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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

DOE Challenge Home

Since 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Builders Challenge program has recognized hundreds of leading builders for their achievements in energy efficiency—resulting in over 14,000 energy efficient homes and millions of dollars in energy savings. The DOE Challenge Home — an ambitious successor to the Builders Challenge program — represents a whole new level of home performance, with rigorous requirements that ensure outstanding levels of energy savings, comfort, health, and durability.

Look for the Label

The DOE Challenge Home label is the symbol of excellence for new homes. Learn what's behind this new level of performance .

The label for a DOE Challenge Home, with the headline reading, DOE Challenge Home: A New Level of Performance. There are progress bars going across the center of the image, denoting rates for comfort, indoor environment, durability, advanced technology, construction quality, and energy efficiency. The key at the bottom left denotes which rates are for DOE Challenge Homes, ENERGY STAR homes, and existing homes. The DOE Challenge Home logo is in the lower right corner. In the center of the bottom of the image is the text, 'This label indicates relative performance of this DOE Challenge Home to typical minimum code new homes and ENERGY STAR qualified homes. Actual performance may vary.'

 

Take the Challenge

  • Review the DOE Challenge Home National Program Requirements and understand your partnership commitments as a builder, third-party verifier, or sponsor.
  • Register to take the challenge and identify optional builder commitments to ensure unparalleled excellence.
  • Learn about the value proposition and technical tips to get the most out of the program.
  • Use the Building America Solution Center as a resource for case studies on leading builders, innovative products and technologies, and specific building science solutions to help you meet the challenge.
  • Certify homes to the challenge and gain recognition as a leader.
  • Locate a leader near you. Use the locator map to find builders and raters ready to meet the challenge.
  • Promote the challenge to experience sales success using the guidelines.
  • Subscribe to the DOE Challenge Home News to receive information on leading-edge builders, upcoming training, technical tips and more.