ENERGY STAR Certified Homes (Version 3/3.1, Revision 08)
- Rater Design Review Checklist and Rater Field Checklist
- Rater Design Review Checklist
- Rater Field Checklist
- Thermal Enclosure System
- 1. High-Performance Fenestration & Insulation
- 2. Fully-Aligned Air Barriers
- 2.1 Dropped ceilings/soffits below unconditioned attics, and all other ceilings
- 2.2 Walls behind showers, tubs, staircases, and fireplaces
- 2.3 Attic knee walls and skylight shaft walls
- 2.4 Walls adjoining porch roofs or garages
- 2.5 Double-walls and all other exterior walls
- 2.6 Floors above garages, floors above unconditioned basements or crawlspaces, and cantilevered floors
- 2.7 All other floors adjoining unconditioned space (e.g., rim/band joists at exterior wall or at porch roof)
- 3. Reduced Thermal Bridging
- 3.1 For insulated ceilings with attic space above (i.e., non-cathedralized), Grade I insulation extends to the inside face of the exterior wall below and is ≥ R-21 in CZ 1-5; ≥ R-30 in CZ 6-8
- 3.2 For slabs on grade in CZ 4-8, 100% of slab edge insulated to ≥ R-5 at the depth specified by the 2009 IECC and aligned with the thermal boundary of the walls
- 3.3 Insulation beneath attic platforms (e.g., HVAC platforms, walkways) ≥ R-21 in CZ 1-5; ≥ R-30 in CZ 6-8
- 3.4 At above-grade walls separating conditioned from unconditioned space, one of the following options used (rim/band joists exempted):
- 3.4.1 Continuous rigid insulation, insulated siding, or combination of the two is: ≥ R-3 in CZ 1-4; ≥ R-5 in CZ 5-8, OR
- 3.4.2 Structural Insulated Panels OR; Insulated Concrete Forms OR; Double-wall framing OR;
- 3.4.3 Advanced framing, including all of the Items below:
- 3.4.3a Corners insulated ≥ R-6 to edge, AND;
- 3.4.3b Headers above windows & doors insulated ≥ R-3 for 2x4 framing or equivalent cavity width, and ≥ R-5 for all other assemblies (e.g., with 2x6 framing), AND;
- 3.4.3c Framing limited at all windows & doors to one pair of king studs, plus one pair of jack studs per window opening to support the header and sill, AND;
- 3.4.3d Interior/exterior wall intersections insulated to same R-value as rest of exterior wall, AND;
- 3.4.3e Minimum stud spacing of 16 in. o.c. for 2x4 framing in all Climate Zones and, in CZ 6-8, 24 in. o.c. for 2x6 framing
- 4. Air Sealing (Unless otherwise noted below, “sealed” indicates the use of caulk, foam, or equivalent material)
- 4.1 Ducts, flues, shafts, plumbing, piping, wiring, exhaust fans, & other penetrations to unconditioned space sealed, with blocking/flashing as needed
- 4.2 Recessed lighting fixtures adjacent to unconditioned space ICAT labeled and gasketed. Also, if in insulated ceiling without attic above, exterior surface of fixture insulated to ≥ R-10 in CZ 4-8
- 4.3 Above-grade sill plates adjacent to conditioned space sealed to foundation or sub-floor. Gasket also placed beneath above-grade sill plate if resting atop concrete/masonry & adjacent to cond. space
- 4.4 Continuous top plate or blocking is at top of walls adjoining unconditioned space, and sealed
- 4.5 Drywall sealed to top plate at all unconditioned attic/wall interfaces using caulk, foam, drywall adhesive, or equivalent material. Either apply sealant directly between drywall and top plate or to the seam between the two from the attic above
- 4.6 Rough opening around windows & exterior doors sealed
- 4.7 Walls that separate attached garages from occupiable space sealed and, also, an air barrier installed and sealed at floor cavities aligned with these walls
- 4.8 In multifamily buildings, the gap between the common wall (e.g. the drywall shaft wall) and the structural framing between units sealed at all exterior boundaries
- 4.9 Doors adjacent to unconditioned space (e.g., attics, garages, basements) or ambient conditions made substantially air-tight with weatherstripping or equivalent gasket
- 4.10 Attic access panels, drop-down stairs, & whole-house fans equipped with durable ≥ R-10 cover that is gasketed (i.e., not caulked). Fan covers either installed on house side or mechanically operated
- HVAC System
- 5. Heating & Cooling Equipment
- 6. Duct Quality Installation
- 6.1 Ductwork installed without kinks, sharp bends, compressions, or excessive coiled flexible ductwork
- 6.2 Bedrooms pressure-balanced using any combination of transfer grills, jump ducts, dedicated return ducts, and/or undercut doors to achieve a Rater-measured pressure differential ≤ 3 Pa
- 6.3 All supply and return ducts in unconditioned space, including connections to trunk ducts, are insulated to ≥ R-6
- 6.4 Rater-measured total duct leakage meets one of the following two options:
- 6.4.1 Rough-in: The greater of ≤ 4 CFM25 per 100 sq. ft. of CFA or ≤ 40 CFM, with air handler & all ducts, building cavities used as ducts, & duct boots installed. In addition, all duct boots sealed to finished surface, Rater-verified at final
- 6.4.2 Final: The greater of ≤ 8 CFM25 per 100 sq. ft. of CFA or ≤ 80 CFM, with the air handler & all ducts, building cavities used as ducts, duct boots, & register grilles atop the finished surface (e.g., drywall, floor) installed
- 6.5 Rater-measured duct leakage to outdoors the greater of ≤ 4 CFM25 per 100 sq. ft. of CFA or ≤ 40 CFM25
- 7. Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation System
- 7.1 Rater-measured ventilation rate is within either ± 15 CFM or ±15% of design value (2.3)
- 7.2 A readily-accessible ventilation override control installed and also labeled if its function is not obvious (e.g., a label is required for a standalone wall switch, but not for a switch that’s on the ventilation equipment)
- 7.3 No outdoor air intakes connected to return side of the HVAC system, unless controls are installed to operate intermittently & automatically based on a timer and to restrict intake when not in use (e.g., motorized damper)
- 7.4 System fan rated ≤ 3 sones if intermittent and ≤ 1 sone if continuous, or exempted
- 7.5 If system utilizes the HVAC fan, then the specified fan type is ECM/ICM (4.7), or the controls will reduce the standalone ventilation run-time by accounting for hours when the HVAC system is heating or cooling
- 7.6 Bathroom fans are ENERGY STAR certified if used as part of the whole-house system
- 7.7 Air inlet location (Complete if ventilation air inlet location was specified (2.12, 2.13); otherwise check “N/A”):
- 7.7.1 Inlet pulls ventilation air directly from outdoors and not from attic, crawlspace, garage, or adjacent dwelling unit
- 7.7.2 Inlet is ≥ 2 ft. above grade or roof deck; ≥ 10 ft. of stretched-string distance from known contamination sources (e.g., stack, vent, exhaust, vehicles) not exiting the roof, and ≥ 3 ft. distance from sources exiting the roof
- 7.7.3 Inlet is provided with rodent/insect screen with ≤ 0.5 inch mesh
- 8. Local Mechanical Exhaust
- 8.1 Kitchen system exhausts directly outdoors and has a continuous rate ≥ 5 ACH based on kitchen volume (Recommended ≤ 1 sone) or an intermittent rate ≥ 100 CFM and if not integrated with range, also ≥ 5 ACH based on kitchen volume (Recommended ≤ 3 sones)
- 8.2 Bathroom system exhausts directly outdoors and has a continuous rate ≥ 20 CFM (Recommended ≤ 1 sone) or an intermittent rate ≥ 50 CFM (Recommended ≤ 3 sones)
- 9. Filtration
- 9.1 At least one MERV 6 or higher filter installed in each ducted mechanical system in a location that facilitates access and regular service by the owner
- 9.2 Filter access panel includes gasket or comparable sealing mechanism and fits snugly against the exposed edge of filter when closed to prevent bypass
- 9.3 All return air and mechanically supplied outdoor air passes through filter prior to conditioning
- 10. Combustion Appliances
- 10.1 Furnaces, boilers, and water heaters located within the home’s pressure boundary are mechanically drafted or direct-vented
- 10.2 Fireplaces located within the home’s pressure boundary are mechanically drafted or direct-vented
- 10.3 If unvented combustion appliances other than cooking ranges or ovens are located inside the home’s pressure boundary, the Rater has followed Section 805 of RESNET’s Standards, encompassing ANSI/ACCA 12 QH-2014
- HVAC Design Report
- HVAC Commissioning Checklist
- Water Management System Builder Requirements
- 1. Water-Managed Site and Foundation
- 1.1 Patio slabs, porch slabs, walks, and driveways sloped ≥ 0.25 in. per ft. away from home to edge of surface or 10 ft., whichever is less
- 1.2 Back-fill has been tamped and final grade sloped ≥ 0.5 in. per ft. away from home for ≥ 10 ft
- 1.3 Capillary break beneath all slabs (e.g., slab on grade, basement slab) except crawlspace slabs using either: ≥ 6 mil polyethylene sheeting, lapped 6-12 in., or ≥ 1 in. extruded polystyrene insulation with taped joints
- 1.4 Capillary break at all crawlspace floors using ≥ 6 mil polyethylene sheeting, lapped 6-12 in., & installed using one of the following:
- 1.5 Exterior surface of below-grade walls of basements & unvented crawlspaces finished as follows: a) For poured concrete, masonry, & ICFs, finish with damp-proofing coating b) For wood framed walls, finish with polyethylene and adhesive or other
- 1.6 Class 1 vapor retarder not installed on interior side of air permeable insulation in exterior below-grade walls
- 1.7 Sump pump covers mechanically attached with full gasket seal or equivalent
- 1.8 Drain tile installed at basement and crawlspace walls, with the top of the drain tile pipe below the bottom of the concrete slab or crawlspace floor
- 2. Water-Managed Wall Assembly
- 2.1 Flashing at bottom of exterior walls with weep holes included for masonry veneer and weep screed for stucco cladding systems, or equivalent drainage system
- 2.2 Fully sealed continuous drainage plane behind exterior cladding that laps over flashing and fully sealed at all penetrations. Additional bond-break drainage plane layer provided behind all stucco and non-structural masonry cladding wall assemblies
- 2.3 Window and door openings fully flashed
- 3. Water-Managed Roof Assembly
- 3.1 Step and kick-out flashing at all roof-wall intersections, extending ≥ 4” on wall surface above roof deck and integrated shingle-style with drainage plane above; boot / collar flashing at all roof penetrations
- 3.2. Homes without slab-on-grade foundation: gutters & downspouts empty to lateral piping that deposits on sloping final grade ≥ 5 ft. from foundation or to underground catchment system ≥ 10 ft. from foundation
- 3.3 Self-adhering polymer-modified bituminous membrane at all valleys & roof deck penetrations
- 3.4 In 2009 IECC Climate Zones 5 & higher, self-adhering polymer-modified bituminous membrane over sheathing at eaves from the edge of the roof line to > 2 ft. up roof deck from the interior plane of the exterior wall
- 4. Water-Managed Building Materials
- 4.1 Wall-to-wall carpet not installed within 2.5 ft. of toilets, tubs, and showers
- 4.2 Cement board or equivalent moisture-resistant backing material installed on all walls behind tub and shower enclosures composed of tile or panel assemblies with caulked joints. Paper-faced backerboard shall not be used
- 4.3 In Warm-Humid climates, Class 1 vapor retarders not installed on the interior side of air permeable insulation in above-grade walls, except at shower and tub walls
- 4.4 Building materials with visible signs of water damage or mold not installed or allowed to remain
- 4.5 Framing members & insulation products having high moisture content not enclosed (e.g., with drywall)
- 4.6 For each condensate-producing HVAC component, corrosion-resistant drain pan included that drains to a conspicuous point of disposal in case of blockage. Backflow prevention valve included if connected to a shared drainage system
- 1. Water-Managed Site and Foundation