ENERGY STAR Certified Homes 101

Jennifer James, ICF International on behalf of EPA

March 12th , 2013

What you will learn

1. Basics of ENERGY STAR

2. The new value of an ENERGY STAR certified home.

3. The sales support that ENERGY STAR brings to building partners.

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The Value of ENERGY STAR

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ENERGY STAR Certified Homes

Build Better Homes

Build Better Homes

Sell More EffectivelySell More Effectively

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How to build better homes

Build Better Homes

Build Better Homes

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Core efficiency measures

• Guarantees that efficiency measures are included in every certified home.

• Prescriptive Path• Performance Path

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System inspection checklists

• Enable a “systems” approach for every certified home.

• Set standards for often-overlooked details that have a critical impact on efficiency, comfort, quality, & durability.

• Reflect 15 years of experience from EPA, researchers, industry, and thousands of partners.

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Mix and match

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The risk of incomplete systems

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Value of a CompleteThermal Enclosure System

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Why Complete Thermal Enclosure System?

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• A well-insulated and air-sealed home, with good windows and doors, reduces the amount of energy needed to keep the home comfortable.

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Thermal Enclosure System Checklist

1 • Less than two pages, verified by the Rater.

• Benefits:– Reduction in hot/cold spots.– Less heating and cooling energy.– Potential for HVAC downsizing.

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FIBROUS NSULATION = AIR BARRIERSection 2: Quality-installed insulation

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Quality-installed insulation

Poorly installed insulation

• Defines minimum insulation levels and minimum installation standards

Section 3: Fully-aligned air barriers

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Section 3: Often overlooked areas

Air barrier.. ..aligned with

insulation

Section 3: Complete air barrier aligned with insulation

Thermal enclosure system

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Space Constrained

Area

• In an ideal energy world…

Section 1: High-performance fenestration

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• Defines U-value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient requirements

Section 4: Reduced thermal bridging

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• Addresses thermal bridging – places in the home where insulation is missing due to framing or space constraints.

Studs conduct heat more easily than insulation

Sections of the Thermal Enclosure System Rater Checklist

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• Section 1: High-performance fenestration.• Section 2: Quality-installed insulation.• Section 3: Fully-aligned air barriers.• Section 4: Reduced thermal bridging.• Section 5: Air sealing.

Value of a CompleteHVAC System

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Why a Complete HVAC system?

2 • Heating and cooling equipment that is:• High efficiency.• Properly designed and installed.• Combined with a duct system that’s

insulated, sealed, and balanced.… maintains comfort with less energy.

• Ventilation systems that remove low-quality air, provide outdoor air, and filter contaminants to improve indoor air quality.

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HVAC system Checklists

2 • Two checklists; one verified by Rater and one verified by the HVAC designer and contractor.

• Benefits:– Less heating and cooling energy.– Improved comfort.– Improved indoor air quality.– Process control and quality assurance.

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Heating & Cooling Systems:Putting the “H” and “AC” in “HVAC”

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Basic heating & cooling system design

• The amount of heat transfer can be quantified in British Thermal Units (Btu’s).

• 1 Btu is approximately equal to the energy in a single match.

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Basic heating & cooling systems design

105F

73F72F

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• Adding & removing Btu’s impacts the temp. inside the home.

Three major steps to design an HVAC system

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1) Calculate the heating & cooling load.

2) Select equipment to meet those loads.

3) Design ducts to get air from equipment to rooms, and then back to equipment, to offset loads.

Step 1:Calculate heating & cooling loads

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• Cooling load is the maximum Btu’s added in one hour.

Step 1:Calculate heating & cooling loads

35°F

72°F

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• Heating load is the maximum Btu’s lost in one hour.

Step 2: Select equipment that meets loads

72°F 72°F73°F

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• Select equipment that removes Btu’s to meet cooling load.

Step 2: Select equipment that meets loads

• Select equipment which adds Btu’s to meet heating load.

72°F 72°F71°F

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Step 3:Design the duct system

• Design ducts to properly distribute air through house. This offsets the loads.

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Value of heating & cooling systems

• Two components of a complete system:

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Proper design Proper installation

Value of heating & cooling systems

• Diagnostic requirements of proper installation include the following tests:– Static Pressure test at the air handler.– Refrigeration test at the outdoor unit.– Electrical Amperage testing.– Duct blaster test.– Room Balancing Test.

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Ventilation Systems:Putting the “V” in “HVAC”

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Value of mechanical ventilation & indoor air quality

• Consumers place value on indoor air quality.• Shouldn’t have to sacrifice for energy efficieny

This home has high-quality indoor air!

This home has low-quality indoor air!

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EPA’s Indoor airPLUS program

• Indoor airPLUS is a complementary label for ENERGY STAR certified homes.

• It addresses consumer demand for healthier indoor environments and offers comprehensive protection against harmful indoor air pollutants - the ‘Gold Standard’ for indoor air quality in new home construction.

• Indoor airPLUS specifications include contaminant controls, including radon controls, that when added to Version 3 requirements provide a complete energy and indoor air quality home package.

• Verification can be completed within the ENERGY STAR inspection process.

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RadonRadon

VOC’sVOC’s

PestsPests

How are the ENERGY STAR & Indoor airPLUS programs related?• Both are voluntary labeling programs run by EPA.

• For more information, visit www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/

HVACHVAC

FiltrationFiltration

MoistureMoisture

HVACHVAC

FiltrationFiltration

MoistureMoisture

IAQ ImprovementComplete IAQ Protection

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1. Build the home tight to improve efficiency & comfort.

2. Remove contaminants using occupant-controlled exhaust fan in kitchens & bathrooms and a filter in HVAC system.

3. Bring in outdoor air in a controlled way to dilute contaminants.

4. Include key durability details relating to water management.

ENERGY STAR HVAC approach

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Value of a CompleteWater Management System

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Why a Complete Water Management System?

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• A water management system that keeps the roof, walls, foundation, site, and building materials from getting wet improves durability and indoor air quality.

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Water Management System Checklist

3 • One page verified by the builder during construction.

• Benefits:– Increased durability.– Improved indoor air quality.

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• Helps prevent durability problems from moisture. • Based on code requirements, plus best practices. • Especially important in high performance homes,

regardless of whether the home is ENERGY STAR certified.

Key Points about the Water Management System Checklist

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The value of checklists

• You can only expect what you inspect:– Checklists promote consistency.– Ensure full value from investments.

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The value of checklists

Example:•A simple medical inspection checklist was developed to reduce infections from intravenous lines.•The checklist included five steps; straightforward advice, no new science, nothing controversial.•The checklist was used by intensive care units in MI over 18 months.•It nearly eliminated intravenous line infections.•It saved ~1,500 lives.

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Build Better Homes

Build Better Homes

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Your Sales Sidekick

Sell More EffectivelySell More Effectively

Selling more effectively

• What consumer wouldn’t love to learn about checklists?

FOR NOT YAWNING

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Selling more effectively

• Equal or better performance.

• Cost-effective.

• Meaningful improvement in efficiency.

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0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

New

Con

stru

ction

Mar

ketp

lace

(%

)

Year (Estimation)

Market recognized value

Annual Market Share of ENERGY STAR Certified Homes

~20% Market Share

~20% Market Share

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Market recognized value

• 100% Corporate Commitments:

– Beazer Homes

– KB Home

– Meritage Homes

– NVR, Inc.

• Plus, over 4,000 builder partners.

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Marketing resources - brand

• Logos• Press releases• Leadership in Housing• Partner of the Year

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Marketing resources - website

• Consumer website• Partner Locator • Web Linking• Consumer Video

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Marketing resources - brochure

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Marketing resources - factsheets

– Thermal Enclosure System– HVAC System– Water Management System– Lighting & Appliances– Independent Testing &

Verification

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Marketing resources – homeowner certificate

– Details the standard features of an ENERGY STAR Home.

– Also, includes the specific core efficiency features selected for each home.

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Other resources – webinars

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Your Sales Sidekick

Sell More EffectivelySell More Effectively

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ENERGY STAR Certified Homes

Build better homes

Build better homes

Sell more effectivelySell more effectively

Core energy efficiency measures

Core energy efficiency measures

System inspection checklists

System inspection checklists

Training & support

Training & support

Established brand

Established brand

Collateral & resources

Collateral & resources

Training & support

Training & support

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Q&A

ENERGY STAR Certified HomesMain: www.energystar.gov/newhomespartners Marketing: www.energystar.gov/newhomesmarketing Publications: www.energystar.gov/publications

energystarhomes@energystar.gov

@energystarhomes

facebook.com/energystar

Jennifer JamesAccount Manager, National Rater Support,ENERGY STAR Certified Homes ProgramICF InternationalJennifer.James@icfi.com

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