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Improved Energy Star Version 3 for Your Home, 2012

By David Popoff

Real Estate Broker/Owner with DMK Real Estate Ct RE Broker 0789963

October 03, 2011 03:47 AM

Improved Energy Star Version 3 for Your Home, 2012

With many states upgrading their building and energy codes the EPA’s Energy Star for New Construction Homes program (ESv3) will be upgraded to version 3 starting January 1^st, 2012. Energy Star homes are 20-30% more efficient than standard homes with emphasis on being able to verify that the proper installation and building practices have been met in:

Thermal Enclosure

Insulation system
Envelope of building
High performance windows

HVAC system, including ducts
Energy Star qualified lighting and appliances
Water Management system and/or Indoor Air Quality

The majority of the program and the included checklist are to document that your contractor/builder has built to the 2009 IECC energy code and has followed proper manufacture directions for installation of windows, thermal barrier, HVAC system and also energy efficient building codes such as proper insulation installation, efficient lighting fixtures.

This third party verification by a certified Home Energy Rater is really a quality control feature to make sure that the builder has followed proper instructions and has done the work to the proper requirements.

Manufacture installment instructions have changed and adopted different requirements in response to the recent advancements of residential building technology and science. Many of these procedures do not follow the same procedure that they did 2 to 5 years ago. Many local building supply stores such as Rings End Lumber provide free educational events to inform and educate their contractors of the changes.

For example:

Exterior house wrap needs to be taped with manufacture recommended tape at all joint and installed with 1 inch button nails

High performance windows need to follow installation directions of manufacture or warrantee is void; this includes proper water flashing procedures.

HVAC systems need to be verified that components are compatible and that duct work has a minimum of leakage and are properly installed & insulated.

Proper air sealing around the exterior of a house, fiberglass insulation is not an air sealer, use caulk or foam.

To find Builders, Raters and other Energy Star Partners in your state click here.

David Popoff is a license Realtor in Connecticut with William Raveis office in Darien.
A resident of Fairfield County for over 40 years with a background in residential construction and property management.

NAR Green designee.
David Popoff is an accredited LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) Homes and USGBC member of the Connecticut chapter (CTGBC).
Associate member and an accredited Certified Green Professional (CGP) of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the local chapter HBRA-Fairfield County, Ct. .
Contact David Popoff for all your real estate needs in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut. Member of the Connecticut Association of Realtors, CAR.
Member of the National Association of Realtors, NAR.
Member of the Darien MLS, Greenwich MLS & Greater Fairfield County, Ct MLS.

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Cathy Criado

Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX

Making Real Estate Profitable

David - Great information! I'm glad they are tighening the qualifications. Now if we could just get ALL the builders to comply! Reblog, Suggested.

Oct 03, 2011 11:42 AM

David Popoff

DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT

Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

Cathy, let the home owner tell the builders they want 3rd party verification, it gives you that extra layer of quality control.

Oct 04, 2011 01:42 AM

Dave Roberts

Healdsburg Sotheby's International Realty - Healdsburg, CA

Thanks for posting the information and links. I have followed many green building trends and knew that many old guidelines have been changed. It's great to see that Energy Star is keeping up with new research and continually improving the efficiency of Energy Star construction.

Oct 04, 2011 03:29 PM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

David~

I FEATURED this post at the ECO-ALL-STARS

Oct 06, 2011 01:09 PM

Thanks for the feature on Eco All Stars, this is a great program to help build a quality home and adds a very little if no additional cost to the bottom line that pays back year after year after year.

Oct 07, 2011 01:51 AM

Stanton Homes

Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC

Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

There are some significant changes with the new 3.0 requirements. It will be interesting to see as this continues to be put into place what the total costs of the new program are. But the energy savings are a big plus, and homeowners should definitely be weighing a slightly higher mortgage payment with a lower utility bill.

Oct 07, 2011 03:22 AM

Penny, honestly I just completed 16 + hour course on EnergySTar 3 and the additional cost is minimal, it is mostly about proper installation.

Oct 07, 2011 05:08 AM

Edward D. Nikles

Ed Nikles Custom Builder , Inc. / Nikles Realty , Inc. - Milford, PA

David , I agree with Penny on weighing the costs for 3.0 . In a small marketplace , I've built 4 Energy Star 2.0 homes with average HERS of 56 . I'm doing one Energy Star 2.5 home now & have another 2.5 permitted . I've built 3 NAHB Green homes ( 2 Gold & 1 Silver ) and I'm building another one now . I've completed 4 DOE Builders Challenge homes , which requires a minimum HERS of 70 . I'm the only Master Certified Green Professional ( Master CGP ) in Pennsylvania , so I have a little experience with both building science & construction costs .

I believe EPA went way too far with 3.0 without having a good , better , best option . Most energy efficient builders I know , especially in colder climates will no longer build Energy Star 3.0 homes , but instead just get HERS ratings . I think they should have left 2.0 in place with a few minor changes & had 3.0 , as the next step up . All the low hanging fruit are now long gone & to get to 3.0 from a code built home WILL cost a lot more in my climate .

Unfortunately , we aren't even listed as a Partner on the Energy Star site any longer , as a Builder . as I haven't completed an Energy Star home in the last 12 months ( it has been 15 months ) . I won't be reactivated , until my 1st 2.5 home is completed & verified ( probably another 3 months ) . I guess the EPA doesn't realize it is slower in the building world and it is difficult to find at least 1 client every 12 months willing & able to pay for Energy Star certification & construction , which DOES cost more than a code built home . I think the extra cost of energy efficiency is well worth it , but the Appraisers & homebuyers tend to disagree . Ed

Dec 17, 2011 08:18 AM

Ed what an informative comment from someone who is in the trenches, thank you so much. I concur with you 100% and yes the EPA should keep you on as an EnergyStar partner. With the addition of version 3 I think by the definition of Energy Star and the upgrade to the building code they had no choice but come up with ESv3.

Energy Star homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to current code.

Dec 17, 2011 09:55 AM

Improved Energy Star Version 3 for Your Home, 2012

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