Home > Partner Resources > New Home Industry > Technical Resources: Guidelines for ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes

There are two paths to qualify a home to meet ENERGY STAR’s guidelines for energy efficiency. Both paths require independent verification by a qualified Home Energy Rater:

  • The National Performance Path PDF (99KB): A home energy rating (or HERS rating), where software is used to model the home’s energy use to verify that it meets a target score.
  • The National Prescriptive Path PDF (363KB): A Builder Option Package (BOP), where a builder constructs the home using a prescribed set of construction specifications that meet program requirements.

EPA has also developed county-level BOPs and regional specifications for California, Hawaii, and Guam.

Read about how the new ENERGY STAR specification for central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps may affect builders using either the Prescriptive or Performance paths, including the National Attached Homes BOP, here PDF (57KB).

Insulation requirements, HVAC sizing best practices, and key ENERGY STAR qualified product criteria for both paths are explained further in the reference codes and standards PDF (80KB).

Both the performance and prescriptive paths require the completion of a Thermal Bypass Checklist by a Home Energy Rater. This is a comprehensive visual inspection of building details where thermal bypass, or the movement of heat around or through insulation, frequently occurs due to missing air barriers or gaps between the air barrier and insulation.

EPA has developed separate verification guidance for several kinds of housing:

A Sampling Protocol is also available for builders who have demonstrated their ability to consistently meet the ENERGY STAR performance guidelines. It is intended to minimize production interruptions and verification costs for builders while ensuring that homes meet or exceed ENERGY STAR guidelines. Home plans can also be qualified using the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR label.

Policy Changes and Clarifications

  • Alternative ENERGY STAR Verification Oversight Organizations PDF (63KB) — EPA has formalized eligibility requirements, roles, and responsibilities for recognition of organizations that oversee ENERGY STAR verifiers.
  • Evaporative coolers PDF (83KB) — EPA provides guidance for modeling evaporative coolers in New Mexico.
  • Existing homes — EPA provides clarification on qualifying existing homes for the ENERGY STAR with consideration given to application of the Thermal Bypass Checklist.
  • Multifamily homes — EPA provides guidance for qualifying attached homes, including condominiums, apartments, townhomes, duplexes, and mixed-use structures.
  • New ENERGY STAR Specification for HVAC Equipment Will Affect Some Builders PDF (57KB) — EPA clarifies how the new ENERGY STAR requirements for central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps will affect builders who use the Builder Option Package, including the National Attached Homes BOP, or who use that equipment to meet the Performance Path requirement for ENERGY STAR qualified products.
  • Thermal Bypass Checklist update — EPA cancels the requirement that insulation in floors between conditioned and exterior spaces be aligned with both the top- and bottom-side air barriers. EPA also incorporates additional guidance in the TBC to ensure top-side alignment.
  • Volumetric hot water savings PDF (146KB) — EPA provides guidance for accounting for energy savings from low-flow showerheads, horizontal-axis washing machines, demand controlled pumping systems, and other water-saving technologies.
  • Waste water heat recovery PDF (125KB) — EPA provides guidance for accounting for energy savings from the installation of waste water heat recovery devices.

Regional Specification Changes