in the ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes program. It helps ensure that efficiency is not achieved by sacrificing indoor air quality. Delivering an effective system is a three-step process that involves the HVAC designer, the HVAC contractor or electrician, and the Rater. This technical bulletin is designed to reinforce the responsibilities of each party with regards to the whole-house ventilation airflow rate.

  • Building Electric Vehicle-Ready Homes Technical Bulletin, December 13, 2018 (PDF, 472 KB)
    Americans are rapidly adopting plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). In fact, the Edison Electric Institute and the Institute for Electric Innovation estimate that 18.7 million EVs will be on U.S. roads by 2030. Because 80 percent of EV charging happens at home, consumer demand for homes ready for or equipped with EV charging is also growing. In addition, an increasing number of localities, such as Atlanta, Denver, and much of California, have begun to require that EV charging infrastructure be included in all newly-built single-family homes. Builders in other areas are starting to pre-wire or install charging units as a value added feature of their new homes as well.

  • How to Certify ENERGY STAR Modular Homes Technical Bulletin, November 29, 2018 (PDF, 203 KB)
    ENERGY STAR had long offered two ways to certify modular homes: a plant-certification path and a Rater-verification path. With the introduction of Revision 09, the infrequently used plant-certification was eliminated to reduce potential marketplace confusion. Going forward, all modular homes permitted after January 1, 2019 should be verified using the same Rater-based process and program requirements as site-built homes.
     
  • Generate HVAC Design Reports with the Click of a Button Technical Bulletin, November 7, 2018 (PDF, 393 KB)
    The two most commonly used residential HVAC design programs, Wrightsoft Right-Suite Universal and Elite RHVAC, can now automatically generate the ENERGY STAR HVAC Design Report. Before, HVAC designers laboriously copied design information onto the HVAC Design Report manually. With this major step forward, the HVAC Design Report is completed fast and accurately, standardizing the exchange of information between the HVAC and HERS rating industry.
     
  • Index Adjustment Factor vs. Size Adjustment Factor Technical Bulletin, August 15, 2018 (PDF, 471 KB)
    Earlier this year, RESNET added an Index Adjustment Factor to the ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301-2014 Standard. While the Index Adjustment Factor (IAF) sounds a lot like ENERGY STAR’s Size Adjustment Factor (SAF), it actually serves a different purpose.
     
  • How to Wisely Use Builder-Verified Items Technical Bulletin, July 11, 2018 (PDF, 329 KB)
    Due to construction staging, it is not always possible for a Rater to see all items during their normally scheduled inspections. To reduce the need for extra trips, ENERGY STAR allows a builder to verify up to eight items in Sections 1-4 of the Rater Field Checklist.
     
  • Policy Record Technical Bulletin, May 10, 2018 (PDF, 228 KB)
    The ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program regularly receives partner questions and comments and often makes improvements in response to this feedback. The Current Policy Record catalogs these issues and their resolution. You can review this document to stay up to date between revisions. This Technical Bulletin highlights key changes since the release of Revision 08.
     
  • ENERGY STAR Certified Smart Thermostats Technical Bulletin, February 7, 2018 (PDF, 432 KB)
    The average American household spends nearly half of their annual energy bill on heating and cooling. ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats automatically adjust a home' temperature settings for optimal performance. This Technical Bulletin will offer tips and considerations for incorporating smart thermostats into ENERGY STAR Certified Homes and promoting their benefits to home buyers and renters.
     
  • Demand Water Heater Technical Bulletin, December 6, 2017 (PDF, 197 KB)
    Demand water heaters - also known as tankless, instantaneous, or instant-on water heaters - are growing in popularity. These water heaters offer numerous advantages over traditional storage water heaters and are available for all major fuel types: electric, natural gas, and propane. Not only can demand water heaters improve convenience and comfort for the homeowner, they can make it easier to achieve the HERS Index Target for ENERGY STAR certification.
     
  • LED Lighting Technical Bulletin, September 6, 2017 (PDF, 121 KB)
    ENERGY STAR certified LED lighting products use 90% less energy and can last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lighting. LEDs (short for “light-emitting diode”) also outperform CFLs (compact fluorescent or “spiral” light bulbs) in terms of energy efficiency, versatility, and durability, not to mention their appeal to energy-conscious consumers who have concerns about mercury gas in CFLs.

    Visit our Recorded Webinars Page for the companion webinar, Top Builder Tips for Choosing LED Lighting.
     

Residential New Construction