There are opportunities for a number of different types of organizations to support the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program and the construction of energy-efficient new homes and apartments. Learn more about how different types of organizations can participate with ENERGY STAR, including their eligibility to partner with the program.
Residential architects and designers can help their builder clients design home plans that meet the rigorous energy efficiency requirements of the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program. By designing energy efficiency into the front-end of a project, a team can ensure that critical building science details and efficiency features are included that offer direct resident benefits, including energy-savings, comfort, and durability.
Architects and designers can better promote their multifamily projects by using the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR mark.
The ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction program offers a certification path which requires whole-building energy models that demonstrate energy cost savings above ASHRAE Standard 90.1. Energy modelers tasked with developing these building models are required to complete an online orientation, which will provide an overview of the Multifamily New Construction program and its requirements.
To receive the online orientation, email energystarhomes@energystar.gov and include “ASHRAE Modeling Orientation” in the subject line. After completing the orientation and sharing contact information with EPA, recognized Energy Modelers are added to the directory below.
Professionals who hold EPA-recognized credentials can complete parts of the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction HVAC Functional Testing Checklist (PDF, 354 KB).
Appraisers play a critical role in ensuring that the energy efficiency features of certified homes are properly reflected in the valuation process. Appraisers can browse the ENERGY STAR website or review resources like the ENERGY STAR fact sheets to learn more about the features and benefits of certified homes.
The Appraisal Institute, a global membership association of professional appraisers, also provides support for the appraisal of energy efficient new homes. Their website hosts information on valuing green buildings, including information on their certificate program called the Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program as well as a Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum (PDF, 303KB) that can be completed by builders, Raters, or appraisers to identify and describe a home’s green and energy efficiency features.
Home Builders Associations (HBAs) play a critical role in ensuring that their members are aware of the benefits for builders to participate in the ENERGY STAR program. HBAs can leverage the resources on the ENERGY STAR website to hold training events to educate home builders about energy efficiency and the Residential New Construction program. HBAs can also recognize local ENERGY STAR builders, including promoting builders that have won national ENERGY STAR awards. In areas without an established home energy rating market, an HBA can play a key role in recruiting verification professionals and other key program participants, like HVAC contractors.
The ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program provide a holistic approach to design and construction that is well-aligned with the priorities of housing agencies seeking to promote high quality, sustainable, affordable housing opportunities.
HVAC performance is critical to delivering efficiency, comfort, and durability. That's why HVAC systems in ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments are designed and installed according to industry best-practice standards by expert contractors.
HVAC designers are crucial to the process of delivering a right-sized HVAC system that both saves energy and delivers comfort.
Lenders can partner with a U.S. Department of Energy program and expand their business by issuing Energy-Efficient Mortgages (EEMs). Lenders can also expand their businesses by forming strategic relationships with real estate professionals and appraisers and using the Partner Locator to identify ENERGY STAR builder, developer, rating company, and utility partners in the markets where they operate.
Multifamily Review Organizations (MROs) are EPA-recognized organizations that provide the required review and approval of project submissions for the ASHRAE or Prescriptive Paths of the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise and ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction programs.
Manufactured Homes Quality Assurance Providers (QAPs) are EPA-recognized organizations that are responsible for the oversight and enforcement of all quality assurance requirements related to design, production, and installation. To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a manufactured home must meet all applicable program requirements and be produced in a plant that is certified by an EPA-recognized Quality Assurance Provider (QAP).
Manufactured home retailers can promote the value of energy efficiency and educate consumers about the features and benefits of the ENERGY STAR label when selling ENERGY STAR certified manufactured homes produced by plants that partner with the program. Check with your manufacturing plant supplier(s) to see if they partner with ENERGY STAR and offer sales/marketing materials that can help you promote their ENERGY STAR certified manufactured homes to potential buyers. Note that manufactured housing plants are responsible for the proper use of the ENERGY STAR brand by the retailers that sell their homes.
Image: Manufactured Housing Institute
Consumers increasingly demand energy-efficiency, and rank energy costs as one of the most important considerations when purchasing a new home. Real estate agents can help their clients understand the value of energy efficient new homes by educating them about the features and benefits of ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments and forming relationships with ENERGY STAR builder and rater partners.
While many industry professionals claim to understand energy efficiency, there is little consistency in their definitions. The ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program provides an industry-vetted set of technical specifications, terminology, and metrics that industry professionals can rely on. Real estate professionals can help promote ENERGY STAR by contacting their local REALTOR® Association and advocating for the addition of ENERGY STAR into their local Multiple Listing Services (MLS).
