For a new home to be energy certified, it has to meet certain requirements laid out by the United States government. Learning about these requirements is a good first step in building your energy efficient home. Discover how to build an Energy Star certified custom home, and find out why it’s important to work with an experienced green home builder.
What is an Energy Star Home?
If you’ve ever researched how to make your home more energy efficient, then you may have come across something known as an Energy Star certification. The Energy Star certification indicates that a given product meets strict energy efficiency standards and is commonly used for household appliances like HVAC systems. However, it’s also possible for homes to receive an Energy Star Certification.
An Energy Star home is one that has been constructed based on energy efficient principles and has been independently tested to ensure that it meets the requirements laid out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Energy Star homes often have advanced insulation, Energy Star appliances, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
Qualification & Certification
For a home to qualify under the Energy Star program and receive certification, several requirements must be met. First, there must be a plan in place for how your home will be built. Once this plan is set, your builder will begin the construction of your home, following the guidelines of the Energy Star program.
The products that are used in your home will need to meet very strict efficiency requirements if you want to earn Energy Star certification. For instance, if you live in a hot climate, your air conditioner will need a SEER rating of at least 14.5 and you must use a heat pump that has an AFUE rating of 80 or higher. Your doors, windows, and ductwork will need to be properly sealed and you will need a programmable thermostat.
After construction has been completed, the independent energy rater your builder hired will examine your home and determine if it qualifies for Energy Star certification. If you are approved, you will receive a certificate and a sticker will be placed on your home marking it as an Energy Star home.
Who Can Build Energy Star?
As you can see, receiving Energy Star certification for your home is a very complicated, difficult process, which is why you need to be sure you’re working with the right green home building contractors in Scottsdale. When you’re looking for a builder, you need to make sure that your builder is an Energy Star partner. Energy Star partners have committed to building by energy efficiency standards and are the only construction professionals qualified for these homes.
If you don’t hire the right building professionals, it’s likely that your home will not be built using the proper standards and you will not be able to receive your Energy Star certification.
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Contact the Scottsdale home building experts at Peak One Builders & Restoration to learn more about creating a custom home. Request a free estimate or call 480-378-0611 now!
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