Resources for Contractors

Home improvement contractors, insulators and air sealing companies, and HVAC contractors who are ready to learn and apply advanced techniques recommended by ENERGY STAR have the opportunity to sell more services, improve customer satisfaction, and make homes significantly more energy-efficient and comfortable.

While there is no partnership program available for these types of organizations, ENERGY STAR provides educational and marketing materials to help contractors explain the benefits of recommended practices such as proper HVAC equipment installation and maintenance, duct sealing, air sealing, and proper insulation installation to homeowners.

Sell ENERGY STAR Qualified Products

Recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products like air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, windows, lighting, and appliances when jobs call for the replacement of these items. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR are a smart choice because the customer will save money on energy bills without sacrificing comfort or quality. Energy-efficient products are also a key part of a growing movement toward environmentally-friendly green remodeling.

Promote ENERGY STAR Recommended Solutions

Contractors can distribute ENERGY STAR brochures and use ENERGY STAR’s videos to help educate and guide users about ENERGY STAR’s programs and services you offer.

Home Sealing

Improving a home’s “envelope” or “shell” by sealing up air leaks and adding insulation can lower utility bills, while improving comfort and energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR Home Sealing also makes homes quieter by reducing outside noise and can help prevent pollutants, such as pollen and car exhaust from the garage, from entering a home. ENERGY STAR Home Sealing improvements can save homeowners up to 20 percent on annual heating and cooling bills.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR Home Sealing:

Home Sealing Technical Specifications (202KB)

ENERGY STAR Home Sealing Brochure (966KB) and DVD

Distribute this brochure and DVD to show homeowners how common home performance problems can be fixed with ENERGY STAR Home Sealing. These are both especially useful during home inspections to give customers a better understanding of your findings and recommendations.

Copies of brochures can be ordered (free of charge) from ENERGY STAR Publications. If you need more than the maximum quantity allowed, please call the Hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937), or hotline@energystar.gov.

Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Sealing Color (2MB)

Contractors should also be familiar with common DIY techniques for home envelope improvements. Sharing this resource with your customers can help gain both trust and job leads for improvements that homeowners are not willing to complete themselves.

Duct Sealing & HVAC

Ducts that move air to and from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of a home’s heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR Duct Sealing and HVAC:

Guide to Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling (708KB)

Use this guide to educate homeowners about ENERGY STAR’s HVAC maintenance guidance.

Duct Sealing (1.13MB)

Use this quick reference guide for Duct Sealing and HVAC Best Practices.

Copies of brochures can be ordered (free of charge) from ENERGY STAR Publications. If you need more than the maximum quantity allowed, please call the Hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937), or hotline@energystar.gov.

Quality HVAC Installation

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the nationwide association of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) contractors has developed nationally recognized requirements for the quality installation of residential and commercial HVAC systems. The HVAC Quality Installation Specification identifies requirements associated with quality installations, measurement procedures, and acceptable forms of documentation to show compliance. As a service to the HVACR industry the specification is available for download (815KB).

Promote Yourself as an Energy Efficiency Expert

Use these sample press releases, articles and letters to position yourself as a local expert on energy efficiency issues.

• Don’t "Duct" Your Responsibility (89KB)
• Repair or Replace? You Decide (67KB)
• Seal Not, Save Not (100KB)
• Sample HOA Letter (139KB) to inform local Homeowner Associations and other organizations about your services.

Take a Whole-House Approach:
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

Contractors participating in locally-sponsored Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs offer homeowners a comprehensive approach to home improvement that provides better energy efficiency, greater comfort, and lower utility bill. These specially-trained contractors evaluate homes using state-of-the-art equipment and recommend comprehensive improvements that will yield the best results. Contractor Success Stories highlight how real companies have changed the way they do business to include a whole-house approach to solving common home performance problems. Learn more about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.