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Caribbean Program Requirements Version 3

Comment Period

EPA received comments from partners and other stakeholders regarding the drat Caribbean Program Requirements, Version 3, when it was available for comment from July 9, 2019 to August 9, 2019. EPA requested feedback on the below documents.

EPA received comments from the following organizations and / or groups:

EPA's Responses from the Comment Period

EPA's Response to Stakeholder and Partner Comments (PDF, 267 KB) contains a summary of comments received, along with EPA's response to each point raised, and the resulting policy change, if any.

National Program Requirements Version 3

Second Comment Period

EPA received comments (PDF, 789KB) from partners and other stakeholders regarding the proposed Version 3 specifications (PDF, 126KB) and checklists (PDF, 162KB). The comments are listed alphabetically by organization name.

EPA's Responses from Second Comment Period

Resources Available during Second Comment Period

  • Executive Summary (PDF, 55KB). This summary explains the major changes made from the previous version.
  • ENERGY STAR Version 3 Energy Rating Index Target Procedure (PDF, 115KB). This document provides detailed instructions for determining the ENERGY STAR Energy Rating Index Target, the highest Energy Rating Index Index value that a home can achieve and still qualify under the performance path of the program.
  • Cost and Savings (PDF, 354KB). This document includes estimates of representative incremental costs and savings for the updated ENERGY STAR guidelines.

First Comment Period

EPA received comments (PDF, 1.65MB) from partners and other stakeholders regarding the proposed Version 3 specifications (PDF, 582KB) and checklists (PDF, 162KB). The comments are listed alphabetically by organization name.

EPA's Responses from First Comment Period

  • EPA's Response to Stakeholder and Partner Comments from First Comment Period (PDF, 479KB)*. This document contains a summary of comments received during the first comment period, along with EPA's response to each point raised and the resulting policy change, if any.

    *Recommendations to use a "full-fuel-cycle" methodology for the proposed guidelines were expressed by both the National Propane Gas Association and the American Gas Association. In EPA's response to comments, these concerns were inadvertently attributed to only the National Propane Gas Association.

  • EPA's Response to RESNET Comments (PDF, 75KB). In the summer of 2009, RESNET submitted feedback to EPA regarding the proposed changes. EPA reviewed this document and has prepared a detailed response to the concerns in this document.

Resources Available during First Comment Period

  • ENERGY STAR Version 3 FAQ (PDF, 39KB) — Frequently asked questions about ENERGY STAR Version 3.
  • ENERGY STAR Version 3 Fact Sheet (PDF, 138KB) — Summary of ENERGY STAR Version 3 and rationale behind the proposed changes to the ENERGY STAR certified homes specifications.
  • ENERGY STAR Homes: The Road Ahead — Presentation on the evolution of ENERGY STAR for Homes and the value of the new guidelines. At this time, the streaming modules are unavailable. You can view the presentation in five PDF files:
  • Technical background (PDF, 242KB) — Additional details about the rationale behind, benefits of, and estimated savings for ENERGY STAR Version 3.
  • ENERGY STAR Version 3 Reference Design Definition (PDF, 288KB) — Compares the parameters of the Energy Rating Reference Home, rated homes, and the ENERGY STAR Reference Design Home.
  • Economic impacts (PDF, 340KB) — Estimates of representative incremental costs and savings for ENERGY STAR Version 3 and a comparison to incremental costs for the current guidelines.
  • Notes from the EPA Q&A sessions (PDF, 280KB) — Notes from the Q&A sessions held to answer questions about the proposed ENERGY STAR Version 3 guidelines.

California Program Requirements Version 3

California Program Requirements Version 3.1

  • The draft Version 3.1 Program Documents for California were available for comment from 10/20/2015 through 11/09/2015. During this period EPA did not receive any comments.

Florida Program Requirements Version 3

Puerto Rico Program Requirements Version 3

Gut Rehabilitation Alternative Compliance Pathways Version 3

MFHR Spec Development

Until recently, multifamily new construction projects achieved certification through either the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program or the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise program.

In 2019, EPA launched the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction program, which serves all multifamily buildings. The new program is available for all attached residential new construction, except two-family dwellings.

View public comment draft documents below; final documents are available on the Program Requirements webpage.

MFNC Program Requirements and Checklists, Version 1:

These documents have been revised based on stakeholder feedback received in the summer of 2018. The updated versions, along with two new program documents, were posted October 31, 2018.

MFNC Caribbean Program Requirements, Version 1:

EPA received feedback about challenges and applicability of implementing the Multifamily New Construction National Program, in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands as well as the potential challenges with the Certified Homes Caribbean Program Requirements, Version 1 for multifamily high-rise projects. Acting on that feedback, EPA drafted a modified set of program requirements based on the Certified Homes Caribbean Program Requirements, named the MFNC Caribbean Program Requirements, Version 1.

EPA held the Draft MFNC Caribbean Program Requirements webinar (PDF, 1.7 MB) on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 to provide the rationale for developing the MFNC Caribbean Program Requirements, provide an overview of the draft requirements, explain how stakeholders can provide comments, and answer initial questions. Contact energystarhomes@energystar.gov to receive a recording of this event.

EPA conducted a comment period from August 13 through September 10, 2020 on these draft program requirements. EPA requested feedback on the below documents.

These documents have been revised based on stakeholder feedback received in the Fall of 2020. The updated versions were posted January 18, 2021.

Multifamily Workbook:

Note: This resource was formerly referred to as the Testing and Verification Worksheets.

Conceptual Draft Multifamily Workbook (EXCEL, 143 KB):
EPA received multiple comments that using PDF checklists were challenging for multifamily projects and a better method was needed to verify the Rater Design Review and Field checklist items across multiple dwelling units and common spaces. The conceptual draft Multifamily Workbook provides an Excel version of the Rater Design Review and Rater Field checklists and additionally includes tracking information on testing and inspections. It also captures the energy efficiency measures.

This Excel spreadsheet will be used by MROs to review multifamily projects using the ASHRAE or Prescriptive Paths under the new specification. As specified in the MRO application amendment, MROs can create their own version of this spreadsheet or choose to accept the PDF checklists and other testing spreadsheets. For multifamily projects using the ERI Path this spreadsheet is an optional document and is not required.

Note: This is a very early conceptual draft and the functionality is not all included. Some worksheets contain notes on what functionality will be implemented. Some checklist items may be missing and the text may not be the most recent version. The final version is expected to be available in early 2019.

Additional Resources:

Final Multifamily Review Organization (MRO) Application V 1.1 (PDF, 2.92 MB)
This application includes amendments to the previous MRO Application, available on the MFHR Review Organizations page, based on initial feedback during the pilot and in order to allow MRO’s to review ASHRAE and Prescriptive Path projects coming in through the new specification. This document includes the requirements for MRO reviews of projects going through the ASHRAE and Prescriptive Paths. Posted August 28, 2018.

Multifamily New Construction Program Costs and Savings Estimates: Version 1 (PDF, 780 KB)
This document is intended to provide partners, utility sponsors, and program designers with an estimate of the incremental costs to build, and associated savings from, a low-rise ENERGY STAR certified multifamily new construction building under Version 1 of the program in regions that have adopted the 2009 ICC codes (e.g., 2009 IECC, 2009 IRC). Posted October 31, 2018.

Multifamily New Construction Program Costs and Savings Estimates: Version 1.1 (PDF, 784 KB)
This document is intended to provide partners, utility sponsors, and program designers with an estimate of the incremental costs to build, and associated savings from, a low-rise ENERGY STAR certified multifamily new construction building under Version 1.1 of the program in regions that have adopted the 2012 ICC codes (e.g., 2012 IECC, 2012 IRC), respectively. Posted October 31, 2018.

Responses to Submitted Comments and Redline Versions of Checklists:

EPA’s Response to Stakeholder and Partner Comments from Third Comment Period (PDF, 271 KB)
This document contains a summary of comments received during the third comment period for the Multifamily New Construction Specification, which ended June 4, 2018. EPA’s response to each new point raised and the resulting policy change, if any, are also included. Posted October 31, 2018.

Highlights to the Changes to the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program Documents since June 2018 (PDF, 79 KB)
This document summarizes the most significant changes made to the requirements from the third comment period for the Multifamily New Construction Specification, which ended June 4, 2018. Posted October 31, 2018.

Redline versions of the program documents based on changes from the June 2018 version, were posted October 31, 2018:

Simulation Guidelines

These Simulation Guidelines were adopted and revised from the MFHR program based on changes to MFNC program requirements that affected ASHRAE energy modeling. The final versions are available on the Program Requirements webpage, but shown below are the redlined versions, as compared to the Simulation Guidelines from the MFHR program. Posted June 7, 2019.

Archive:

EPA elicited Partner and stakeholder feedback from November 2017 through the summer of 2018 to create these checklists and program documents. Responses to submitted comments and redline versions of checklists and program document drafts from each comment period can be found below:

Summer 2018

The draft checklists from March 2018 were revised based on stakeholder feedback received in the spring of 2018 and the updated versions below, along with new program documents, were posted June 4, 2018.

EPA’s Response to Stakeholder and Partner Comments from Second Comment Period (PDF, 302 KB)
This document contains a summary of comments received during the second comment period, along with EPA’s response to each point raised and the resulting policy change, if any.

Highlights of the Changes to the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program Documents since March 2018 (PDF, 63 KB)
This document summarizes the most significant changes made to the requirements from the March 2018 webinar and draft checklists.

Redline versions of the checklists based on changes from the March 2018 versions:

Draft Multifamily Review Organization (MRO) Application V 1.1 (PDF, 202 KB), Posted for feedback June 2018
This application includes amendments to the current MRO Application, available on the MFHR Review Organizations page, based on initial feedback during the pilot and in order to allow MRO’s to review ASHRAE and Prescriptive Path projects coming in through the new specification. This document includes the requirements for MRO reviews of projects going through the ASHRAE and Prescriptive Paths.

Spring 2018

These draft checklists were posted as a work in progress for discussion and stakeholder feedback in March 2018.

EPA’s Response to Stakeholder and Partner Comments from First Comment Period (PDF, 223 KB)
This document contains a summary of comments received during the first comment period, along with EPA’s response to each point raised and the resulting policy change, if any. This document does not respond to all comments received, but rather gives a summary of the most common feedback topics. Where feedback was received, but determined instead to be a clarifying question, those were summarized and addressed below.

EPA’s Response to Stakeholder and Partner Questions from First Comment Period (PDF, 576 KB)
This document contains a summary of clarifying questions received during the first comment period, along with EPA’s response to each question.

Changes to Earning the ENERGY STAR for Your Multifamily Project (PDF, 3 MB), (webinar slides from March 22, 2018)
These slides present the rationale and overall framework and give an overview of the updated proposed technical requirements based upon stakeholder feedback from the end of 2017.

Fall 2017

Proposed Merged Low-Rise/High-Rise Multifamily Framework and Technical Requirements, A Two-Part Series (PDF, 8 MB), November 2017
These slides present the rationale and overall framework, and an overview of the proposed technical requirements as of November 2017. They also explain how stakeholders were able to provide initial comments by December 15, 2017.

EPA’s Responses to Stakeholder and Partner Questions from November webinar series (PDF, 479 KB), November 2017
This document contains a summary of questions received during the November webinars and EPA’s response.

National Program Requirements Version 2

Second Comment Period

EPA received comments from partners and other stakeholders regarding the draft Version 2 of the ENERGY STAR Manufactured Homes program when it was available for comment from May 28, 2019 to June 11, 2019.

EPA received comments from the following organizations and / or groups:

EPA's Responses from Second Comment Period

First Comment Period

EPA received comments from partners and other stakeholders regarding the draft Version 2 of the ENERGY STAR Manufactured Homes program (PDF, 185 KB) when it was available for comment from April 4, 2019 to May 6, 2019. EPA received initial feedback during the comment period on the original draft Version 2 of the ENERGY STAR Manufactured Homes program (PDF, 222 KB) , and posted a revised version shortly after the start of the comment period.  

EPA received comments from the following organizations and / or groups:

EPA's Responses from First Comment Period

Residential New Construction