ENERGY STAR®

QUALIFIED HOMES

Assured Performance in 

Every Qualified Home
“ENERGY STAR was a smart choice for our first 

home. It’s not just about the savings. We like that our 

home was built with cutting-edge technology and 

the environment in mind. Protecting the environment 

is important to us—and this 

gave us an opportunity to be part 

of the solution.” 

—Leona Fisher and Will Sankhla 

Fontana, CA
DISCOVER THE ENERGY STAR 

DIFFERENCE 

Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. 

By choosing one that has earned the government’s trusted ENERGY STAR 

label, you can have the house of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind 

knowing it’s been built to meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

With ENERGY STAR, you know you’re making the right 

decision—for your wallet, for your family, and for the 

environment—bringing these important benefits:

• Lower Utility Bills

 By using less energy for heating, cooling, and 

water heating, ENERGY STAR qualified homes 

deliver approximately 20% savings on annual utility 

bills. Over the 7 to 8 years that a typical family lives 

in a home, you can save thousands of dollars in 

maintenance cost. 

• Enhanced Performance

 In ENERGY STAR qualified homes, comfort is ensured 

with consistent temperatures between and across 

rooms; indoor air quality is enhanced by reducing 

dust, pollen, bugs, and excessive humidity; and 

durability is improved with comprehensive water 

protection, windows that block damaging sunlight, 

and better grade equipment. 

• Environmental Protection

 The energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil 

fuels at power plants. So, by using less energy to operate, ENERGY STAR 

qualified homes help to prevent air pollution—an added benefit for today’s 

environmentally-conscious consumer looking for “green” choices. 

EVERY ENERGY STAR 

HOME FEATURES;* 

1. A Complete Thermal 

Enclosure System

2. A Complete Heating 

and Cooling System

3. A Complete Water 

Management System

4. Energy-Efficient 

Lighting and 

Appliances

5. Third-Party Verification

*These features refer to homes 

using ENERGY STAR for Homes 

Version 3 guidelines. Until 

January 2012, builders may 

use prior versions of the ENERGY 

STAR guidelines. Ask your builder 

for more information.
1. A COMPLETE THERMAL 

ENCLOSURE SYSTEM 

Comprehensive air sealing, 

properly installed insulation, 

and high-performance 

windows work together to 

enhance comfort, improve 

durability, reduce maintenance 

costs, and lower monthly 

utility bills.

• Air Sealing

 An average home contains a half-mile of cracks and gaps around 

windows and doors—along with hundreds of holes for pipes, ventilation 

ducts, lighting, and wiring. Sealing these cracks and holes helps reduce 

drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, pests, and noise. A tightly sealed home 

improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills.

• Properly Installed Insulation

 It’s not the amount of insulation; it’s the quality of installation that 

makes all the difference. Proper installation includes careful 

placement to eliminate gaps, voids, and compression; complete air 

barriers that prevent air from bypassing the insulation; and building 

techniques that minimize heat flow through framing. This ensures 

consistent temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, 

and increased comfort.

• High-Performance Windows

 Advanced technologies, like protective coatings and improved frames, 

help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. They also block 

damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.
2. A COMPLETE HEATING AND 

COOLING SYSTEM

High-efficiency systems are 

engineered and installed to 

deliver more comfort, better 

moisture control, improved 

indoor air quality, and quieter 

operation.

• Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

 Look for higher efficiency equipment that delivers premium 

performance. This equipment uses less energy, operates at reduced 

noise levels, and often comes with extended warranty coverage.

• Proper Design and Quality Installation Practices

 The heating and cooling systems in ENERGY STAR qualified homes 

are fully engineered and tested, including sizing of equipment and 

ducts, sealing and testing ductwork, verifying proper refrigerant 

charge (for central air conditioners and heat pumps), and ensuring 

room-by-room air flow. This is all done in accordance with best 

practices established by the leading industry association and 

equipment manufacturers.

• Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation

 The living space in ENERGY STAR qualified homes has a constant 

source of fresh, filtered air to remove pollutants from your home.
A comprehensive package 

of best building practices 

and materials protects roofs, 

walls, and foundations from 

water damage and helps 

ensure durability and superior 

indoor air quality.

3. A COMPLETE WATER 

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• Water-Managed Construction Details

 Tried-and-true building practices, such as flashing, moisture 

barriers, and heavy-duty membranes, are employed to effectively 

drain water from the roofs, walls, and foundations of ENERGY STAR 

qualified homes.

• Building Materials

 Proper storage and selection of materials helps prevent water- and 

mold-damaged materials in ENERGY STAR qualified homes.

“Choosing an ENERGY STAR home has made a 

significant difference for us. Our first electric bill was 

extremely low—we love the savings! And knowing 

that we have a safe, energy-efficient home we can 

live in for years is so comforting.” 

—The Costa Family, Dallas, TX
“We’re dedicated to building energy-efficient homes 

so that families who choose our homes not only 

save money on their utility bills, but also enjoy the 

comfort and durability of a home built to such 

high standards.”

—WGB Construction Company, South Grafton, MA
4. ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING 

AND APPLIANCES

ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, appliances, and fans can be 

found throughout an ENERGY STAR home, helping to reduce 

monthly utility bills, while providing high-quality performance.

• Advanced Lighting

 ENERGY STAR qualified fixtures and bulbs come in many shapes 

and sizes. This gives home buyers a wide range of lighting 

choices that allow them to create the atmosphere they want for 

their homes. ENERGY STAR lighting offers significant cost savings 

and longer lifetimes than standard products.

• ENERGY STAR Qualified Appliances

 Household appliances account for nearly 20 percent of energy 

use in an average house. A comprehensive package of ENERGY 

STAR qualified appliances can reduce energy costs, while 

offering improved performance, quality, and durability. ENERGY 

STAR qualified homes often include ENERGY STAR qualified 

dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, ceiling fans, 

and ventilation fans.

"We have noticed substantial savings, not only in our utility 

bills, but in our overall energy consumption. This is due to 

the added benefits of having ENERGY 

STAR appliances, effective insulation, 

and high-performance, energyefficient windows." —The Orrock Family 

Las Vegas, NV

5. THIRD-PARTY 

VERIFICATION

• Climate-Specific Recommendations

 For a home to be truly energy efficient, its design and construction 

must consider local conditions. Home Energy Raters are trained in 

climate-specific energy saving techniques, and their knowledge and 

field experience help ENERGY STAR builder partners select the most 

appropriate energy-efficient features.

• Field Verification

 Raters conduct onsite inspections and testing 

of ENERGY STAR qualified homes to ensure 

they meet rigorous program guidelines. The 

process typically includes a blower door test 

to measure air leakage in the house, a duct 

blaster test to measure duct leakage, and a 

comprehensive set of inspections to assure 

proper construction details. 

• Quality Assurance

 Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR typically undergo significantly 

more systems engineering, inspections, and testing than homes built to 

code. This verification process helps to identify and correct mistakes 

before they become problems and holds builders accountable to higher 

standards.

• Peace of Mind That Comes with Making a Smart Purchase

Look for the blue ENERGY STAR label—typically located 

on a home’s circuit breaker box. It assures you that the 

home has been verified by an independent Home Energy 

Rater to be truly energy efficient.
More than 1 million families across the country are 

living in ENERGY STAR qualified homes. Together, these 

homeowners saved more than $270 million last year on 

their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions 

equivalent to those from 370,000 vehicles. By choosing 

ENERGY STAR for your new home, you’ll join the growing 

number of families enjoying a better home with lower 

ownership costs.

JOIN THE ENERGY STAR 

HOMES FAMILY
ENERGY STAR qualified homes must 

be verified by an independent Home 

Energy Rating System (HERS) rater 

who conducts a comprehensive series 

of detailed inspections and uses 

specialized diagnostic equipment to 

test system performance.

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Office of Air and Radiation (6202J) 

EPA 430-F10-001 

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 

as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy 

efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and 

consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, 

save money, and help protect the environment for 

future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are 

ENERGY STAR partners, committed to improving energy 

efficiency in homes, products, and businesses.

Learn more, visit energystar.gov