Last Updated: Jun 16, 2021
Most consumers recognize the ENERGY STAR brand when buying appliances. For three decades, the United States Environmental Protection Agency program has worked and encouraged manufacturers to create more efficient products.
Appliances affixed with the ENERGY STAR seal of certification find recognition with more than 90% of consumers. Merchants sold more than 300 million products with ENERGY STAR certification, with $100 billion of value in 2018. For energy-conscious consumers, the certificate offers differentiation from other competitors, a way to buy the best and most efficient refrigerator or dishwasher.
However, most consumers aren't aware of ENERGY STAR's breadth, which also extends to utilities, local governments, and builders on building certification and efficiency programs. Homeowners, developers, and apartment landlords can even earn ENERGY STAR certification for new and existing properties.
ENERGY STAR's residential program competes with the more popular Home Energy Rating System (HERS), which has certified nearly 3 million homes. Still, the strong brand has great popularity in several states, where more than a third of new homes get certified. Canada has its version of ENERGY STAR, adapted for the Canadian market.
ENERGY STAR homes must perform 10% better than homes built to current building codes and 20% or more above average dwellings of the same size. To earn certification, homeowners have to get their houses verified by an energy rating company. The Canadian version generally covers the same territory as the American version for appliances and residential certification.
First, you get an energy-efficient house that will bring lower utility bills. Second, the air you breathe will be better indoor air quality due to more efficient and clean running heating and cooling equipment. Third, your home can fetch a higher price when you sell it after certification.
ENERGY STAR focuses on four building science areas.
The certification covers nearly every kind of housing. The EPA certifies new construction of single-family homes, townhouses, apartments (of specific sizes), manufactured homes, and apartments. Owners of existing homes can seek certification if they do a "gut" renovation involving major work. This work includes steps like removing exterior cladding, replacing roofs and household systems (ducts, windows, HVAC). Moisture management strategies also count toward certification. The process covers the same areas as ENERGY STAR for new homes but uses different benchmarks for existing homes.
As versions increase, certification involves more highly efficient appliances, windows, doors, and lighting. Homeowners should work with contractors to ensure they buy appliances and build their homes with the equipment capable of meeting EPA's standards.
No. The EPA maintains several versions for new construction of homes in all categories. For example, California, Florida, and the Tropics have their ENERGY STAR certification because their climates differ significantly from other regions. Oregon and Washington have stretch codes beyond the national standard. Many states use "National Version 3.1," but others continue on Version 3.0. EPA also tracks "Revisions" of "Versions." Minnesota, Texas, and others use Version 3.1, Revision 10 before moving to Revision 11 in 2022.
EPA updated Vision 3.1 to Revision 11, which many states plan to adopt in 2022. Version 12's release date has not been announced.
More than 2 million homes have been certified as of 2019 since the program began. In 2019, EPA certified nearly 100,000 homes. More than 870,000 existing homes have received ENERGY STAR recognition after retrofits. To date, the Canadian ENERGY STAR Homes program has certified more than 60,000 homes.
EPA reports in 2019 that 8.6% of new homes earned ENERGY STAR certification. The following states lead the country in percentages of households earning certification: Arizona (54%), Maryland (44%), District of Columbia (33%), Nevada (21%), Texas and Delaware (14%), New Jersey and Colorado (13%). Some states have few to no homes that become certified. Part of that reason may be that builders and homeowners use other rating systems rather than ENERGY STAR.
For property owners serious about certifying homes, the first key will be to work with trusted contractors who have experience or knowledge of the ENERGY STAR program. The EPA's website hosts dozens of pages of information for contractors, builders, and raters. The agency has existing partnerships with developers, home builders, and factory builders found on this website, which allows a search by state and by metropolitan region. Following the main focus areas, as described above, builders will ensure strong thermal enclosures, ENERGY STAR rated appliances, and water systems that efficiently preserve water and efficient lighting.
Yes, and they can be dense. The certification process offers flexibility. This flexibility allows homeowners and their builders to select a custom combination of measures that are equivalent in performance "to the minimum requirements of the ENERGY STAR Reference Design Home, Exhibit 1," the agency wrote. That assessment comes through energy modeling from an EPA-recognized Home Certification Organization (HCO) Approved Software Rating Tool. The software determines the ENERGY STAR "Energy Rating Index" target. The same software program can offer a rating based on a set of efficiency measures designed by the builder and homeowner. If the software confirms a high enough rating for certification, construction can begin.
After completing the above process, contractors must meet the EPA's Mandatory Requirements for All Certified Homes. That means homes have to have EPA-required insulation levels and quality, duct leakage limits, and window performance. By meeting those requirements, contractors and homeowners should close in on ENERGY STAR certification. Remember, onsite generation, such as solar energy, cannot be used to achieve certification.
They do. Contractors must sign an ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement and complete the online Version 3 Builder Orientation. Heating, ventilation, and air contractors must have credentials from an EPA-recognized HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight Organization (H-QUITO) while certifying certain kinds of homes. Energy rating companies also have to sign an ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement and take EPA-approved training.
Raters should be involved at the start to validate construction details - from efficiency decisions to appliance choices. Then, they can offer an overview after homes reach completion. Often raters will offer their services for free, according to the EPA. Or, architects will do it for free to earn continuing education credits through the American Institute For Architects. To find a free or for-charge rater, see this website. Often ENERGY STAR raters also manage ratings for HERS and other accreditation services. For single-family homes, accreditation costs $150 to $250, in general, and sometimes more.
A 2017 North Carolina study showed that certified homes sold for 9.5% more than non-certified homes. Homeowners used HERS ratings (45%) more often for certification than ENERGY STAR. The certificate should invariably bring a higher price for states with a higher percentage of new homes certified ENERGY STAR. Consumers in those regions will be familiar with the residential program. For states where it is less common, a HERS rating could be a wiser choice.
Based in St. Paul, Frank Jossi is a journalist, editor and content strategist. He covers clean energy in Minnesota for Midwest Energy News and writes frequently for Finance & Commerce. His work has appeared in more than 70 local, national and international publications.