ENERGY STAR Certified Modular Homes

What is a modular home?

A modular home is a prefabricated home that is made of multiple modules or sections that are manufactured and substantially assembled in a manufacturing plant. These pre–built sections are transported to the building site and constructed by a builder to meet all applicable building codes for site–built homes.

How can a modular home earn the ENERGY STAR?

A home earns the ENERGY STAR by meeting strict program requirements for energy efficiency set by the U.S. EPA. The program requirements applied to modular homes are the same as those applied to site–built homes. However, modular homes designed and produced in the plant to meet the ENERGY STAR program requirements are only "ENERGY STAR certified" after they are inspected and verified on site and receive the blue ENERGY STAR Certified Home label. Homes cannot be marketed or promoted as "ENERGY STAR labeled" or "ENERGY STAR certified" until the site verification process has been completed by a third–party verifier.

There are two ways a modular home can meet these program requirements and earn the ENERGY STAR:

1. Each modular home is rated by a third–party Home Energy Rater (or equivalent). The Home Energy Rater must coordinate with the plant and the site builder to verify those ENERGY STAR–related features of the home that are installed both in the plant and on–site.
2. Utilize the verification procedures described below which involve a plant certification process to certify that a plant has incorporated ENERGY STAR requirements into its in–plant inspection procedures and can consistently produce modules that can earn the ENERGY STAR, as well as an on–site inspection process where a third–party consultant visually checks that all ENERGY STAR requirements have been met. The plant certification process as well as oversight and enforcement of all quality assurance requirements related to designing, producing, and installing ENERGY STAR certified modular homes is the responsibility of a Quality Assurance Provider (QAP). The Systems Building Research Alliance (SBRA) has been approved by EPA as a national (QAP) for ENERGY STAR certified modular homes. For SBRA's compliance procedures for certifying modular homes, go to www.research-alliance.org.

Which Version of the Program Requirements Should I Use?

ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Implementation Schedule for Modular Homes:

Verification Procedures for ENERGY STAR Certified Modular Homes

The following verification procedures can be followed for modular homes to earn the ENERGY STAR label. These procedures include three main elements:

1. Plant Certification
2. Builder Qualification
3. Compliance Verification

Plant Certification

To produce modules for homes that, when constructed, can earn the ENERGY STAR, a manufacturing plant must first demonstrate to the satisfaction of a qualified and Quality Assurance Provider (QAP)–approved third–party consultant that it has the ability to consistently produce homes that comply with the ENERGY STAR requirements with respect to all work conducted in the plant. This results in the plant being certified by the third–party consultant to produce modules that can earn the ENERGY STAR. All work of the plant is conducted under the oversight of the third–party consultant who is a specialist in factory building with expertise in energy efficient construction.

To become certified the plant must develop procedures that address:

• Education – Plant personnel must be properly trained in all ENERGY STAR requirements and procedures. Plant staff and the third–party consultant must document all in–plant and on–site ENERGY STAR requirements and procedures and provide this information to all plant personnel as well as to builders that the plant utilizes to build ENERGY STAR certified modular homes.
• Designs – All modular home designs developed by the plant or by the third party to be used in producing ENERGY STAR modular homes must be reviewed and approved by the third–party consultant as meeting ENERGY STAR requirements. (Prescriptive Path or Performance Path)
• QA/QC process – The plant must develop compliance verification documentation and processes including the integration of ENERGY STAR provisions into the plant’s QA/QC process and have these third–party reviewed and approved
• Inspecting and testing – As a condition of plant certification, the plant must have its homes third–party inspected and tested both in the plant and on site to establish the plant’s ability to routinely build compliant homes.
• Maintaining plant certification – The plant must be periodically re–inspected by the third–party consultant to confirm that proper procedures remain in place and to resolve production–related problems if and as they arise.
• Becoming an ENERGY STAR Partner – All plants participating in the production of modular homes to be constructed onsite as ENERGY STAR certified homes must be ENERGY STAR partners

Builder Qualification

• To participate in building ENERGY STAR certified modular homes under these procedures, builders have to first demonstrate the ability to consistently meet ENERGY STAR requirements by establishing specific on–site inspection and testing procedures that includes the use of an independent third–party who can visually verify and document that each home has met all program requirements prior to earning the ENERGY STAR label, and that also includes a process for addressing non–compliance issues. These procedures must also include reporting requirements for builders to report their ENERGY STAR activity to the QAP. Builders must also be ENERGY STAR partners to use ENERGY STAR's partner–only logo and to be listed on ENERGY STAR's Partner Locator.

Compliance Verification

Compliance with ENERGY STAR requirements for each home must be verified both in the plant and at the site following procedures that are established by a QAP. These procedures must address home compliance both in the plant and at the site as follows:

• In–Plant Inspection and Verification Procedures. Plants must comply with their third–party–approved QA/QC process and label each home that is to be ENERGY STAR certified with a unique identifier recognizable by the third–party field inspector. This identifier indicates to the field inspector that all ENERGY STAR requirements in the plant have been met.
• On–Site Inspection and Verification Procedures. A third–party consultant must inspect, test and certify homes installed and completed by the builder on site, as well as report qualifying homes to the QAP. The QAP approves and monitors this third party, who must possess qualifications appropriate for the task as defined by the QAP. Site testing follows a sampling protocol, reflecting the fact that the manufacturing plant has been certified and has demonstrated the ability to consistently produce homes that comply with ENERGY STAR requirements.

How to Promote Your ENERGY STAR Modular Homes

ENERGY STAR provides its active partners the opportunity to utilize the ENERGY STAR brand in promoting homes that earn the ENERGY STAR label. Modular manufacturing plant and builder partners must adhere to ENERGY STAR's Brand Brand Book when promoting ENERGY STAR certified modular homes. These guidelines describe how the ENERGY STAR name and marks may be used in promotional materials. In addition, ENERGY STAR distributed a letter (657KB) and a quick logo–use reference guide (2.0MB) to all ENERGY STAR modular plant partners that provides clarification on how plants can use the ENERGY STAR brand.

Getting Started with ENERGY STAR Certified Manufactured Homes

ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3 Program Requirements

Sector–Specific Policies: Homes Undergoing Gut Rehabilitation

EPA allows existing homes to earn the ENERGY STAR when all requirements of the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program are met. EPA does recognize that some of the current program requirements present unique challenges for existing homes, even those undergoing a gut rehabilitation.

To help mitigate these challenges, EPA has developed alternative compliance options for existing homes. These alternative options are for specific items on the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Inspection Checklists and have been incorporated directly into the Inspection Checklists with the release of Revision 07. These alternatives are available for use and are listed in the Policy Record. See Recent Policy Changes and Clarifications.

While EPA does not mandate the scope of work for existing home projects, it has identified key components that may be needed to meet the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program requirements. These include the following:

1. Remove exterior cladding and the outer surface of roof to install and/or verify the components on the Water Management Builder System Checklist and Thermal Enclosure System Rater Checklist
2. Replace or expose most systems, equipment, or components (e.g. HVAC and ducts, windows, insulation)
3. Grade the site and/or provide drains/swales
4. Implement below-grade moisture management strategies

EPA acknowledges that additional alternatives, increased flexibility, and alternative assessment protocols would expand the number of homes able to earn the ENERGY STAR. EPA is committed to including additional alternatives as they become available so that more homes may earn the ENERGY STAR label without sacrificing performance.

Development Archives

EPA receivedcomments (PDF, 337 KB) from partners and other stakeholders regarding the Proposed Alternative Compliance Pathways for Homes Undergoing a Gut Rehabilitation (572KB). Note: These were the proposed alternatives and not all alternatives were adopted. For the available alternatives, please see the most recent Policy Record found here: Recent Policy Changes and Clarifications

Summary of Public Comment Period for Proposed Alternative Pathways for Gut Rehabilitation Projects (PDF, 535 KB) — This document contains a summary of comments received during the gut rehabilitation comment period, along with EPA's response to each point raised and the resulting policy change, if any.