SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR

INFORMATION COLLECTION REQUEST RENEWAL NUMBER 2193.03:

“INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH EPA’S ENERGY 

STAR®PROGRAM IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR”

January 10, 2013

Prepared by:

Climate Protection Partnerships Division

Office of Air and Radiation

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION............................................ 1

1(a) Title and Number of the Information Collection ........................................................... 1

1(b) Short Characterization or Abstract................................................................................. 1

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION ................................................................. 12

2(a) Need and Authority for the Collection......................................................................... 12

2(b) Practical Utility and Users of the Data......................................................................... 13

3. NONDUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS, AND OTHER COLLECTION CRITERIA... 18

3(a) Nonduplication............................................................................................................. 18

3(b) Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB.......................................... 18

3(c) Consultations................................................................................................................ 19

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection............................................................................. 20

3(e) General Guidelines....................................................................................................... 20

3(f) Confidentiality.............................................................................................................. 20

3(g) Sensitive Questions...................................................................................................... 20

4. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED ................................... 21

4(a) Respondents and SIC Codes ........................................................................................ 21

4(b) Information Requested ................................................................................................. 22

5. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED—AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION 

METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT .......................................... 40

5(a) Agency Activities......................................................................................................... 40

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management.................................................................. 41

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility................................................................................................ 41

5(d) Collection Schedule...................................................................................................... 42

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE COLLECTION ............................... 44

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden.................................................................................... 44

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs....................................................................................... 44

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Costs.......................................................................... 45

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Universe ........................................................................... 45

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables............................................................... 70

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden..................................................................................... 71

6(g) Burden Statement ......................................................................................................... 75

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1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION

1(a) Title and Number of the Information Collection

This ICR is entitled ―Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's ENERGY

STAR®Program in the Residential Sector,‖ ICR number 2193.03, OMB Control 2060-0586. 

This ICR is a renewal and a non-rule related ICR.

1(b) Short Characterization or Abstract

ENERGY STAR®is a voluntary energy efficiency labeling program aimed at forming 

public-private partnerships that prevent air pollution rather than control it after its creation. The 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR in 1992 to label

energy efficient computers. Since then, EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have 

expanded the ENERGY STAR Program to promote energy efficiency in over 60 product 

categories such as office equipment and consumer electronics, and in commercial and residential 

buildings. President Obama has made energy efficiency a key element of his effort to address 

energy independence and reliability and climate change. Increased energy efficiency through 

ENERGY STAR provides cost savings to businesses and consumers, reduces greenhouse gas 

emissions from power plants, and increases U.S. energy security and reliability.

This ICR renewal examines information collection activities under the ENERGY STAR

Program within the new home and existing home sectors. ENERGY STAR is part of EPA’s 

Climate Protection Partnerships Division (CPPD) within the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). 

EPA announced ENERGY STAR for New Homes in 1995 as part of its effort to promote energy 

efficient new home construction within the residential sector. EPA rolled out an existing homes 

initiative in 1999 to promote cost-effective energy efficiency retrofits. Some additional key 

milestones include the following:

 In 2001, EPA launched Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and in 2008,

EPA launched an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program. These 

efforts promote home envelope improvements, (e.g., proper installation of 

adequate insulation, air sealing of holes and gaps into the home, and installation 

of energy efficient windows) proper installation of high efficiency heating and 

cooling equipment and duct sealing and repair. 

 In 2010, EPA announced new, more rigorous guidelines for new homes looking to 

earn the ENERGY STAR. Compared to homes built to the prior guidelines, 

homes built to the new guidelines are at least 10 percent more energy efficient, 

making them up to 30 percent more efficient than typical new homes. These new 

guidelines include four checklists that are designed to help ensure that critical 

details and systems that impact a home’s efficiency, comfort, and durability are 

not missed or installed incorrectly during the design and construction phases. 

These checklists are as follows:

 Thermal Enclosure System Checklist – covers construction details that 

provide for comprehensive air sealing, quality-installed insulation, and high-
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performance windows.

 Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) Quality Installation Checklist for 

Raters – covers details to be checked by a home energy rater that ensure the 

HVAC contractor has properly designed and installed the home’s HVAC 

system for optimal performance.

 Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) Quality Installation Checkist for 

Contractors – covers details to be checked by the HVAC contractor that 

ensure the home’s HVAC system is designed and installed for optimal 

performance.

 Water Management System Checklist – covers details that protect roofs, 

walls, and foundation from moisture damage.

 In 2011, a set of guidelines was released allowing multifamily high rise buildings 

to earn the ENERGY STAR for the first time. 

Through the end of 2011, more than 1.3 million ENERGY STAR certified homes have 

been built in the U.S. and more than 150,000 have been retrofitted through Home Performance 

with ENERGY STAR Programs. This is the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR Program. 

Over the past 20 years, with the help of ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses 

have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of 

carbon pollution. 

EPA believes collecting information from the public regarding ENERGY STAR in the 

residential sector is critical to the program’s sustained success in forming and nurturing 

voluntary agreements with the private sector to build and promote energy efficient homes. 

Partners view the ENERGY STAR label as a very effective marketing tool for highlighting the 

energy efficiency of their products, services, and homes to homebuyers and homeowners. In 

addition, ENERGY STAR provides partners with recognition as environmental leaders. 

Collecting information about partners and about ENERGY STAR’s impact in the residential 

marketplace is necessary to ensure that the value of the ENERGY STAR label is protected and 

maintained, and to ensure continued success and delivery of valuable benefits to partners such as 

market differentiation, competitive advantage, and public recognition. 

Throughout ENERGY STAR’s existence, EPA has attempted to streamline its 

information collection activities to focus on information needed to provide incentives and public 

recognition to organizations promoting ENERGY STAR. EPA has done this by both minimizing 

the amount of information collected from program participants and by utilizing technology (i.e., 

Web-enabled forms and databases) to more efficiently collect information. For example, since 

2006 when the first ICR was approved, EPA has deployed an online Partnership Agreement for 

home builders and verification organizations as well as an online partnership application review 

and approval tool called PARA. EPA also makes all marketing and outreach materials and 

educational resources available via its Website.

Because ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program, all information collection activities 

undertaken are of a voluntary nature. Respondents are not required to participate. Any 

information received to date has been submitted voluntarily to EPA. 
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Sections 1 through 5 of this document describe the collections (e.g., from the standpoint 

of need and use/utility of the information collected). These sections also describe respondent 

and Agency activities. In Section 6, EPA estimates the total annual hour and cost burden to 

respondents and the Agency under the collections. 

ENERGY STAR IN THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR

The ENERGY STAR Program promotes energy efficiency in both the new construction 

and existing home market sectors. ENERGY STAR forms formal partnerships and informal 

relationships with organizations that participate in building, verifying, selling, financing and 

incentivizing ENERGY STAR certified new homes as well as organizations that assess and 

improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. Participant groups include the following:

 Home Builders. This participant group includes builders of traditional site-built 

homes such as large production home builders, custom home builders, and 

multifamily high rise developers. This group also includes onsite builders and 

installers of homes produced in manufacturing plants including manufactured and 

modular homes. This group also includes the manufacturing plants that produce 

manufactured and/or modular homes that, once fully constructed onsite, are 

eligible for the ENERGY STAR label. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged 

to join the Program. Partners make a commitment to building and selling 

ENERGY STAR certified homes. Multifamily high rise developers are asked to 

submit a project application for each building/development project before design.

 Architects and Home Plan Designers. This participant group includes production 

architects and home plan designers who prepare architectural plans for residential 

construction projects. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to join the 

Program by submitting a Partnership Agreement. Partners make a commitment to 

include energy efficient details on home plans in an effort to earn the Designed to

Earn ENERGY STAR label.

 Verification Organizations. This participant group includes companies involved 

in independently verifying that homes meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for 

residential energy efficiency. They act as third-party providers of home energy

verification services who are independent from ENERGY STAR. Verification 

organizations typically serve as contractors hired by home builders and work 

under the oversight of an Oversight Organization. There are two types of 

verification organizations that participate in ENERGY STAR as partners: 

certified Home Energy Raters and accredited Home Energy Rating Providers. 

There are also manufactured and modular home plant certifiers who 

independently verify that manufacturing plants that produce manufactured and 

modular homes can consistently produce homes to earn the ENERGY STAR 

label. 
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 Oversight Organizations. Oversight organizations are organizations recognized by 

EPA as having the necessary qualifications and capabilities and infrastructure in 

place for overseeing the verification of a home’s energy efficiency for the 

ENERGY STAR label by Verification Organizations (see description above). 

There are three main types of oversight organizations that serve similar roles but 

for different sectors of the housing industry. Verification Oversight Organizations 

(VOOs) serve as oversight organizations for verifying that site-built, singlefamily homes meet ENERGY STAR guidelines. Manufactured and Modular 

Home Verification Organizations (MVOOs) oversee the verification of 

manufactured and modular homes for the ENERGY STAR label. HVAC Quality 

Installation Training and Oversight Organizations (H-QUITOs) are independent, 

third-party oversight organizations that provide the required training and 

oversight activities for HVAC contractors to install HVAC systems in ENERGY 

STAR certified homes. EPA recognition of an entity as an oversight organization 

means EPA has reviewed the organization’s capabilities, qualifications, and 

existing businesses practices and determined that the organization possesses the 

necessary oversight infrastructure and processes to oversee the verification of 

home energy efficiency and to apply that infrastructure and those processes 

towards verifying homes for the ENERGY STAR label. 

 Lenders. This participant group consists of lenders who use the ENERGY STAR 

brand to promote the use of energy efficiency mortgages (EEMs) by homebuyers 

to purchase an energy efficient home. 

 Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS). 

 Certified Homes EEPS. This participant group includes utilities; national, 

regional, state, or local government entities; or other organizations involved in 

coordinating and/or administering an energy-efficiency program that promotes 

ENERGY STAR certified homes.

 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors. This participant group 

consists of utilities, state or local government, or non-profit organizations that 

sponsor and promote a home energy retrofit program. The program 

emphasizes a whole house approach to energy efficiency, installation of 

recommended measures, diagnostic testing, and quality assurance.

 HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors. This participant group consists of 

utilities and state and local agencies that sponsor and/or promote a program 

that verifies that HVAC contractors install heating and air conditioning 

equipment to meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved 

quality installation standards. 

 HVAC Contractors. This participant group consists of contractors that install 

residential HVAC equipment and participate in the ENERGY STAR HVAC 

Quality Installation Program (HVAC QI).
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 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors. This participant group 

consists of contractors that make energy efficiency improvements under a Home 

Performance with ENERGY STAR Program.

 Homeowners. While not ENERGY STAR partners, another participant group is 

homeowners. This participant group includes all homeowners that will use EPA’s 

online home assessment tools that will collect energy use data and home energy 

characteristics from homeowners. Homeowners benefit directly from this activity 

by allowing them to analyze and understand their home energy use and obtain 

information on how to reduce their energy consumption to save money and 

improve home comfort. 

Also, on an informal basis and without becoming ENERGY STAR partners, other home 

industry professionals such as real estate agents and appraisers can promote ENERGY STAR 

residential programs and educate the public about the environmental and economic benefits of 

energy efficient homes. 

The following paragraphs describe the information collections applicable to these groups.

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Organizations interested in joining ENERGY STAR as a partner are asked to submit a 

Partnership Agreement that includes their basic address and contact information and describes 

their level of commitment to promoting ENERGY STAR certified homes, Home Performance 

with ENERGY STAR, or ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation. This partnership is 

activity-based; thus, partners are asked or encouraged to undertake certain responsibilities and 

activities related to being an active ENERGY STAR partner and maintaining this active status, 

as described below. This information is entered into an EPA-maintained database called iSTAR 

(www.energystar.gov/istar) which maintains all information collected from Partnership 

Agreements. 

Home Builder Partners

To join ENERGY STAR as a partner, home builders are asked to complete, sign, and 

submit an online Partnership Agreement. These partners agree to build ENERGY STAR 

certified homes and to promote ENERGY STAR. The Agreement also gives home builders the 

option of committing to a higher level of participation. This includes an optional commitment to 

build all of their homes as ENERGY STAR certified homes, committing to offering ENERGY 

STAR’s Advanced Lighting Package (ALP) to home buyers, and committing to offering EPA’s 

Indoor AirPLUS (IAP) label to home buyers. ENERGY STAR provides special recognition for 

these optional commitments on its Website. 
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Architects/Home Plan Designers 

In order to join ENERGY STAR as a partner, architects/home plan designers are asked to 

complete, sign, and submit an online Partnership Agreement to EPA. These partners agree to 

include details in their home plans with the intention of those plans earning the Designed to Earn 

the ENERGY STAR label and to promote ENERGY STAR.

Verification Organization Partners

To join ENERGY STAR as a partner, verification organizations are asked to complete, 

sign, and submit a Partnership Agreement to EPA. There are two types of verification 

organizations that participate in ENERGY STAR as partners: certified Home Energy Raters and 

accredited Home Energy Rating Providers. Both Home Energy Rating Providers and Home 

Energy Raters perform verification services, also known as home energy ratings, on homes by 

conducting onsite diagnostic tests to measure the energy efficiency of homes. Home Energy 

Raters and Providers also assist in verifying the energy efficiency of homes built in 

manufacturing plants, including manufactured and modular homes. [Note: There are also 

manufactured and modular home plant certifiers who independently verify that manufacturing 

plants that produce manufactured and modular homes can consistently produce homes to earn the 

ENERGY STAR label. Plant certifiers are not partners, however.] 

Oversight Organizations

Oversight organizations include organizations recognized by EPA as having the 

necessary qualifications and capabilities and infrastructure in place for overseeing the 

verification of a home’s energy efficiency for the ENERGY STAR label by verification 

organizations. Oversight organizations do not join as ENERGY STAR partners, but rather 

participate in the program by completing an application to be recognized by EPA as an Oversight 

Organization. This application requests the applicant to provide information that demonstrates 

that they meet the eligibility criteria established by EPA to be an Oversight Organization. 

Lenders

This participant group consists of lenders who use the ENERGY STAR program to 

promote the use of energy efficiency mortgages (EEMs) by homebuyers to purchase an energy 

efficient home. They commit to deliver energy efficient mortgages (EEMs) to buyers of energy 

efficient homes such as ENERGY STAR Certified Homes. EEMs use the present value of future 

utility bill savings to provide loan applicants more favorable loan terms, allowing them to qualify 

for a larger loan and to finance a more energy efficient home. Organizations of all sizes are 

encouraged to join the program by submitting a Partnership Agreement.

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS)

This group includes various types of Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS). It 

includes Certified Homes EEPS, which are organizations that coordinate and/or administer an 

energy-efficiency program that promotes ENERGY STAR certified homes. It also includes 
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Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program Sponsors, which are organizations that 

sponsor energy efficiency retrofit program for existing homes. Finally, it includes HVAC 

Quality Installation Program Sponsors, which are organizations that sponsor and/or promote a 

program that verifies that HVAC contractors install heating and air conditioning equipment to 

meet American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved quality installation standards. 

EEPS interested in joining ENERGY STAR are asked to complete and submit a Partnership 

Agreement and related information. 

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors participate in ENERGY STAR Certified Homes and HVAC Quality 

Installation Programs. They are not ENERGY STAR partners and do not complete a Partnership 

Agreement. As part of their participation in the ENERGY STAR, contractors sign a 

participating agreement with ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Sponsors that ensures that they are 

qualified to install HVAC equipment according to program guidelines. Contractors also seek 

credentials from H-QUITOs. They also agree to send Web content and other marketing materials 

featuring ENERGY STAR to HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors for promotion of the HVAC 

Quality Installation Program. 

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors participate in installing energy 

efficiency measures in existing homes under the oversight of a Home Performance with 

ENERGY STAR Sponsor. They are not partners and do not complete a Partnership Agreement. 

They do sign a participation agreement with a sponsor that ensures they are qualified to install 

energy efficiency measures according to program guidelines.

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES

Home Builders

Builders of Site-Built Homes (General)

Home builders complete a Water Management Checklist for each home built, including 

site-built and manufactured and modular homes. In addition, home builders can choose to fill out 

a number of items in the Thermal Enclosure Checklist before providing it to Home Energy 

Raters for completion. 

Manufactured and Modular Home Plants

To receive an ENERGY STAR label for homes manufactured in a plant or factory, the 

plant must integrate ENERGY STAR guidelines into home design plans. These plans are kept on 

site and are not collected by EPA. An internal plant coordinator is responsible for ensuring that 

program standards have been incorporated into plant operations. This plant coordinator is 

responsible for the manufacturing, as well as quality installation of the homes onsite. The 

coordinator addresses any issues regarding manufactured and modular ENERGY STAR homes. 
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As part of this responsibility, the plant coordinator collects and retains the four ENERGY STAR 

checklists completed when homes are inspected onsite: the Thermal Enclosure Checklist, Water 

Management Checklist, HVAC Rater Checklist, and HVAC Contractor Checklists.

Multifamily High Rise Developers

For each home design, multifamily high rise developers submit a Proposed Design to 

ensure that the project design meets program requirements and that they have been included in 

the construction documents. Upon completion of the construction phase, developers submit an 

As-Built Design Package to ensure that the energy conservation measures chosen by the design 

team are installed to specification.

Verification Organizations

Home Energy Raters and Providers

Both Home Energy Rating Providers and Home Energy Raters perform verification 

services, also known as home energy ratings, on homes by conducting onsite inspections and 

diagnostic tests to assess the energy efficiency of homes. For homes earning the ENERGY

STAR label, Rating Providers and Raters must check some additional information about the 

homes that is not a usual part of conducting a home energy rating to verify that the homes meet 

ENERGY STAR requirements. Home Energy Rating Providers provide a layer of quality control 

by overseeing the work of the Home Energy Raters and submitting quarterly reports to EPA on 

behalf of Home Energy Raters. Home Energy Raters and Providers also assist in verifying the 

energy efficiency of homes built in manufacturing plants, including manufactured and modular 

homes. They are involved in verifying that these homes meet ENERGY STAR requirements by 

checking that ENERGY STAR-related measures and requirements are installed and met both 

while in production in the plant and during onsite construction. 

As part of inspecting site-built homes and manufactured/modular homes onsite, Raters 

complete two checklists: the Thermal Enclosure Checklist and the HVAC QI Rater Checklist. 

They also collect two checklists from other parties: the Water Management Checklist and the 

HVAC QI Contractor Checklist. The Rater submits all four checklists to the Provider. For 

manufactured and modular homes, Raters also complete a separate manufactured or modular 

home completion report, which is submitted to the MVOO. 

In addition, Architects/Home Plan Designers contract with verification organizations to 

verify the energy efficiency criteria of each home plan for which they are seeking the Designed 

to Earn the ENERGY STAR label. These Raters review plans, complete the four checklists as 

well as the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Review Checklist. Once the Rater has 

approved the project, they issue the label. 

Manufactured and Modular Home Plant Certifiers

The manufactured and modular home industry utilizes third-party consultants called 

plant certifiers who certify a manufacturing plant’s ability to consistently produce and install 
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ENERGY STAR certified manufactured and modular homes. Plant certifiers are not ENERGY 

STAR partners. Plant certifiers complete a manufactured or modular home plant qualification 

form for each plant inspected to demonstrate that the plant is qualified to produce ENERGY 

STAR certified manufactured and/or modular homes. Once a plant is approved, the plant certifier 

returns to the plant every six months to ensure continued adherence to ENERGY STAR 

guidelines.

H-QUITOs

HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight Organizations (H-QUITOs) are 

independent, third party oversight organizations that provide required oversight activities for 

HVAC contractors. H-QUITOs oversee HVAC contractors by performing onsite quality 

assurance of contractor offices and/or on a sample of systems installed through periodic site 

visits and verification of checklists. 

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors may perform additional quality assurance on HVAC 

systems installed by contractors. To verify that HVAC systems have been installed correctly by 

contractors, Program Sponsors collect and review a commissioning report for each installation. 

Quality assurance also includes field verification of a small sample of installations by each 

contractor. 

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors participating in EPA’s ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation

program install residential HVAC equipment. HVAC contractors that participate in the 

ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program are asked to complete an HVAC QI Contractor 

Checklist for site-built homes and provide it to the Rater. HVAC contractors that choose to 

participate in an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program will submit a 

commissioning report to an HVAC Quality Installation Program Sponsor for each HVAC 

installation verified. This commissioning report includes details on the HVAC equipment (e.g. 

make, model), design specifications specific to the installations, and results of tests (e.g. air flow, 

refrigerant tests).

EVALUATION

Partners

EPA may contact partners on a regular or as-needed basis to evaluate and improve the 

ENERGY STAR Program, provide technical assistance to participants, and promote energy 

efficiency through the ENERGY STAR Program. EPA may contact partners regarding the 

following:
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 Sales and Marketing Support: EPA communicates with partners to assist them in 

marketing the program to the public. EPA may also use this interaction to 

encourage new partners to join the program. 

 Technical Support: EPA may periodically contact partners (e.g. home builders, 

Raters and Providers) and others (e.g. HVAC contractors) to provide technical 

support to promote successful program implementation. 

 Program Evaluation: Feedback about the ENERGY STAR Program and its 

outreach efforts is collected and utilized by EPA to assess and improve the 

effectiveness of the ENERGY STAR Program in stimulating and transforming the 

market for energy efficient homes. 

 Market Evaluation: Information about ENERGY STAR in the marketplace is 

collected and utilized by EPA to assess ENERGY STAR’s impact on the market 

for energy efficient new and existing homes.

Other Home Industry Professionals

EPA may contact other professionals in the residential sector such as realtors, appraisers, 

product manufacturers, and retailers, for their feedback on developing building science/energy 

efficiency concepts for the ENERGY STAR Program, its outreach efforts, and its impact on the 

market for energy efficient new and existing homes. 

Homeowner Evaluation 

This participant group includes all homeowners and organizations that choose to use 

EPA’s on-line home assessment tools, such as the Home Energy Yardstick, Home Energy 

Advisor, Home Energy Profile and other available resources to benchmark and monitor their 

homes’ energy performance. Use of these activities is a direct benefit for participating 

homeowners. Some homeowners may be featured in case studies on the ENERGY STAR 

Website to encourage others to take similar actions. 

Collecting information about how much energy is being saved as a result of ENERGY 

STAR’s residential programs is an important indicator of success. EPA may request permission 

from a number of homeowners (less than 500 in any one market) to obtain energy use and cost 

information from utilities and energy suppliers by completing a utility bill release form.

Respondents would need to complete, sign, and return the permission form. This information 

will be analyzed to measure ENERGY STAR’s impact and determine trends in the residential 

sector with respect to energy demand and energy efficiency impact of the program. 

PERIODIC REPORTING

In order for EPA to assess partners’ level of activity and give them credit for the 

ENERGY STAR certified homes they build or verify, EPA collects basic information each 

calendar quarter about the number of certified homes that partners have built and verified. This 
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information is then displayed on the ENERGY STAR Website to publicly recognize 

organizations and their level of activity in building and verifying ENERGY STAR certified 

homes. 

Rating Providers are asked to submit a report to EPA every quarter describing the number 

of ENERGY STAR certified homes. Manufactured and Modular Home Verification Oversight 

Organizations (MVOOs) are asked to collect and enter ENERGY STAR-related information into 

a database as verification organizations confirm that homes meet ENERGY STAR requirements. 

Each calendar quarter MVOOs generate a spreadsheet from their database containing the 

ENERGY STAR-related information that EPA asks for. The MVOO submits the spreadsheet via 

email. There is a separate spreadsheet containing ENERGY STAR manufactured home 

information and a separate spreadsheet containing ENERGY STAR modular home information.

As part of their participation in the program, H-QUITOs agree to share information as requested 

by EPA.

Partners that sponsor a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR or ENERGY STAR 

HVAC Quality Installation Program also submit quarterly reports. Home Performance with 

ENERGY STAR Sponsors are asked to submit quarterly reports on jobs completed by 

contractors. As the final quarterly report of the year, Program Sponsors submit an annual report 

to EPA that, among other things, described strategies and challenges in implementing program 

requirements.

For ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program, the number of completed 

projects or verified installations by participating contractor is reported. Quarterly reporting is 

also an opportunity to update partner contact information and participating contractor contact 

information.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS

Organizations interested in receiving recognition for their efforts in building, verifying, 

and/or sponsoring ENERGY STAR certified homes may submit an online application for an 

ENERGY STAR Award. These awards are given out annually by EPA during the annual 

ENERGY STAR awards ceremony. EPA is currently issuing the following awards under the 

ENERGY STAR Program in the Residential Sector:

 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year

 Home Builders

 Home Energy Raters

 Program Delivery (including New Homes and Home Performance)

 Excellence in Affordable Housing 

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP

Partners have the option of participating in an outreach partnership, whereby partners 

jointly contribute resources to the distribution of a public outreach and education campaign about 

ENERGY STAR certified homes. A one page Commitment Form is completed by the partners 
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and submitted to EPA. This form requests partner contact information as well as the amount of 

resources to be provided and details about the type of media to be used for the outreach 

campaign. 

The outreach program involves coordination and implementation by local partners to 

develop and distribute the outreach materials. EPA works closely with partners in interested 

markets to help facilitate a successful outreach campaign.

2. NEED FOR AND USE OF THE COLLECTION

2(a) Need and Authority for the Collection

Section 103(a) of the Clean Air Act authorizes EPA to establish ―a national research and 

development program for the prevention and control of air pollution.‖ As part of such a program, 

EPA is to ―conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, 

experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health 

and welfare effects), extent, prevention and control of air pollution.‖ Section 103(a)(1). 

In addition, as a component of the program, section 103(g) directs the Administrator to 

―conduct a basic engineering research and technology program to develop, evaluate, and 

demonstrate non-regulatory strategies and technologies for air pollution prevention.‖ The section 

calls on the Administrator to provide opportunities for industry, public interest groups, scientists, 

and other interested persons to participate in strategy development. Section 103(g) further directs 

EPA to include as elements in the program ―improvements in non-regulatory strategies and 

technologies for preventing or reducing multiple air pollutants including sulfur oxides, nitrogen 

oxides, heavy metals, PM-10 (particulate matter), carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide...‖ The 

strategies and technologies are to improve various air pollutant reduction and non-regulatory 

control strategies, including energy conservation.

The ENERGY STAR Program is one component of the Administrator’s response to 

reduce green house gas emissions that contribute to climate change. ENERGY STAR partners 

help promote efficient homes by building and labeling qualifying homes with the ENERGY 

STAR label and by improving the efficiency of existing homes. The label provides an easy way 

for consumers to identify energy-efficient homes and products that save money on utility bills 

and reduce air pollution. By using less energy, these homes and products help reduce the demand 

to create power, which is typically generated by power plants that burn fossil fuels. As such, 

these homes help reduce air pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide 

that are generated by these stationary sources. ENERGY STAR demonstrates how providing 

consumer information and public recognition can be used as a non-regulatory strategy to prevent 

and control air pollution. 

The information collection activities described in this ICR are necessary for EPA to track 

and assess the market for energy efficient homes, which allows EPA to design its ENERGY 

STAR outreach programs and public education materials to fit the needs of its partners, as well 

as to provide public recognition and market differentiation to participating organizations. 

Because some of the collection activities involve small businesses, EPA will limit collection 
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activities where a minimum amount of information is sufficient for EPA to complete its work. 

This ICR will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 

businesses. The following section explains the need for each major information collection 

activity included in this ICR.

2(b) Practical Utility and Users of the Data

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

EPA’s primary source of information about its ENERGY STAR partners comes from the 

Partnership Agreement form that organizations complete to join the ENERGY STAR Program. 

Depending on the respondent, there are certain information collection activities and additional 

forms related to becoming a partner. The purpose of these activities, the users of this 

information, and any additional forms associated with these activities are described below.

Home Builders

EPA uses information submitted in its ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement to 

officially establish an organization’s participation in ENERGY STAR and to provide 

organizations with public recognition of their ENERGY STAR Partnership. EPA uses the 

Partnership Agreement to enforce its trademark of the ENERGY STAR name and logos, to 

commit partners to verifying the energy efficiency of every home that receives an ENERGY 

STAR label, to provide public recognition by listing partners on the ENERGY STAR Partner 

Locator (www.energystar.gov/partnerlocator) as well as committing partners to providing EPA 

with verification information upon request. 

The Agreement also gives builders the option of making a commitment to building 100 

percent of their homes to ENERGY STAR guidelines, offering ENERGY STAR’s Advanced 

Lighting Package (ALP) in their homes, and/or offering EPA’s Indoor AirPLUS (IAP) label. 

These additional commitments can be made by the partner simply by initializing the applicable 

section of the Agreement. 

EPA will use information provided on the Partnership Agreement to provide public 

recognition to partners that are offering the Indoor AirPLUS in their new homes. EPA will also 

use this information to track the activities of builders building homes containing the IAP to make 

sure they are correctly implementing the IAP.

Architects/Home Plan Designers

All home plans are certified through the use of a model to project that the home as 

constructed will meet ENERGY STAR efficiency standards. The completion of the four 

checklists ensures that all construction details typically found in ENERGY STAR certified 

homes are present in the home plan. The Designed to Earn checklist ensures that all elements of 

an energy efficient home eligible for the ENERGY STAR label were verified. To ensure that 

new Raters are correctly verifying home plans, verification organizations are asked to submit all 

four checklists, model results, and the Designed to Earn checklist to EPA. After these materials 
14

are approved, the Architect/Home Plan Designer can submit all subsequent home plans to 

verification organizations for verification and labeling without EPA review.

Verification Organizations

Home Energy Raters and Providers

EPA uses information submitted in its ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement to 

officially establish an organization’s participation in ENERGY STAR and to provide 

organizations with public recognition of their ENERGY STAR Partnership. EPA uses the 

Partnership Agreement to enforce its trademark of the ENERGY STAR name and logos, to 

commit partners to verifying the energy efficiency of every home that receives an ENERGY 

STAR label, as well as committing partners to providing EPA with verification information upon 

request. 

Information provided on the Partnership Agreement is used to provide partners additional 

recognition on the ENERGY STAR Website’s Partner Locator Tool, which is accessed by those 

in the home building industry as well as by home buyers searching for ENERGY STAR partners 

in their state.

Oversight Organizations

VOOs and MVOOs

EPA uses the information submitted as part of the VOO and MVOO applications to 

ensure that organizations meet EPA’s eligibility criteria and have the qualifications and systems 

necessary to effectively oversee the verification of homes for the ENERGY STAR label. 

H-QUITOs

EPA uses the information collected in the H-QUITO application to learn about the 

organization, its national presence and quality assurance processes to ensure that it is qualified to 

certify and oversee HVAC contractors. 

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS)

Certified Homes EEPS

Information contained on the Commitment Form completed by EEPS as part of their 

Partnership Agreement will be used by EPA to verify what ENERGY STAR Program areas the 

partner is committing to promote. EEPS can only use the ENERGY STAR name and logos to 

promote program areas for which they are committed to via the Commitment Form.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

EPA will use the program implementation plan that is prepared and submitted by Home 
15

Performance with ENERGY STAR partners to ensure that they have an effective plan to manage 

and consistently deliver a program for making whole-house energy efficiency improvements. 

EPA will also verify that key program components are included in the plan. EPA will refer to 

this plan when verifying a partner’s commitment to ENERGY STAR. EPA provides an 

Implementation Plan template that partners may use to create their plan.

ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

EPA will use the program implementation plan that is prepared and submitted by 

ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program partners to ensure that these partners have 

an effective plan to manage a program to ensure that residential HVAC systems have been 

installed according to ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation guidelines. EPA will also 

verify that key program components are included in the plan. EPA will refer to this plan when 

evaluating a partner’s commitment to ENERGY STAR. 

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors participating in ENERGY STAR Programs are not ENERGY STAR 

partners and do not complete a Partnership Agreement. However, as part of their participation in 

the program, contractors seek credentials from H-QUITOs. This ensures they have the 

qualifications to satisfy ENERGY STAR guidelines as appropriate.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors

Contractors participating in a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program perform 

energy efficiency improvement projects in existing homes. These contractors are asked to 

complete a participation agreement and provide it to the program sponsor. This agreement 

describes the program’s requirements and terms of participation. EPA does not collect this 

information from sponsors, but may ask to review their records to verify that sponsors are 

properly overseeing the activities of contractors.

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES

Home Builders

Verification that a home meets ENERGY STAR program guidelines occurs when sitebuilt home builders or plants producing manufactured and modular homes want to apply the 

ENERGY STAR label on homes. This process is necessary to ensure the quality of the home 

with respect to ENERGY STAR’s guidelines for energy efficiency. A home’s energy efficiency 

is verified two ways. The first is via a performance path, where the builder, after meeting 

ENERGY STAR’s core requirements, can determine what features to include in its homes in 

order to earn the ENERGY STAR label. The second way is via a prescriptive path, where the 

builder must install not only all of ENERGY STAR’s core requirements but also all other 

requirements of ENERGY STAR’s prescriptive path. Also, a home can earn the ENERGY 

STAR label by being individually tested or as part of a sample group. Sampling involves use of 

an analytical protocol approved by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) that 
16

allows only one home in a group of seven similar homes to be verified. In this ―sampling‖ 

method, if the one home meets ENERGY STAR guidelines the other, similar homes are assumed 

to perform similarly and do not need to be individually tested. Also, a manufactured and 

modular home’s energy efficiency features are inspected onsite before the ENERGY STAR label 

is applied. 

Manufactured and Modular Home Plants

Manufactured and Modular plants must ensure that they are ready and able to 

consistently produce homes that are ready for ENERGY STAR qualification and that these 

homes are installed properly and according to ENERGY STAR guidelines. This, in turn, protects 

the value associated with the ENERGY STAR name and logo in the residential sector. This 

information is also used by the plants to correct any issues that arise during the production and 

installation process.

Multifamily High Rise Developers

Multifamily high rise developers submit a Proposed Design Package to ensure that the 

project design meets program requirements before construction. Upon completion of 

construction, developers submit an As-Built Design to ensure that the energy conservation 

measures are installed to specification. This process is necessary to ensure the quality of the 

home with respect to ENERGY STAR’s guidelines for energy efficiency. 

Verification Organizations

Home Energy Raters and Providers

Information collected and maintained as part of a verification organization’s process for 

verifying the energy efficiency of an ENERGY STAR certified home on behalf of a homebuilder 

is used by the verification organization, the home builder, and EPA to ensure that a home 

receiving an ENERGY STAR label meets EPA’s guidelines for residential energy efficiency. 

This serves to protect the integrity of the ENERGY STAR program by providing independent, 

third-party verification of all ENERGY STAR certified homes. The information is not submitted 

to EPA but rather is maintained by the verification organization and the homebuilder in the form 

of a home energy rating report, which is generated by the verification organization. EPA may 

request a copy of the final rating report if there is a need to become involved in resolving 

questions concerning the ENERGY STAR status of a home.

Manufactured and Modular Home Plant Certifiers

Information collected and maintained as part of a manufactured housing and modular 

housing partner’s plant certification process is used by EPA and the manufacturing plants 

themselves to ensure that a manufacturing plant is ready and able to consistently produce homes 

that are ready for ENERGY STAR qualification and that these homes are installed properly and 

according to ENERGY STAR guidelines. This in turn protects the brand recognition and value 

associated with the ENERGY STAR name and logo in the residential sector. A plant 
17

qualification form is completed as written confirmation of the plant’s certification. The 

qualification form is not an EPA form and is not submitted to EPA. The form belongs to an 

EPA-approved manufactured and modular verification oversight organization. A copy of the 

form is maintained by the plant itself.

Oversight Organizations

Oversight organizations, such as HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight 

Organizations (H-QUITOs) oversee contractors to ensure the quality of the home with respect to 

ENERGY STAR’s guidelines for energy efficiency. H-QUITOs perform quality assurance onsite 

at contractor offices and/or on a sample of HVAC systems installed in the home.

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors participating in the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program 

complete an HVAC QI Contractor Checklist for site-built homes to ensure that a home receiving 

an ENERGY STAR label meets EPA’s guidelines for residential energy efficiency. Contractors 

participating in an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program will complete a 

commissioning report to document important verification information for each HVAC 

installation verified. The reports for each Program Sponsor are different. Program Sponsors 

collect and review a commissioning report for each installation to ensure the quality of the 

HVAC system with respect to ENERGY STAR’s guidelines for energy efficiency. EPA does not 

collect this information from Program Sponsors, but may ask to review their records to verify 

that the Program Sponsor or quality assurance organization is actively reviewing reports.

EVALUATION

Partners and Other Home Industry Professionals

EPA will use information collected from partners about their experience with the 

program to streamline and modify the program in order to improve participants’ experience and 

participation. EPA will use information collected from partners and others in the new home 

construction and home improvement sectors to evaluate the impact of ENERGY STAR on the 

building, selling, and promotion of energy efficient new homes and the improvement of existing 

homes. EPA will also use this information to improve its ability to serve the needs of those in 

the home construction and home improvement industries who wish to build and promote energy 

efficient homes. This collection activity will ensure that ENERGY STAR maintains its brand 

value in the marketplace as the symbol for energy efficient homes and products, and that its 

education and outreach efforts are well designed and targeted and properly executed given 

current market conditions. 

This evaluation information may also be used by EPA or shared with other organizations 

as part of public outreach or education campaigns promoting the environmental and economic 

benefits of energy-efficient new and existing homes.
18

Homeowners

EPA may, when granted permission by a homeowner who has purchased an ENERGY 

STAR certified home or had a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR project performed on 

their home, collect energy use and cost information from servicing utilities and energy suppliers. 

This information will be analyzed to determine the energy saving impact of the program.

PERIODIC REPORTING

EPA will use the information obtained via the reporting process to learn about the 

progress and accomplishments of partners and others under the ENERGY STAR Program. For 

example, the quarterly reports help in the formulation of short- and long-term goals for energy 

and air pollution reduction and in the identification of partners who are deserving of special 

recognition via EPA’s ENERGY STAR Awards and other special recognition programs. This 

information is also used by EPA to inform the public as to the progress being made in reducing 

residential energy use and in reducing air pollution.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS

Information collected from partners via the ENERGY STAR Awards application process 

will be used by EPA to evaluate the level of activity and brand support provided by partners and 

to determine which partners will earn an ENERGY STAR award in the various award categories 

being offered. This information will also be used by EPA as part of its efforts to promote 

ENERGY STAR and successful organizations that have committed themselves to promoting 

energy efficient homes. The awards themselves will be used by partners to promote their success 

as a partner and leader among their peers.

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP

The information collected on the Commitment Form is used by EPA as an agreement 

between EPA and partners as to the terms of the outreach campaign to be co-developed. This 

includes the type of media to be used and the resources to be contributed by all partners towards 

the campaign.

3. NONDUPLICATION, CONSULTATIONS, AND OTHER COLLECTION 

CRITERIA

3(a) Nonduplication

The information collected under this ICR does not duplicate any information that is 

collected by any other federal agency or otherwise publicly available.

3(b) Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirement that any agency developing a 
19

non-rule-related ICR solicit public comments for a 60-day period, EPA published a Federal 

Register notice on August 21, 2012 (77 FR 50495). No comments were received on this notice.

3(c) Consultations

On August 9, 2012, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a 

memorandum directing agencies to engage in advance testing of information collections, 

including Federal forms. Advance testing must be used to the extent feasible and appropriate, 

especially for complex or lengthy forms. Such advance testing should occur either before 

proposing information collections to the public or during the public comment period required by 

the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). OMB identified several purposes for advance testing of 

forms: 

 Ensure that they are not unnecessarily complex, burdensome, or confusing;

 Obtain the best available information about the likely burdens on members of the 

public; and

 Identify ways to reduce burdens and increase simplification and ease of 

comprehension. 

Under ENERGY STAR, EPA carefully evaluates each proposed information collection 

against applicable criteria in the PRA and as summarized above. As an initial matter, EPA 

determines whether each proposed collection is necessary (e.g., does it provide meaningful and 

essential information that cannot be obtained from an existing source?). If the collection is 

deemed necessary and useful, the Agency will design the collection to ensure information quality 

while minimizing burden and complexity on the public. For example, EPA has been 

increasingly offering electronic methods for information submittal under ENERGY STAR. The 

information collections under ENERGY STAR include user instructions in plain English and 

other tools to simplify completion (e.g., checklists), and many of the electronic collections offer 

additional user assistance (drop-down menus, pre-populated forms, etc.). 

EPA also will use advance testing, particularly for complex or lengthy forms. Advance 

testing will be coordinated with the 60-day notice and comment period already required under 

the PRA. For example, EPA may collect feedback through the following methods (which will be 

performed in compliance with the PRA, as applicable):

 Focus groups;

 Pre-tests (e.g., mail out the draft form with a few questions on usability and 

burden); and/or

 Web-based questions.

For purposes of this ICR submission, EPA has carefully reviewed all of the forms and 

determined that the submission does not include any complex or lengthy forms that warrant 

advance testing. They are relatively straight-forward and, to the greatest extent practicable, 

incorporate the features described above to reduce burden, improve information quality, and 

simplify implementation.
20

3(d) Effects of Less Frequent Collection

EPA has carefully considered the information collection burden imposed by the 

ENERGY STAR Program. EPA is confident that those activities requested of respondents are 

necessary, and to the extent possible, the Agency has attempted to minimize the burden imposed. 

A number of the requested activities, for example, will be performed once (e.g., one-time 

submittal of Partnership Agreement). In addition, respondents can satisfy many of the 

collections in this ICR by submitting readily available information, and most collections are 

completed electronically. For example, users of the Home Energy Yardstick for homeowners are 

asked to enter energy use data online (e.g., data from their energy bills). EPA believes strongly 

that, if the information collections in this ICR are not performed at the requested frequency, 

EPA’s ability to implement the ENERGY STAR Program and the public’s ability to benefit from 

the program’s tools and resources could be hampered significantly.

3(e) General Guidelines

Information collections performed under this clearance will follow all of OMB's General 

Guidelines regarding federal data collection.

EPA intends to omit the expiration date from all forms being submitted for OMB review 

in this ICR. The information collected on the forms is modified infrequently. When 

modifications to the forms do occur, they normally involve changes that do not affect respondent 

burden (e.g., changes to wording and/or format). Under the 1995 Paperwork Reduction Act, a 

person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 

OMB control number. 

Since this ICR is renewed every three years, inclusion of an expiration date on the forms 

would require EPA to amend them every three years. This would create unnecessary burdens for 

both EPA and those who complete the forms. Since inclusion of the expiration date on the forms 

in these circumstances provides little to no value for the public, EPA intends to omit it from the 

forms under this ICR. 

3(f) Confidentiality

Participation in the ENERGY STAR Program is voluntary and may be terminated by 

participants or EPA at any time. If a claim of confidential business information (CBI) is 

asserted, EPA will manage that information in accordance with EPA’s provisions on 

confidentiality. 40 CFR Part 2, Subpart B establishes EPA’s general policy on the public 

disclosure of information and procedures for handling CBI claims.

3(g) Sensitive Questions

The information collections do not ask sensitive questions, such as those pertaining to 

sexual attitudes or behavior or religious beliefs. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked of 

participants with ENERGY STAR.
21

4. THE RESPONDENTS AND THE INFORMATION REQUESTED

4(a) Respondents and SIC Codes

Respondents for this information collection request includes partners in ENERGY STAR, 

including homebuilders, verification organizations, lenders, utilities, and regional energy 

efficiency Program Sponsors. The following is a list of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 

codes and corresponding North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for 

industry segments which may be affected by information collections covered under this ICR for 

the ENERGY STAR Program. 

SIC NAICS Industries

1521 233320 General Contractors-Single-Family Houses

1522 233220 General Contractors-Residential Buildings, Other Than SingleFamily Industry

1531 233210, Operative Builders

233310

1541 233310 General Contractors-Industrial Buildings and Warehouses

1542 233320 General Contractors-Nonresidential Buildings, Other than 

Industrial Buildings and Warehouses

1711 235110 Plumbing, Heating And Air-conditioning 

1721 235210 Painting and Paper Hanging Industry Group 

1731 235310 Electrical Work

1741 235410 Masonry, Stone Setting, and Other Stone Work

1742 235420 Plastering, Drywall, Acoustical, and Insulation Work

1743 235430 Terrazzo, Tile, Marble, and Mosaic Work Industry Group 

1751 235510 Carpentry Work

1752 235520 Floor Laying and Other Floor Work, Not Elsewhere Classified

1761 235610 Roofing, Siding, and Sheet Metal Work Industry Group 

1771 235710 Concrete Work Industry Group 

1781 235810 Water Well Drilling

1791 235910 Structural Steel Erection

1793 235920 Glass and Glazing Work

1794 235930 Excavation Work

1795 235940 Wrecking and Demolition Work

1796 235950 Installation or Erection of Building Equipment, Not Elsewhere

1799 235990 Special Trade Contractors, Not Elsewhere Classified

4911 221122, Electric Services 

221121

4922 486210 Natural Gas Transmission

4923 221210 Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution

4924 221210 Natural Gas Distribution

4925 221210 Mixed, Manufactured, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas Production 

and/or

4931 221112, Electric and Other Services Combined
22

221111,

221113,

221119

4932 221210 Gas and Other Services Combined

4939 221112, Combination Utilities, Not Elsewhere Classified

221122

4961 221330 Steam And Air-conditioning Supply 

6021 522110 National Commercial Banks

6022 522190 State Commercial Banks

6029 522110 Commercial Banks, Not Elsewhere Classified

6035 522120 Savings Institutions, Federally Chartered

6036 522120 Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered

6061 522130 Credit Unions, Federally Chartered

6062 522130 Credit Unions, Not Federally Chartered

6111 522294 Federal and Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies

6162 522390 Mortgage Bankers and Loan Correspondents

522292

6163 522310 Loan Brokers

6531 531320 Real Estate Agents and Managers

7389 541350 Business Services Not Elsewhere Classified

7623 811412 Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Service and Repair Shops

8712 541310 Architectural Services

9531 925110 Administration of Housing Programs

9532 925120 Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural 

Development

4(b) Information Requested

The information collected by EPA differs depending on the specific collection activity as 

well as the respondent type. Therefore, this section describes the data items used and the 

associated respondent activities based on the respondent type within each major collection 

activity. [Note: For detailed information about the data items described in this section (e.g., 

elements on a specific form), refer to the forms submitted with this ICR.]

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

Organizations interested in joining ENERGY STAR as partners are asked to submit a 

Partnership Agreement describing their commitment to promoting ENERGY STAR certified

homes and residential energy efficiency. They also may be asked or encouraged to undertake 

related activities, as described below. 

Home Builders

This participant group includes builders of traditional site-built homes such as large 

production home builders, custom home builders, and multifamily high rise (MFHR) developers. 

This group also includes onsite builders and installers of homes produced in manufacturing 
23

plants including manufactured and modular homes. This group also includes the manufacturing 

plants that produce manufactured and/or modular homes that, once fully constructed onsite, are 

eligible for the ENERGY STAR label. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to join the 

Program by submitting a Partnership Agreement. Partners make a commitment to building and 

selling ENERGY STAR certified homes. In addition, when a builder joins, it can commit to 

build all of its homes to be ENERGY STAR certified (i.e., a ―100% commitment‖). If they 

choose to do so, they are asked to renew their 100% commitment annually. Further, MFHR 

developers are asked to submit a project application for each building/development project.

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement and related materials.

 Annual renewal of 100% commitment (optional).

 For multifamily high rise developers, a project application for each 

building/development project.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete and submit the 

Partnership Agreement and related materials online.

 Partners choosing a 100% commitment renew their commitment annually

online.

 MFHR developers are asked to prepare and submit a project application for 

each building/development project.

Architects/Home Plan Designers

This partner group includes production architects and home plan designers who prepare 

architectural plans for residential construction projects. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged 

to join the Program by submitting a Partnership Agreement. Partners make a commitment to 

including energy efficient details on home plans in an effort to earn the Designed to Earn 

ENERGY STAR label.

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete and submit the 

Partnership Agreement online. 
24

Verification Organization Partners

This partner group includes organizations involved in independently verifying that homes 

meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for residential energy efficiency. They act as third-party, 

independent providers of home energy rating services. The main types of verification 

organization partners that participate in ENERGY STAR are certified Home Energy Raters and 

accredited Home Energy Rating Providers. Organizations are encouraged to join the Program by 

submitting a Partnership Agreement. [Note: There are also manufactured and modular home 

plant certifiers who independently verify that manufacturing plants that produce manufactured 

and modular homes can consistently produce homes to earn the ENERGY STAR label. Plant 

certifiers are not partners, however.]

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete and submit the 

Partnership Agreement online. 

Oversight Organizations

Oversight organizations include organizations recognized by EPA as having the 

necessary qualifications and capabilities and infrastructure in place for overseeing the 

verification of a home’s energy efficiency for the Energy Star label by Verification 

Organizations. Oversight organizations do not join as ENERGY STAR partners but rather 

participate in the program by completing an application to be recognized by EPA as an Oversight 

Organization. 

Verification Oversight Organizations (VOOs)

Verification oversight organizations (VOOs) oversee Home Energy Raters and Providers 

in the marketplace. To be qualified to oversee verification of ENERGY STAR homes, these 

organizations apply to be a VOO with ENERGY STAR. Once approved, VOOs provide 

oversight and address issues from owners of ENERGY STAR homes regarding Home Energy 

Raters and Providers.

(i) Data Items

 An application form.

 Issues from homeowners.
25

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To participate in the ENERGY STAR Program, VOOs perform the 

following:

 Complete and submit application materials to EPA; and

 Collect and handle issues about Raters and Providers who have verified 

ENERGY STAR homes. 

Manufactured/Modular Verification Oversight Organizations (MVOOs)

Another type of oversight organization is a manufactured/modular verification oversight 

organization, which acts as a third-party, independent quality assurance provider for 

manufacturing plants that produce ENERGY STAR certified manufactured and modular homes.

(i) Data Items

 An application form.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To participate in the ENERGY STAR Program, organizations are asked to

prepare and submit the completed application to EPA. 

H-QUITOs

HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight Organizations (H-QUITOs) are 

independent, third party oversight organizations that provide required oversight activities for 

HVAC contractors. To demonstrate that they are qualified to oversee verification of contractors, 

these oversight organizations apply to be an H-QUITO with ENERGY STAR. Once approved, 

H-QUITOs agree to certify and oversee HVAC contractors participating in the program by 

reviewing and approving contractor credentials, and performing quality assurance on a 

representative number of systems installed by contractors. 

(i) Data Items

 An application to EPA.

 HVAC contractor applications for credentials.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To participate in the ENERGY STAR Program, H-QUITOs perform the 

following:

 Complete and submit application to EPA; and
26

 Collect, review and approve applications from HVAC contractors seeking 

credentials.

Lenders

This partner group commits to deliver energy efficient mortgages (EEMs) to buyers of 

energy efficient homes such as ENERGY STAR Certified Homes. EEMs use the present value 

of future utility bill savings to provide loan applicants more favorable loan terms, allowing them 

to qualify for a larger loan and to finance a more energy efficient home. Organizations of all 

sizes are encouraged to join the program by submitting a Partnership Agreement.

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete and submit the 

Partnership Agreement online. 

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsor (EEPS) Partners

Certified Homes EEPS

This partner group includes utilities; national, regional, State, or local government 

entities; or other organizations involved in coordinating and/or administering an energyefficiency program that promotes ENERGY STAR certified homes. EEPS interested in joining 

ENERGY STAR are asked to complete and submit a Partnership Agreement and Commitment 

Form. 

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement and Commitment Form.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete and submit the 

Partnership Agreement and Commitment Form.
27

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR partners are organizations that sponsor energy 

efficiency retrofit program for existing homes. These partners are typically utilities, state 

agencies, and local associations who sponsor and promote a program of whole house, building 

science-based improvements to existing homes. The program should emphasize a whole house 

approach, facilitation of the installation of recommended measures, diagnostic testing, and 

quality assurance. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to join the Program by submitting a 

Partnership Agreement and related materials, including a program implementation plan and Web 

materials. Sponsors also review participation agreements from contractors participating under 

the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. This agreement describes the program’s 

requirements and terms of participation.

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement.

 A written plan for implementing a program meeting the criteria for Home 

Performance with ENERGY STAR.

 Web content and other marketing materials featuring ENERGY STAR.

 Participation agreement.

 

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To participate in the ENERGY STAR Program, organizations perform the 

following:

 Complete and submit the Partnership Agreement to EPA;

 Develop and submit to EPA electronically a written plan to implement a 

program that meets the criteria for Home Performance with ENERGY 

STAR; and

 Submit Web designs and marketing materials that use ENERGY STAR 

logos or messaging for EPA review.

 Sponsors review participation agreements from contractors participating 

under the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
28

HVAC Quality Installation Program Sponsors

This participant group consists of utilities, oversight organizations (e.g., H-QUITOs), and 

state and local agencies that sponsor and/or promote a program that verifies that HVAC 

contractors install heating and air conditioning equipment to meet American National Standards 

Institute (ANSI) approved quality installation standards. Organizations of all sizes are 

encouraged to join the Program by submitting a Partnership Agreement and program 

implementation plan. 

(i) Data Items

 A Partnership Agreement.

 A written plan for implementing an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality 

Installation Program.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To participate in the ENERGY STAR Program, organizations perform the 

following activities: 

 Complete and submit the Partnership Agreement; and

 Develop and submit to EPA a written plan to implement a program that 

meets the criteria for an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation 

Program.

 

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors participating in ENERGY STAR Programs are not ENERGY STAR 

partners and do not complete a Partnership Agreement. However, as part of their participation in 

the program, contractors seek credentials from H-QUITOs. They also agree to send Web content 

and other marketing materials featuring ENERGY STAR to HVAC Quality Installation Program 

Sponsors for promotion of the HVAC Quality Installation Program.

(i) Data Items

 Credentialing application to H-QUITOs.

 Web content and other marketing materials featuring ENERGY STAR.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Contractors perform the following activities:

 Complete and submit credentialing application to H-QUITOs; and

 Submit Web designs and marketing materials that use ENERGY STAR 

logos or messaging to HVAC QI Program Sponsors.
29

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors participate in installing energy 

efficiency measures in existing homes under the oversight of a Home Performance with 

ENERGY STAR Sponsor. They are not partners and do not complete a Partnership Agreement. 

They do sign a participation agreement with a sponsor that ensures they are qualified to install 

energy efficiency measures according to program guidelines. This agreement describes the 

program’s requirements and terms of participation.

(i) Data Items

 Participation agreement.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Contractors complete and submit a participation agreement to sponsors.

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES

Home Builders

Builders of Site-Built Homes (General)

Home Builders complete a Water Management Checklist for each home built, including 

site-built and manufactured and modular homes. In addition, home builders can choose to fill out 

a number of items in the Thermal Enclosure Checklist before providing it to Home Energy 

Raters for completion. 

i) Data Items

 Water Management Checklist, for both site-built and manufactured and 

modular homes; and

 Thermal Enclosure Checklist (optional).

ii) Respondent Activities

 Home builders perform the following: 

 Complete a Water Management Checklist for each home built; and

 If desired, complete certain data points on the Thermal Enclosure 

Checklist and provide to the Home Energy Raters for completion.

Manufactured and Modular Plants

To receive an ENERGY STAR label for homes manufactured at the plant, the plant must 
30

integrate ENERGY STAR standards into home design plans. These plans are kept on site and are 

not collected by EPA. An internal plant coordinator is responsible for ensuring that program 

standards have been incorporated into plant operations. This plant coordinator is responsible for 

the manufacturing as well as quality installation of the homes onsite. The coordinator addresses 

any issues regarding manufactured and modular ENERGY STAR homes. As part of this 

responsibility, the plant coordinator collects and retains the four ENERGY STAR checklists 

completed by other parties when homes are inspected onsite: the Thermal Enclosure Checklist, 

Water Management Checklist, HVAC Rater Checklist, and HVAC Contractor Checklists.

(i) Data Items

 Home plan designs that integrate ENERGY STAR standards.

 Four ENERGY STAR verification checklists.

 Homeowner issues.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Plants integrate ENERGY STAR standards into home plan designs;

 Plant coordinators collect and retain the four ENERGY STAR verification 

checklists; and

 Plant coordinators address homeowner issues, as necessary. 

Multifamily High Rise Developers

For each home design, multifamily high rise developers submit a Proposed Design 

Package to ensure that the project design meets program requirements and that they have been 

included in the construction documents. Upon completion of the construction phase, developers 

submit an As-Built Design Package to ensure that the energy conservation measures chosen by 

the design team are installed to specification.

(i) Data Items

 A Proposed Design Submittal, which includes:

 The Proposed Building Reporting Summary;

 The Testing and Verification Worksheets; and

 The ENERGY STAR Submittal Validation Form.

 An As-Built Design Submittal, which includes:

 The As-Built Building Reporting Summary;

 The Testing and Verification Worksheets;

 Photo Template; and 

 The ENERGY STAR Submittal Validation Form.
31

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Multifamily high rise developers perform the following:

 Complete and submit the Testing and Verification Worksheets (for design 

and construction phases);

 Complete and submit Validation Form (for design and construction 

phases);

 Complete and submit the Proposed Design Summary Report;

 Complete and submit the As-Built Building Reporting Summary; and

 Complete and submit the photo template.

Verification Organizations

Home Energy Raters and Providers

Both Home Energy Rating Providers and Home Energy Raters perform verification 

services, also known as home energy ratings, on homes by conducting onsite diagnostic tests to 

measure the energy efficiency of homes. For homes earning the ENERGY STAR label, Rating 

Providers and Raters must check some additional information about the homes that is not a usual 

part of conducting a home energy rating to verify that the homes meet ENERGY STAR

requirements. Home Energy Rating Providers provide a layer of quality control by overseeing 

the work of the Home Energy Raters and submitting quarterly reports to EPA on behalf of Home 

Energy Raters. Home Energy Raters and Providers also assist in verifying the energy efficiency 

of homes built in manufacturing plants, including manufactured and modular homes. They are 

involved in verifying that these homes meet ENERGY STAR requirements by checking that 

ENERGY STAR-related measures and requirements are installed and met both while in 

production in the plant and during onsite construction. 

As part of inspecting site-built homes and manufactured/modular homes onsite, Raters 

complete two checklists: the Thermal Enclosure Checklist and the HVAC QI Rater Checklist. 

They also collect two checklists from other parties: the Water Management Checklist and the 

HVAC QI Contractor Checklist. The Rater submits all four checklists to the Provider. For 

manufactured and modular homes, Raters also complete a separate manufactured or modular 

home completion report, which is submitted to the MVOO. 

In addition, Architects/Home Plan Designers contract with verification organizations to 

verify the energy efficiency criteria of each home plan for which they are seeking the Designed 

to Earn the ENERGY STAR label. These Raters review plans, complete the four checklists as 

well as the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Review Checklist. Once the Rater has 

approved the project, they issue the label. 

(i) Data Items

 Thermal Enclosure Checklist.
32

 HVAC QI Rater Checklist.

 Water Management Checklist.

 HVAC QI Contractor Checklist.

 For manufactured and modular homes, a home completion report

 For the Designed to Earn Program, the following data items are collected:

 Projected HERS rating or appropriate prescriptive path;

 The four ENERGY STAR checklists;

 Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Review Checklist; and

 Additional information on the plan, including floor plan, specifications 

(e.g. window and insulation specifications) and other details. 

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Home Energy Raters prepare the Thermal Enclosure and HVAC QI Rater 

checklists, collect two checklists (Water Management and HVAC QI 

Contractor Checklists) from other parties, and submit them to the Rating 

Providers.

 For manufactured and modular homes, Raters also complete a home

completion report and submit the report to the MVOO.

 Verification organizations contracted by architects/home plan designers 

verify energy efficiency on each plan by completing the following activities:

 Review the blueprint and enter data into modeling software to estimate the 

as-built home’s energy use;

 Complete three checklists (the Thermal Enclosure Checklist, the Water 

Management Systems checklist, and the HVAC Rater Checklist) and work 

with HVAC contractors to complete the HVAC Contractor Checklist;

 Complete the Designed to Earn checklist with details and specifications on 

plans, if necessary; 

 If the Architect/Home Plan Designer is submitting the home plan to EPA 

for the first time, submit all the materials listed above to EPA for review 

and approval; and

 Stamp and label the home plan with the Designed to Earn logo.

Manufactured and Modular Plant Certifiers 

The manufactured and modular home industry utilizes third-party consultants called plant 

certifiers who certify a manufacturing plant’s ability to consistently produce and install 

ENERGY STAR certified manufactured and modular homes. Plant certifiers are not ENERGY 

STAR partners. Plant certifiers complete a manufactured or modular home plant qualification 
33

form for each plant inspected to demonstrate that the plant is qualified to produce ENERGY 

STAR certified manufactured and/or modular homes. Once a plant is approved, the plant certifier 

returns to the plant every six months to ensure continued adherence to ENERGY STAR 

guidelines.

(i) Data Items

 Modular plant qualification form.

 Manufactured plant qualification form.

ii) Respondent Activities

 Plant certifiers complete and submit a manufactured or modular home plant 

qualification form for each plant.

H-QUITOs

HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight Organizations (H-QUITOs) are 

independent, third party oversight organizations that provide required oversight activities for 

HVAC contractors. H-QUITOs oversee HVAC contractors by performing quality assurance on a 

sample of systems installed through periodic site visits and verification of checklists.

(i) Data Items

 HVAC checklists submitted by contractors for a sample of installations. 

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Perform quality assurance of systems installed by HVAC contractors through 

periodic site visits and verification of checklists.

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors perform quality assurance on HVAC systems 

installed by contractors. To verify that HVAC systems have been installed correctly by 

contractors, Program Sponsors collect and review a commissioning report for each installation. 

Quality assurance also includes field verification of a small sample of installations by each 

contractor. 

(i) Data Items

 Commissioning report completed by HVAC contractors.
34

(ii) Respondent Activities

 HVAC QI Sponsors perform the following activities:

 Collect and review commissioning report from HVAC contractors; and

 Perform field verification of a sample of installations to ensure quality 

assurance by contractor.

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors are asked to complete an HVAC QI Contractor Checklist for each 

site-built home verified and provide it to the Rater. HVAC contractors that choose to participate 

in an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program are asked to submit a commissioning 

report to an HVAC Quality Installation Program Sponsor for each HVAC installation verified. 

This commissioning report includes details on the HVAC equipment (e.g. make, model), design 

specifications specific to the installations, and results of tests (e.g. air flow, refrigerant tests).

(i) Data Items

 HVAC QI Contractor Checklist.

 Commissioning report.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 HVAC contractors perform the following:

 Complete an HVAC QI Contractor Checklist for site-built homes and 

provide it to the Rater.

 Complete a commissioning report for each HVAC installation and submit 

to Program Sponsors.

EVALUATION

EPA utilizes information collected from ENERGY STAR Program partners and other 

organizations to evaluate the impact of ENERGY STAR Residential Programs in the new home 

construction and home improvement market sectors. These activities help EPA to ensure that 

ENERGY STAR maintains its unique value in the marketplace as the symbol for energy 

efficiency in new and existing homes and maximizes its ability to transform the market through 

construction of energy efficient homes and improvements to existing homes to enhance 

efficiency. 
35

Partners

EPA collects information from partners to evaluate the value and impact of ENERGY 

STAR in the marketplace, and in the building and selling of efficient homes. EPA also 

periodically contacts partners to gather feedback about their experience with the program, and 

provide technical support, if necessary. EPA also may ask partners to make presentations during 

Webinars or provide information in connection with Webinars.

(i) Data Items

 Verbal or written responses to EPA’s questions or requests regarding:

 Sales and marketing; 

 Technical issues; 

 Feedback on the ENERGY STAR Program and outreach efforts; and/or

 ENERGY STAR in the marketplace. 

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Partners would be asked to provide verbal or written responses to EPA 

questions or requests.

Other Home Industry Professionals

EPA may contact other professionals in the residential sector such as realtors, appraisers, 

product manufacturers, and retailers, for their feedback on developing building science/energy 

efficiency concepts for the ENERGY STAR Program, its outreach efforts, and its impact on the 

market for energy efficient new and existing homes. 

(i) Data Items

 Verbal or written responses to EPA’s questions regarding building 

science/energy efficiency concepts or other issues. 

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Home industry professionals would respond to EPA questions or requests.

Homeowners 

This participant group includes all homeowners and organizations that choose to use 

EPA’s on-line home assessment tools, such as the Home Energy Yardstick, Home Energy 

Advisor, Home Energy Profile and other available resources to benchmark and monitor their 

homes’ energy performance. Some homeowners may be featured in case studies on the 

ENERGY STAR Website to encourage others to take similar actions.
36

To validate environmental benefits of homes earning the ENERGY STAR label, EPA 

may request permission from a number of homeowners (less than 500 in any one market) to 

obtain energy use and cost information from utilities and energy suppliers by completing a 

Utility Bill Release Form. Respondents would need to complete, sign, and return the permission 

form.

(i) Data Items

 Information requested in EPA’s online tools (e.g., characteristics of home 

heating and cooling system).

 Home Improvement Profile Form.

 Utility Bill Release Form.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 To use the Home Energy Yardstick, Advisor, or Profile tools, homeowners 

visit the ENERGY STAR Website and enter data online.

 To be featured in case studies on the ENERGY STAR Website, homeowners 

complete a Home Improvement Profile form.

 If requested, homeowners would complete and mail Utility Bill Release Form.

PERIODIC REPORTING

In order for EPA to track partners’ level of activity and give them credit for the ENERGY 

STAR certified homes they build and verify, EPA collects basic information each calendar 

quarter about the number of certified homes that partners have built and verified. 

Verification Organizations

Rating Providers are asked to submit a report to EPA every quarter describing their

ENERGY STAR certified homes. 

(i) Data Items

 A quarterly report aggregating the number of ENERGY STAR certified 

homes.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Rating Providers prepare and submit quarterly reports to EPA using an online 

reporting tool.
37

Oversight Organizations

Manufactured and Modular Home Oversight Organizations (MVOOs)

MVOOs are asked to collect and enter ENERGY STAR-related information into a 

database as verification organizations confirm that homes meet ENERGY STAR requirements. 

Each calendar quarter MVOOs generate a spreadsheet from their database containing the 

ENERGY STAR-related information that EPA asks for. The MVOO submits the spreadsheet via 

email. There is a spreadsheet containing ENERGY STAR manufactured home information and a 

separate spreadsheet containing ENERGY STAR modular home information.

(i) Data Items

 A quarterly report containing ENERGY STAR-related information (e.g., 

number of certified homes).

(ii) Respondent Activities

 MVOOs prepare and submit quarterly reports to EPA.

H-QUITOs

As part of their participation in the program, H-QUITOs agree to share information as 

requested by EPA regarding their oversight of HVAC contractors qualified to work on ENERGY 

STAR Certified Homes.

(i) Data Items

 Information as requested by EPA.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 H-QUITOs provide information as requested by EPA.

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS)

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors are asked to submit quarterly reports 

on projects completed by contractors. As the final quarterly report, Program Sponsors submit an 

end-of-year report to EPA that, among other things, describes strategies and challenges in 

implementing program requirements.
38

(i) Data Items

 Quarterly reports describing Home Performance with ENERGY STARrelated activities (e.g., number of projects completed).

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors prepare and submit 

quarterly reports.

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors are asked to submit quarterly reports on the number 

of completed projects or verified HVAC installations.

(i) Data Items

 Quarterly reports.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors prepare and submit quarterly reports to 

EPA.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS

Organizations interested in receiving recognition for their efforts in building, certifying, 

and/or sponsoring ENERGY STAR certified homes may submit an application for an ENERGY

STAR Award. These awards are given out annually by EPA during the annual ENERGY STAR 

awards ceremony. EPA is currently issuing the following homes-related awards under the 

ENERGY STAR Program: New Home Builders, Home Energy Raters and Providers, Excellence 

in Affordable Housing and Program Delivery (including New Homes and Home Performance 

with ENERGY STAR).

(i) Data Items

 An application package that is submitted online through a module in EPA’s 

iStar data system. Information requested in the module includes the 

following:

 Organization’s name, address, Web address, primary contact’s name, title, 

e-mail, phone, and fax;

 Communications contact person’s name, phone, e-mail, and fax;

 Organization’s headquarters address if different than organization;

 Partner type;

 Market penetration of certified homes and expected growth rate;

 Total number of certified homes labeled and expected growth rate;
39

 Percentage of homes built that are ENERGY STAR;

 Percentage of housing starts in market area that earn the ENERGY STAR 

label;

 A description, in both qualitative and quantitative terms, of the 

organization’s contributions in promoting ENERGY STAR in the 

residential sector. This includes examples of how the ENERGY STAR 

logo has been used, examples of how the organization has measured the 

impact of ENERGY STAR on their business, how it has used ENERGY 

STAR in other areas if applicable, and examples of marketing impacts;

 Supporting documentation that illustrates the organization’s level of 

activity in promoting ENERGY STAR. This may include photos, CDROM, video, ads; and

 Trainings being offered, as appropriate, and number of participants;

 Total number of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR jobs 

completed by contractors, if applicable;

 Total number of onsite quality assurance inspections by program 

contractor and third party inspectors (for Home Performance with 

ENERGY STAR Program only);

 Testimonials from Home Energy Raters and home builders, as 

appropriate; and

 Dated signature of organization’s representative.

(ii) Respondent Activities

 Organizations complete and submit the application package and supporting 

materials electronically. 

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP

Partners have the option of participating in an outreach partnership, whereby they

contribute resources to the development and distribution of a public outreach and education 

campaign about ENERGY STAR certified homes. A one page Commitment Form is completed 

by the partners and submitted to EPA. This form requests partner contact information, as well as 

the amount of resources to be provided and details about the type of media to be used for the 

outreach campaign. 

The outreach partnership involves coordination and implementation by local partners to 

develop and distribute the outreach materials. EPA works closely with partners in interested 

markets to help facilitate a successful outreach campaign.

(i) Data Items

 A Commitment Form.

(ii) Respondent Activities
40

 To apply for the outreach partnership, respondents are asked to:

 Complete and submit the Commitment Form to EPA; and

 Coordinate with other participants and EPA in developing and distributing 

the outreach campaign.

5. THE INFORMATION COLLECTED—AGENCY ACTIVITIES, COLLECTION 

METHODOLOGY, AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

5(a) Agency Activities

This section describes EPA’s activities associated with the information collections 

described in this ICR. Where possible, EPA activities that apply across different partner

categories (e.g., home builders, verification organizations) have been grouped together and 

described as one activity.

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

 EPA will perform the following for organizations applying for partnership or 

participation in ENERGY STAR:

 Review Partner Agreements and related materials (e.g., 100% commitment 

renewals);

 Review applications from oversight organizations;

 Send a welcome email to partners; 

 Send confirmation email with username and password information; and 

 Review and approve MFHR Project Application.

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES

 EPA will perform the following for multifamily high rise developers:

 Review and approve Proposed and As-Built Design Submittals; and

 Maintain a list of certified MFHR buildings.

 For Home Energy Raters and Providers, EPA will review and approve five checklists 

and model results when reviewing home plans verified by Raters new to the Designed 

to Earn program.

EVALUATION 

 EPA will perform the following activities when obtaining feedback from partners and 

other home industry professionals:

 Develop questions;

 Contact partners and solicit feedback; and

 Collect feedback.

 EPA will perform the following when obtaining feedback from homeowners:
41

 Request and review Home Improvement Profiles; and

 Request and review Utility Bill Release Forms.

PERIODIC REPORTING

 EPA will perform the following activities with regard to periodic reports:

 Provide training to Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program Sponsors 

on the use of electronic reporting system;

 Request, review and approve quarterly reports; and

 Request and review information on as-needed basis from H-QUITOs.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS

 EPA will perform the following activities for ENERGY STAR awards:

 Contact key partners to inform them of the annual award application process;

 Develop award winner selection criteria;

 Review award applications and supporting materials;

 Summarize application information for all applicants

 Select winners; and

 Contact winners and non-winners.

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP

 EPA must perform the following activities with regard to the outreach partnership:

 Contact partners to solicit applications for the outreach partnership;

 Review partner applications and select participations;

 Contact partners to coordinate outreach development efforts;

 Review outreach materials; and

 Coordinate with partners in placing outreach materials in mass media.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

In collecting and analyzing the information associated with this ICR, EPA will use a 

telephone system, personal computers, and applicable database software. EPA will ensure the 

accuracy and completeness of collected information by reviewing each submittal. EPA will 

enter the information obtained into a database and will aggregate data obtained to monitor the 

progress of participants in improving energy performance.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

EPA expects that small businesses will participate in the ENERGY STAR Program. EPA 

has designed its report forms to minimize respondent burden while obtaining sufficient and 

accurate information. In addition, the initial agreement to participate in the Program is 

voluntary.
42

5(d) Collection Schedule

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

 EPA collects Partnership Agreements, Commitment Forms and related materials

(e.g., implementation plans, Web content) on a one-time basis from organizations 

applying to be partners.

 EPA collects applications on a one-time basis from organizations seeking to be an 

Oversight Organization. 

 EPA collects the project application for each multifamily high rise 

building/development project before design of the project phase.

 EPA collects renewals of 100% commitments from builder partners each year.

 Sponsors collect participation agreements from contractors under the Home 

Performance with ENERGY STAR program on a one-time basis.

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES

 The Water Management Checklist, Thermal Enclosure Checklist, HVAC Rater 

Checklist, and HVAC Contractor Checklist are completed when a home is built and 

verified for the ENERGY STAR; these forms are submitted to a Home Energy Rater. 

For modular and manufactured homes, a separate manufactured or modular home 

completion report is prepared and submitted to the MVOO.

 A manufacturing plant is asked to integrate ENERGY STAR standards into home 

design plans in order receive an ENERGY STAR label for homes manufactured at the 

plant.

 Multifamily high rise developers submit a Proposed Design Package after the design 

phase and an As-Built Design Package after completion of the construction phase of a 

development project.

 Verification organizations contracted by architects and home plan designers verify the 

energy efficiency of each home design by completing specified activities before 

issuing a label.

 Plant certifiers complete a manufactured or modular home plant qualification form 

for each plant inspected to demonstrate that the plant is qualified to produce 

ENERGY STAR certified manufactured and/or modular homes. Once a plant is 

approved, the plant certifier returns to the plant every six months to ensure continued 

adherence to ENERGY STAR guidelines.

 H-QUITOs oversee HVAC contractors by performing quality assurance on a sample 
43

of systems installed through periodic site visits and verification of checklists.

 To verify that HVAC systems have been installed correctly by contractors, Program 

Sponsors collect and review a commissioning report for each installation. Quality 

assurance also includes field verification of a small sample of installations by each 

contractor. 

 HVAC contractors are asked to complete an HVAC QI Contractor Checklist for sitebuilt homes and provide it to the Rater. HVAC contractors that choose to participate 

in an ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program are asked to submit a 

commissioning report to an HVAC Quality Installation Program Sponsor for each 

HVAC installation verified.

EVALUATION

 EPA expects to periodically contact partners to gather feedback about their 

experience with the program, and provide technical support, if necessary. EPA may 

also contact other home industry professionals on an as-needed basis for information. 

Finally, EPA may ask organizations to make presentations as needed during Webinars 

or provide information in connection with Webinars.

 There is no collection schedule for homeowners to use the online assessment tools.

 EPA may contact some homeowners on an as-needed basis to feature them in case 

studies on the ENERGY STAR Website.

 To validate environmental benefits of homes earning the ENERGY STAR label, EPA 

may request permission from a number of homeowners, on an as-needed basis, to 

obtain energy use and cost information from utilities and energy suppliers by 

completing a Utility Bill Release Form.

PERIODIC REPORTING

 EPA collects basic information each calendar quarter about the number of certified 

homes that partners have built and verified. 

 H-QUITOs may be asked to share information as requested by EPA.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS

 Partners interested in receiving recognition for their performance in promoting 

ENERGY STAR in the residential sector may submit an award application each year. 
44

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP

 Partners seeking to participate in the outreach partnership are asked to submit a one 

page Commitment Form on a one-time basis.

6. ESTIMATING THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE COLLECTION

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden

Exhibits 1 through 6 estimate the annual respondent burden hours for information 

collection activities associated with the ENERGY STAR Program in the certified homes and 

existing homes sectors. 

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs

Exhibits 1 through 6 present the annual respondent costs for information collection 

activities associated with the ENERGY STAR Program in the certified homes and existing 

homes sectors. Specific cost assumptions are discussed below.

(i) Estimating Labor Costs

The labor rates used to estimate costs to respondents were obtained from the U.S. Bureau 

of Labor Statistics. Rates are current as of 2012. Rates reflect the cost of overhead and fringe 

benefits where appropriate. EPA estimates an average respondent hourly labor rate (hourly plus 

overhead and fringe) of $148.97 for legal staff, $107.75 for managerial staff, $73.92 for technical 

staff, and $37.21 for clerical staff. 

(ii) Estimating Capital and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Costs

Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs are those costs associated with a paperwork 

requirement incurred continually over the life of the ICR. They are defined by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 as ―the recurring dollar amount of costs associated with O&M or 

purchasing services.‖ This ICR includes O&M costs for postage (i.e., $0.45 for first class mail), 

as appropriate. There is an estimated annual O&M cost of $5.00 for express mailing of timesensitive print materials for the annual outreach partnership.
45

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Costs

Exhibits 7 through 12 present the annual Agency burden and costs for information 

collection activities associated with the ENERGY STAR Program in the certified homes and 

existing homes sectors. The hourly labor rates used in this ICR were obtained from the 2012 GS 

pay schedule available from the Office of Personnel Management. EPA estimates an average 

hourly labor cost of $76.64 for legal staff, $71.67 for managerial staff, $52.55 for technical staff, 

and $21.10 for clerical staff. The labor costs are based on the following GS levels and steps: 

legal labor rates were based on GS Level 15, Step 1, managerial labor rates were based on GS 

Level 14, Step 4, technical labor rates were based on GS Level 12, Step 5, and clerical labor rates 

were based on GS Level 5, Step 1. To derive hourly estimates, EPA divided annual 

compensation estimates by 2,080, which is the number of hours in the Federal work-year. EPA 

then multiplied hourly rates by the standard government overhead factor of 1.6. Total annual 

Agency burden and costs are presented in Table 4.

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Universe

In this section, EPA describes its estimates of the number of respondents carrying out the 

information collections under the ENERGY STAR Program in the certified homes and existing 

homes sectors. In developing its estimates, EPA referred to its partnership database (e.g., 

iSTAR) and other documentation in order to understand historical trends in the number of new 

and existing respondents. Based on this understanding, EPA has estimated the average number 

of respondents associated with each of the information collections under the Program. These 

estimates are explained below and reflected in Exhibits 1 through 6.

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES (EXHIBIT 1)

Home Builders

EPA estimates that, during the three-year life of this ICR, on average, 1,500 home 

builders will submit Partnership Agreements and related materials to EPA each year.

EPA also estimates that 100 multifamily high rise developers will submit Partnership 

Agreements to EPA. In addition, EPA estimates that no more than five manufactured home 

plants and five modular home plants each year will become partners and that no more than ten 

builders and installers/retailers of manufactured or modular homes each year will become 

partners. This equates to 1,620 organizations annually.

EPA estimates that 30% of these partners (486) will choose a 100% commitment and 

renew their commitment annually online.

EPA estimates that 40 multifamily high rise developers will submit a project application 

each year.

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 1.
46

Architect/Home Plan Designer Partners

EPA estimates that, during the three-year life of this ICR, on average, 30 architect/home 

plan designers in the certified homes sector will submit Partnership Agreements to EPA each 

year. This assumption is reflected in Exhibit 1.

Verification Organization Partners

EPA estimates that, during the three-year life of this ICR, 180 verification organizations 

will submit Partnership Agreements to EPA, on average, each year. This assumption is reflected 

in Exhibit 1.

Oversight Organizations

VOOs

EPA estimates that one new VOO will join the program on average each year. In 

addition, VOOs participating in ENERGY STAR agree to address issues from owners of 

ENERGY STAR homes regarding Home Energy Raters and Providers. EPA estimates that 

VOOs respond to five issues on average each year. These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 1.

MVOOs

EPA estimates that one new MVOO will join the program each year. This assumption is

reflected in Exhibit 1.

H-QUITOs

EPA estimates that one new H-QUITO will apply to participate in the program during the 

three-year life of this ICR. Note: Exhibit 1 annualizes this one applicant over the three-year life 

of this ICR to estimate 0.33 applicants/year.

EPA also estimates that, on average, H-QUITOs participating in the program will receive 

1,000 requests to be credentialed from HVAC contractors annually. 

Lenders

EPA estimates that three lenders will join the program to promote energy efficient 

mortgages (EEMs) each year on average. This assumption is reflected in Exhibit 1. 
47

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS) 

Certified Homes EEPS

EPA estimates that, during the three-year life of this ICR, seven regional energy 

efficiency program organizations will submit Partnership Agreements to EPA, on average, each 

year. This assumption is reflected in Exhibit 1.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

EPA estimates that, during the three-year life of this ICR, eight organizations in the home 

improvement sector will submit Partnership Agreements to EPA to join the ENERGY STAR 

Program, on average, each year. 

Program Sponsors that are already implementing a home improvement program and 

would like to make use of ENERGY STAR resources and logos submit an implementation plan. 

EPA estimates that eight organizations annually will complete and submit an implementation 

plan. 

Program Sponsors also agree to promote the ENERGY STAR Program by developing 

and submitting Web designs and marketing materials to EPA.

In addition, EPA estimates that Program Sponsors will review 100 participation 

agreements annually from contractors participating under the Home Performance with ENERGY 

STAR program.

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 1.

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

EPA estimates that, during the three-year life of this ICR, five organizations in the home 

improvement sector will submit HVAC Quality Installation Partnership Agreements to EPA, on 

average, each year. They also will submit program plans and Web designs for EPA review. 

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 1.

HVAC Contractors

In order to participate in the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program, contractors 

submit a credentialing application to H-QUITOs to demonstrate that they are qualified to install 

residential HVAC equipment to meet ENERGY STAR specifications. EPA estimates that 1,000 

contractors will submit an application annually.

As part of their participation in the HVAC Quality Installation Program, contractors 

agree to submit Web designs and materials to HVAC QI Sponsors for program promotion. EPA 

estimates that an average of 95 contractors will submit this information annually. 
48

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 1.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors

Contractors participating in a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program perform 

energy efficiency improvement projects in existing homes. These contractors are asked to 

complete a participation agreement and provide it to the program sponsor. This agreement 

describes the programs requirements and terms of participation. EPA estimates that 100 

contractors will submit an application annually. This assumption is reflected in Exhibit 1.

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES (EXHIBIT 2)

Home Builders 

Builders of Site-Built Homes

EPA estimates that, on average, 90,000 traditional site-built homes will qualify for the 

ENERGY STAR label annually, with one-third, or 29,700, of these homes verified via individual 

energy ratings using the checklists. (In this document, the term ―traditional site-built home‖ 

refers to a home that is not a factory-built home such as manufactured or modual homes.) EPA 

estimates that the remaining two-thirds (60,300) represent production homes, of which those that 

have the same floor plan, equipment and other characteristics will be verified collectively using 

an analytical protocol developed by the rating industry. In collective ratings, one in seven homes 

is directly verified using the checklists (60,300 / 7 = 8,614). Hence, EPA estimates 38,314

traditional site-built homes will be directly verified using the checklists. In addition, EPA 

expects home builders to verify 2,200 modular and manufactured homes annually. This equates 

to 40,514 directly verified homes in total. For each home built, home builders complete the 

Water Management Checklist.

In addition, EPA estimates that some home builders, at their option, will partially 

complete the Thermal Enclosure Checklist to verify that traditional site-built homes have been 

built according to ENERGY STAR standards. EPA estimates that 85% of Thermal Enclosure 

Checklists will be partially completed for traditional site-built homes (38,314 homes x 85% = 

32,567). 

Refer to Table 1 and the associated text, below, for additional information on these 

estimates.

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

Manufactured and Modular Plants

To receive an ENERGY STAR label for homes manufactured at the plant, the plant must 

integrate ENERGY STAR standards into home design plans. EPA estimates that 10 plants will 

join the ENERGY STAR Program each year, on average. 
49

EPA estimates that 2,000 manufactured homes and 200 modular homes will earn the 

ENERGY STAR on average annually. An internal plant coordinator collects and retains the four 

ENERGY STAR checklists (the Thermal Enclosure Checklist, Water Management Checklist, 

HVAC Rater Checklist, and HVAC Contractor Checklists) completed when homes are inspected 

onsite. These documents may be used to resolve any issues regarding manufactured and modular 

ENERGY STAR homes. EPA estimates that four issues per year will be related to ENERGY 

STAR. 

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

Multifamily High Rise Developers

EPA estimates that 40 new high rise development projects will apply for certification 

annually. Developers can follow the performance path (meeting ENERGY STAR standards as 

modeled) or prescriptive path (in accordance with set ENERGY STAR criteria). EPA estimates 

that 80% of development projects will take the performance path (i.e., 32). 

All multifamily high rise developers submit a Testing & Verification worksheet, 

accompanied by a Submittal Validation form twice: after each building is designed and after 

construction (i.e., 80 submittals in total). Developers following the performance path also submit 

a Proposed Design Reporting Summary to ensure that the building design satisfies ENERGY 

STAR standards, as well as an As-Built Reporting Summary to verify that the building has been 

built efficiently. A photo template is submitted after each development project is constructed.

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

Verification Organizations

Home Energy Raters and Providers

EPA estimates that, on average, 90,000 traditional site-built homes will be certified 

primarily for the ENERGY STAR label. One third of site-built homes (i.e. 29,700 homes) are 

unique and therefore individually verified. EPA estimates that the remaining two thirds of sitebuilt homes (i.e. 60,300 homes) represent production homes. Of these batches of homes that have 

the same floor plan, equipment and other characteristics, one in seven is sampled (i.e. 60,300

homes / 7 = 8,614 homes) for verification. 

Homes are verified through the completion of four checklists. To certify individually 

rated homes, Raters complete the Thermal Enclosure Checklist as well as the HVAC QI Rater 

checklist, and collect the Water Management Checklist from home builders and HVAC QI 

Contractor Checklists from the HVAC contractors. Note that home builders may choose to fill 

out certain items in the Thermal Enclosure Checklist. It is estimated that 85% of builders will 

choose to fill out the optional items for traditional site-built homes. 

EPA also estimates that there will be on average 2,000 manufactured homes and 200 

modular homes that are certified for the ENERGY STAR label on an annual basis during the 
50

three-year life of this ICR. To verify a manufactured or modular home, Raters complete the two 

standard ENERGY STAR checklists, and collect the other two checklists, as well as complete a 

home completion report for each home. 

These assumptions are reflected in the table below.

Table 1. Estimated Number of Site-Built Homes Verified using 4 Checklists Annually

Type of Home

Total Annual 

No. of Homes

Built

Total No. of 

Homes Directly 

Verified using 4 

Checklists

Total No. of 

Homes Verified 

with Builder 

Involvement in 

Thermal Checklist 

(85%)

Total No. of 

Homes Verified 

without Builder 

Involvement in 

Thermal 

Checklist (15%)

Traditional Site-Built Homes

Individually 

Rated 29,700 29,700 25,245 4,455

Collectively 

Rated 60,300 8,614* 7,322 1,292

Modular and 

Manufactured 

Homes

2,200 2,200 Not applicable** Not applicable**

Total 92,200 40,514*** 32,567 5,747

*1 in 7 homes is directly verified using the checklists.

**The Thermal Enclosure Checklist is incorporated into the manufacturing plant’s home designs at the time the 

plant is becoming certified; therefore this checklist is verified as part of the manufacturing process in the plant.

*** This is the number of homes for which the four checklists are prepared by home builders, verification 

organizations, and HVAC contractors.

In addition, EPA estimates that, on average, 41 home plans will be submitted to Home 

Energy Raters to earn the Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR label. To issue the label, Raters 

must model and verify energy efficiency criteria through five checklists, including the Designed 

to Earn checklist. EPA estimates that five of these Raters will submit these home plans to EPA.

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

Manufactured and Modular Plant Certifiers

EPA estimates that five modular plants and five manufactured plants will join the 

program each year. Plant certifiers will submit a plant qualification form for each new plant. 

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

H-QUITOs

To ensure that HVAC systems are properly installed and tested by contractors, EPA 

estimates that H-QUITOs will perform periodic, random quality assurance on 300 contractor 

jobs annually. These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.
51

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

To verify that HVAC systems have been installed correctly by contractors, Program 

Sponsors collect and review a commissioning report for each installation. EPA estimates that 15 

Program Sponsors will spend 25 hours annually reviewing reports. Quality assurance also 

includes field verification of a small sample of installations by each contractor. EPA estimates 

that these 15 Program Sponsors will spend half an hour performing ENERGY STAR-specific 

tests. These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

HVAC Contractors

HVAC contractors prepare an HVAC QI Contractor Checklist for site built homes. EPA 

estimates that they will prepare 40,514 checklists each year. This includes 38,314 checklists for 

traditional site-built homes and 2,200 checklists for modular and manufactured homes.

A commissioning report is completed by contractors and submitted to Program Sponsors 

for each HVAC system installed. EPA estimates that contractors will submit 25 reports to each 

of the 15 HVAC QI Sponsors (i.e. 25 reports x 15 Program Sponsors = 375 reports). 

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 2.

EVALUATION (EXHIBIT 3)

Partners and Other Home Industry Professionals

EPA expects to ask partners and other home industry professionals for feedback or other 

information in connection with the ENERGY STAR Program. For example, EPA periodically 

contacts partners to gather feedback about their experience with the program and provide 

technical support, if necessary. EPA also may ask organizations to make presentations during 

Webinars or to provide information in connection with Webinars. In total, EPA estimates that 

645 requests to organizations will be made annually. These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 

3.

Homeowners

Based on its experience EPA estimates that 100,000 homeowners will enter data into 

ENERGY STAR’s online Home Energy Yardstick tool annually.

EPA estimates that 20,000 homeowners will enter their home energy characteristics into 

ENERGY STAR’s online Home Energy Advisor/Home Energy Profile tool annually, beginning 

in 2014.

To be featured in case studies on the ENERGY STAR Website, homeowners complete a 

Home Improvement profile form. EPA estimates that 25 homeowners will complete the Profile 

form. 
52

EPA anticipates that 1,000 owners of ENERGY STAR certified homes will complete and 

mail a utility bill release form.

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 3.

PERIODIC REPORTING (EXHIBIT 4)

Verification Organization Partners

EPA estimates that 110 Providers will submit a report each calendar quarter. Each report 

is estimated to take 2 hours to complete and submit, on average. Therefore, it is estimated that 

Providers will spend 8 hours annually submitting quarterly reports to EPA. These assumptions

are reflected in Exhibit 4.

Oversight Organizations

MVOOs

Information on the number of ENERGY STAR manufactured and modular homes 

produced each year is submitted by manufacturing plants to their ENERGY STAR manufactured 

and modular verification oversight organization (MVOO), who in turn electronically submits this 

information to EPA once each quarter. Based on past experience, EPA estimates that three 

MVOOs will submit quarterly reports each year. This assumption is reflected in Exhibit 4.

H-QUITOs

EPA estimates that three H-QUITOs will be in existence, on average, during the threeyear life of this ICR. As part of their participation in the program, H-QUITOs agree to provide 

information as requested by EPA. EPA anticipates making one electronic request annually from 

each H-QUITO.

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

Program Sponsors joining the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program attend 

a 15 minute call with EPA to be trained on how to submit quarterly reports. EPA estimates that 

eight Program Sponsors will join the program each year.

EPA estimates that 58 Program Sponsors will be in existence during the three-year life of 

this ICR. EPA estimates that each Program Sponsor spends an average of three hours each 

quarter preparing reports for the first three quarters of the year. EPA estimates that 18 Program 

Sponsors in the program submit an end-of-year quarterly report for the last quarter of the year. 

The remaining Program Sponsors submit an annual summary of program activity through their 

application for the ENERGY STAR Awards. [Note that this ICR burdens participants for 

submitting an annual summary in the section, ―ENERGY STAR Awards.‖ See Exhibit 5.]
53

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 4.

HVAC Quality Installation Program Sponsors

EPA estimates that 15 HVAC Quality Installation Program Sponsors will be in existence 

during the three-year life of this ICR. Based on past experience, EPA estimates that 90 percent 

will submit quarterly reports on the effects of their programs (i.e., 15 x 90% = 14 partners each 

year, on average). These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 4.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS (EXHIBIT 5)

Based on previous award applications received, EPA estimates that 25 home builder 

partners, 10 verification organizations, five affordable housing partners, and 40 Program 

Delivery partners, including ENERGY STAR Certified Homes and Home Performance with 

ENERGY STAR Sponsors, apply for an ENERGY STAR Award each year. 

Of the 40 partners applying for a Program Delivery award, EPA estimates that 50% (20 

partners) will apply for the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR award, while the other 

50% of partners will apply for two program awards (ENERGY STAR Certified Homes and 

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR).

These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 5.

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP (EXHIBIT 6)

EPA expects 15 metropolitan markets to join the outreach partnership in 2013 and 

participate each year. No markets are expected to join in 2014 or 2015. The 15 markets will 

submit a Commitment Form to EPA on a one-time basis. As shown in Table 2, EPA divided

these 15 markets by 3 years to estimate that 5 markets will join and submit the form on average 

annually during the 3-year life of this ICR. In addition, EPA estimates that 15 markets will be in 

existence on average annually during the 3-year life of this ICR, as shown in the table. EPA 

assumes that each market will include two participants on average; therefore, a total of 30

participants (15 markets x 2 = 30) will be asked to review the outreach partnership guidelines

and coordinate with other partners. These assumptions are reflected in Exhibit 6.

Table 2. Number of Markets In Outreach Partnership In Existence

During Three-Year Life of ICR

Partners 2013 2014 2015

Annual Average

Over 3 Years

Existing at beginning of 

year

0 15 15 10

New during year 15 0 0 5*

Existing at end of year 15 15 15 15**

* 5 markets are expected to join on average annually during the 3-year life of this ICR.

** 15 markets are expected to be in existence on average annually during the 3-year life of this ICR. 
54

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection 

Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Complete and submit PA 

and related materials

0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 1,620 259.20 $19,164.60

Renew 100% commitment 

annually

0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.08 $5.91 $0.00 $0.00 486 38.88 $2,872.26

Complete and submit 

MFHR project application 

0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 $14.78 $0.00 $0.00 40 8.00 $591.20

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 306.08 $22,628.06

Complete and submit PA 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 30 4.80 $354.90

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 4.80 $354.90

Complete and submit PA 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 180 28.80 $2,129.40

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 28.80 $2,129.40

Verification Oversight Organizations (VOOs)

Complete and submit 

application to EPA 0.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 2.00 $181.67 $0.00 $0.00 1 2.00 $181.67

Handle issues, as 

necessary

0.00 0.00 4.00 3.50 7.50 $425.91 $0.00 $0.00 5 37.50 $2,129.55

Complete and submit 

application to EPA 0.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 2.00 $181.67 $0.00 $0.00 1 2.00 $181.67

Complete and submit 

application to EPA 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 $111.13 $0.00 $0.00 0.33 0.66 $36.67

Approve and process HVAC 

contractor applications

0.00 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.25 $18.48 $0.00 $0.00 1,000 250.00 $18,480.00

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 292.16 $21,009.56

Home Builders

Verification Organizations

Oversight Organizations

Architects/Home Plan Designers

Manufactured and Modular Verification Oversight Organizations (MVOOs)

HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight Organizations (H-QUITOs)

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Joining the ENERGY STAR Program and Related Activities*

Exhibit 1

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor Costs/ 

Activity

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs

Capital Startup 

Costs / Activity

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year Total Cost/Year
55

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection 

Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Complete and submit PA 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 3 0.48 $35.49

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 3 0.48 $35.49

Certified Homes EEPS

Complete and submit PA 

and Commitment Form

0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 $14.78 $0.00 $0.00 7 1.40 $103.46

Complete and submit PA 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 $14.78 $0.00 $0.00 8 1.60 $118.24

Complete and submit 

implementation plan 0.00 0.00 10.00 1.00 11.00 $776.43 $0.00 $0.00 8 88.00 $6,211.44

Submit web designs and 

marketing materials to EPA 0.00 0.00 5.00 0.00 5.00 $369.61 $0.00 $0.00 8 40.00 $2,956.88

Review participation 

agreements from 

contractors

0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 100 16.00 $1,183.00

Complete and submit PA 0.00 0.00 0.25 0.25 0.50 $27.78 $0.00 $0.00 5 2.50 $138.90

Prepare and submit written 

plan 0.00 0.00 10.00 1.00 11.00 $776.43 $0.00 $0.00 5 55.00 $3,882.15

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 204.50 $14,594.07

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS)

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

Lenders

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Joining the ENERGY STAR Program and Related Activities (continued)*

Exhibit 1

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor Costs/ 

Activity

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs

Capital Startup 

Costs / Activity

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year Total Cost/Year
56 Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection 

Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Submit credentialing 

application to H-QUITOs 0.00 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.25 $18.48 $0.00 $0.00 1,000 250.00 $18,480.00

Submit Web designs and 

materials 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 2.00 $147.84 $0.00 $0.00 95 190.00 $14,044.80

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 440.00 $32,524.80

Complete and submit 

participation agreement to 

sponsors

0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 100 16.00 $1,183.00

Subtotal 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 11.83 $0.00 $0.00 100 16.00 $1,183.00

TOTAL 0.00 varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 1,292.82 $94,459.28

* Partnership with ENERGY STAR is completely voluntary and can be terminated for no reason by the respondent.

** EPA uses the term 'varies' in the subtotal and/or total row of the exhibit if the total hours or costs per respondent under an information collection vary among the respondents. 

HVAC Contractors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractors

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Joining the ENERGY STAR Program and Related Activities (continued)*

Exhibit 1

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor Costs/ 

Activity

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs

Capital Startup 

Costs / Activity

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year Total Cost/Year
57

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Site-Built Homes (General)

Complete the water management 

checklist 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.50 $36.96 $0.00 $0.00 40,514 20,257.00 $1,497,397.44

Complete the thermal enclosure 

checklist (optional) 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 32,567 5,210.70 $385,266.43

Integrate ENERGY STAR standards 

into home plan designs 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 2.00 $147.84 $0.00 $0.00 10 20.00 $1,478.40

Collect and retain 4 checklists 0.00 0.00 3.50 0.50 4.00 $277.33 $0.00 $0.00 2,200 8,800.00 $610,126.00

Address homeowner issues, as 

necessary 0.00 0.00 1.50 0.50 2.00 $129.49 $0.00 $0.00 4 8.00 $517.96

Complete and submit the Testing and 

Verification Worksheets 0.00 0.00 8.00 0.00 8.00 $591.38 $0.00 $0.00 80 640.00 $47,310.40

Complete and submit the Submittal 

Validation form 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.10 $7.39 $0.00 $0.00 80 8.00 $591.20

Complete and submit the Proposed 

Design Reporting Summary 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 $73.92 $0.00 $0.00 32 32.00 $2,365.44

Complete and submit the As-Built 

Reporting Summary 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.50 $36.96 $0.00 $0.00 32 16.00 $1,182.72

Complete and submit the photo 

template 0.00 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.25 $18.48 $0.00 $0.00 40 10.00 $739.20

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 35,001.70 $2,546,975.19

Multifamily High Rise Developers

Home Builders

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor Costs/ 

Activity Total Cost/Year Capital Startup Costs / Activity

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year

Manufactured and Modular Plants

Exhibit 2

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Verification of ENERGY STAR Guidelines*

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs
58

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

For Traditional Site-Built Homes: Individually Rated

Complete two checklists (without 

builder involvement), collect two 

checklists and submit to Providers

0.00 0.00 1.50 0.00 1.50 $110.88 $0.00 $0.00 4,455 6,682.50 $493,970.40

Complete two checklists (with builder 

involvement), collect two checklists 

and submit to Providers

0.00 0.00 1.34 0.00 1.34 $99.06 $0.00 $0.00 25,245 33,828.30 $2,500,769.70

Complete two checklists (without 

builder involvement), collect two 

checklists and submit to Providers

0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.50 $36.96 $0.00 $0.00 1,292 646.00 $47,752.32

Complete two checklists (with builder 

involvement), collect two checklists 

and submit to Providers

0.00 0.00 0.34 0.00 0.34 $25.13 $0.00 $0.00 7,322 2,489.48 $184,001.86

Complete home completion report 0.00 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.25 $18.48 $0.00 $0.00 2,200 550.00 $40,656.00

Complete two checklists, collect two 

checklists and submit to Providers

0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 $73.92 $0.00 $0.00 2,200 2,200.00 $162,624.00

Enter home plan data into model 0.00 0.00 3.00 0.00 3.00 $221.77 $0.00 $0.00 41 123.00 $9,092.57

Complete checklists 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 2.00 $147.84 $0.00 $0.00 41 82.00 $6,061.44

Complete Designed to Earn Checklist 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.50 $36.96 $0.00 $0.00 41 20.50 $1,515.36

Email materials to EPA for approval 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.08 $5.91 $0.00 $0.00 5 0.40 $29.55

Issue label 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.08 $5.91 $0.00 $0.00 41 3.28 $242.31

Complete and submit modular home 

plant qualification form 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 $14.78 $0.00 $0.00 5 1.00 $73.90

Complete and submit manufactured 

home plant qualification form 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.20 $14.78 $0.00 $0.00 5 1.00 $73.90

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 46,627.46 $3,446,863.31

For Traditional Site Built Homes: Collectively Rated

For Manufactured and Modular Homes

For Designed to Earn Program

Verification Organizations

Home Energy Raters and Providers

Manufactured and Modular Plant Certifiers

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor Costs/ 

Activity Total Cost/Year Capital Startup Costs / Activity

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year

Exhibit 2

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Verification of ENERGY STAR Guidelines (continued)*

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs
59

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 46,627.46 $3,446,863.31

H-QUITOs

Perform quality assurance 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 $73.92 $0.00 $0.00 300 300.00 $22,176.00

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 300.00 $22,176.00

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

Review commissioning report 0.00 0.00 25.00 0.00 25.00 $1,848.05 $0.00 $0.00 15 375.00 $27,720.75

Perform field verification 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.50 $36.96 $0.00 $0.00 15 7.50 $554.40

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 382.50 $28,275.15

Complete HVAC QI Contractor 

Checklist and provide to Rater 0.00 0.00 1.50 0.00 1.50 $110.88 $0.00 $0.00 40,514 60,771.00 $4,492,192.32

Complete and submit commissioning 

report 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 2.00 $147.84 $0.00 $0.00 375 750.00 $55,440.00

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 61,521.00 $4,547,632.32

TOTAL varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 143,832.66 $10,591,921.97

* Partnership with ENERGY STAR is completely voluntary and can be terminated for no reason by the respondent.

** EPA uses the term 'varies' in the subtotal and/or total row of the exhibit if the total hours or costs per respondent under an information collection vary among the respondents. 

HVAC Contractors

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor Costs/ 

Activity Total Cost/Year Capital Startup Costs / Activity

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year

Exhibit 2

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Verification of ENERGY STAR Guidelines (continued)*

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs
60
61

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Prepare and submit quarterly reports 

to EPA 0.00 0.00 7.50 0.50 8.00 $573.02 $0.00 $0.00 110 880.00 $63,032.20

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 110 880.00 $63,032.20

Manufactured and Modular Verification Oversight Organizations (MVOOs)

Prepare and submit quarterly reports 

to EPA 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00 4.00 $295.69 $0.00 $0.00 3 12.00 $887.07

Provide information as requested by 

EPA 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.16 $11.83 $0.00 $0.00 3 0.48 $35.49

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 6 12.48 $922.56

Attend training on onboarding 

process, including how to submit 

reports

0.00 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.25 $18.48 $0.00 $0.00 8 2.00 $147.84

Submit quarterly reports (first three 

quarters) 0.00 0.00 7.00 2.00 9.00 $591.87 $0.00 $0.00 58 522.00 $34,328.46

Submit end-of-year quarterly reports 0.00 0.00 8.00 2.00 10.00 $665.79 $0.00 $0.00 18 180.00 $11,984.22

Prepare and submit quarterly reports 

to EPA 0.00 0.00 8.00 2.00 10.00 $665.79 $0.00 $0.00 14 140.00 $9,321.06

Subtotal varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 844.00 $55,781.58

TOTAL varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 $0.00 varies 1,736.48 $119,736.34

* Periodic reporting is completely voluntary and can be terminated for no reason by the respondent.

** EPA uses the term 'varies' in the subtotal and/or total row of the exhibit if the total hours or costs per respondent under an information collection vary among the respondents. 

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs

Capital 

Startup 

Costs / 

Activity

Total Hours/ 

Year

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total 

Cost/Year

Oversight Organizations

Verification Organizations

Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS)

HVAC Quality Installation Sponsors

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Sponsors

H-QUITOs

Exhibit 4

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Periodic Reporting*

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor 

Costs/ 

Activity
62

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Complete and submit application, 

including any supplemental info. 0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 25 87.50 $6,607.50

Subtotal 0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 25 87.50 $6,607.50

Complete and submit application, 

including any supplemental info. 0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 10 35.00 $2,643.00

Subtotal 0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 10 35.00 $2,643.00

Complete and submit application, 

including any supplemental info. 0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 5 17.50 $1,321.50

Subtotal 0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 5 17.50 $1,321.50

Complete and submit application for 

Home Performance with ENERGY 

STAR

0.00 1.25 1.25 1.00 3.50 $264.30 $0.00 $0.00 20 70.00 $5,286.00

Complete and submit application 

form for two programs 0.00 3.00 3.00 1.00 7.00 $582.22 $0.00 $0.00 20 140.00 $11,644.40

Subtotal 0.00 varies varies 1.00 varies varies $0.00 $0.00 40 210.00 $16,930.40

TOTAL 0.00 varies varies 1.00 varies varies $0.00 $0.00 80 350.00 $27,502.40

** EPA uses the term 'varies' in the subtotal and/or total row of the exhibit if the total hours or costs per respondent under an information collection vary among the respondents. 

Affordable Housing

Exhibit 5

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs

Capital 

Startup Costs 

/ Activity

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: ENERGY STAR Awards*

Program Delivery

New Home Builder Award

Home Energy Raters and Providers

* Application for the ENERGY STAR Awards is completely voluntary and is not required for ENERGY STAR Partnership.

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total Hours/ 

Year

Total 

Cost/Year

Labor 

Costs/ 

Activity
63

Legal Managerial Technical Clerical

Information Collection Activity $148.97 $107.75 $73.92 $37.21

Complete and submit the commitment form

0.00 0.50 0.75 0.10 1.35 $113.04 $0.00 $0.00 31 41.85 $3,504.24

Coordinate with other participants and EPA 

to develop and distribute an outreach 

campaign

1.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 3.00 $293.93 $0.00 $5.00 62 186.00 $18,533.66

TOTAL varies varies varies varies varies varies $0.00 varies varies 227.85 $22,037.90

** EPA uses the term 'varies' in the subtotal and/or total row of the exhibit if the total hours or costs per respondent under an information collection vary among the respondents. 

* Participation in the Outreach Partnership is completely voluntary and is not required for ENERGY STAR Partnership.

Exhibit 6

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden and Cost

ENERGY STAR Homes Program: Outreach Partnership*

Respond. 

Hours/ 

Activity

Labor 

Costs/ 

Activity

Hours and Costs Per Respondent** Total Hours and Costs

Capital 

Startup 

Costs / 

Activity

Total 

Cost/Year

 O&M 

Costs/ 

Activity

No. of 

Respond. 

Activities

Total 

Hours/ 

Year
64
65
66
67
68
69
70

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

(i) Respondent Tally

As shown in Table 3, EPA estimates the total annual burden to respondents to be 183,967 

hours and $13,553,809. The total bottom-line burden to respondents over three years is 

estimated to be 551,901 hours and $40,661,427.

Table 3. Total Estimated Respondent Burden and Cost Summary *

*Exhibit contains rounding.

(ii) Agency Tally

As shown in Table 4, EPA estimates the total annual burden to the Agency to be 2,686

hours and $124,158. The bottom-line burden to the Agency over three years is estimated to be 

8,058 hours and $372,474.

Table 4. Total Estimated Agency Burden and Cost Summary *

*Exhibit contains rounding.
71

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden

EPA estimates a total annual respondent burden in this ICR, 2193.03, of 183,967 hours. 

This is an increase of 3,009 hours from the previously approved burden of 180,958 hours in ICR 

2193.02.

Table 5 explains this 3,009-hour increase. Specifically, the table presents the total annual 

hours estimated in ICR 2193.02 and ICR 2193.03 for each category of collections in this 

document (see columns 1-3). The table then compares their respective hours to derive the 

change in hours and indicates whether this hour-change resulted from a program change and/or 

adjustment (see column 4). The table also briefly describes the program change and/or 

adjustment (see column 5). Finally, the table sums up all hour-changes to derive the total annual 

change in hours for all collections (see the bottom row of the table).

The table shows that there was a 112,566-hour increase due to program changes and a 

109,557-hour decrease due to adjustments resulting primarily from improved data and analysis. 

This resulted in a net increase of 3,009 hours in ICR 2193.03. 

The table shows that verification of ENERGY STAR guidelines (Exhibit 2) experienced 

the largest burden increase due to program changes. Specifically, this increase resulted primarily 

from EPA’s new, more rigorous guidelines for new homes looking to earn the ENERGY STAR. 

Compared to homes built to the prior guidelines, homes built to the new guidelines are at least 10 

percent more energy efficient. As part of these new guidelines, EPA is asking verification 

organizations to use four checklists (of which 3 are new) that are necessary for ensuring that 

critical details and systems that impact a home’s efficiency, comfort, and durability are not 

missed or installed incorrectly during the design and construction phases.

The table shows that verification of ENERGY STAR guidelines also experienced the 

largest burden decrease due to adjustments. Reasons for this decrease include the following:

 EPA refined its analysis in ICR 2193.03 to more accurately account for the fact 

that the majority of site-built homes represent production homes, of which those 

that have the same floor plan, equipment and other characteristics will be verified 

collectively using an analytical protocol developed by the rating industry. In the 

collective rating protocol, one in seven homes can be verified using the checklists. 

As such, collective ratings streamline the burden on industry in comparison with 

individual home ratings. ICR 2193.02 did not fully account for the burdensavings of collective ratings. This has been addressed in ICR 2193.03.

 The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320.3 

provide that the time, effort, and financial resources necessary to comply with a 

collection of information that would be incurred by persons in the normal course 

of their activities (e.g., in compiling and maintaining business records) is 

excluded from the definition of ―burden.‖ In accordance with this provision, ICR 

2193.03 more accurately accounts for ENERGY STAR collections that involve 

usual and customary business practices. For example, home energy ratings are 
72

normally performed according to accepted industry standards that have been 

developed and are followed independently of ENERGY STAR through standards 

including the RESNET Mortgage Industry national Home Energy Rating 

Standards. The ENERGY STAR Program adds a layer of quality assurance and 

sets efficiency requirements to supplement these industry standards and activities. 

In addition, utilities that implement home performance and HVAC quality 

installation programs normally have relationships with their contractors, 

regardless of whether the program is implemented in connection with ENERGY 

STAR or not. Many of the collections performed under such programs are usual 

and customary practices, such as preparing test out reports. In this respect, EPA 

refined the burden estimates in ICR 2193.03 to account solely for the burden 

associated with the ENERGY STAR Program and exclude usual and customary 

business practices.

 EPA realizes that there is a learning curve associated with use of the processes

and checklists under the ENERGY STAR Program. EPA believes that, over the 

past three years, respondents have become more familiar and adept in completing

these processes and paperwork. ICR 2193.03 reflects this greater familiarization 

and ability to perform activities more efficiently. 

In addition, the table shows a relatively significant burden increase due to adjustments for 

evaluations (Exhibit 3). This increase results primarily from EPA’s expectation of strong growth 

in homeowners’ use of online assessment tools like the Home Energy Yardstick and Home 

Energy Advisor. These tools greatly benefit homeowners in learning about and improving their 

homes’ energy efficiency.

Finally, EPA notes that ICR 2193.02 included an $800 capital cost for each manufactured 

and modular housing plant to modify and retool plant operations to become certified to produce 

homes that are ready for ENERGY STAR qualification. EPA believes that such costs are a usual 

and customary part of a plant’s business functions. Thefore, ICR 2193.03 does not include these 

costs. [Note: Table 5 does not examine these costs because it addresses only hour burden.]

EPA believes that the burdens estimated in this ICR are justified given the significant 

benefits to participants, the general public, and environment under the ENERGY STAR 

Program. Through the end of 2011, more than 1.3 million ENERGY STAR certified homes have 

been built in the U.S. and more than 150,000 have been retrofitted through Home Performance 

with ENERGY STAR Programs. This is the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR Program. 

Over the past 20 years, with the help of ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses 

have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of 

carbon pollution. 

EPA believes collecting information from the public regarding ENERGY STAR in the 

residential sector is critical to the program’s sustained success in forming and nurturing 

voluntary agreements with the private sector to build and promote energy efficient homes. 

Partners view the ENERGY STAR label as a very effective marketing tool for highlighting the 

energy efficiency of their products, services, and homes to homebuyers and homeowners. In 
73

addition, ENERGY STAR provides partners with recognition as environmental leaders. 

Collecting information about partners and about ENERGY STAR’s impact in the residential 

marketplace is necessary to ensure that the value of the ENERGY STAR brand is protected and 

maintained, and to ensure continued success and delivery of valuable benefits to partners such as 

market differentiation, competitive advantage, and public recognition. 
74
75

6(g) Burden Statement

JOINING THE ENERGY STAR PROGRAM AND RELATED ACTIVITIES 

The average annual reporting burden for joining the ENERGY STAR Program and 

related activities is estimated to be 20 minutes per respondent. This includes time for preparing 

and submitting the Partnership Agreement and related paperwork. 

The average annual recordkeeping burden for oversight organizations is estimated to be 

about 100 hours per respondent. 

VERIFICATION OF ENERGY STAR GUIDELINES

The average annual reporting burden is estimated to be 44 hours per respondent. This 

includes the time for multifamily high rise developers to verify that their proposed and built 

designs conform to ENERGY STAR standards and for verification organizations to participate in 

the Designed to Earn Program and verify that manufactured and modular plants meet energy 

efficiency standards. 

The average annual recordkeeping burden is estimated to be 27.5 hours per respondent. 

This reflects the time primarily for home builders, verification organizations, and HVAC 

contractors to verify that site-built, modular, and manufactured homes meet ENEGY STAR 

guidelines.

EVALUATION 

The average annual reporting burden for evaluations is estimated to be about 10 minutes 

per respondent. This includes time to respond to EPA questions (e.g., via the phone or email). 

There is no recordkeeping burden for evaluations.

PERIODIC REPORTING

The average annual reporting burden for periodic reports is estimated to be 10 hours per 

respondent. This reflects the time primarily for organizations to prepare and submit quarterly 

reports to EPA. There is no recordkeeping burden for periodic reporting.

ENERGY STAR AWARDS 

The average annual reporting burden for ENERGY STAR awards is estimated to be 4.5

hours per respondent. This includes time to prepare and submit the application to EPA. There is 

no recordkeeping burden for the awards.

OUTREACH PARTNERSHIP 

The average annual reporting burden for the Outreach Partnership is estimated to be 3.5

hours per respondent. This includes time for partners to complete and submit the Commitment 
76

Form and to work with other participants and EPA to develop, approve, and distribute a 

coordinated outreach campaign. There is no recordkeeping burden for the outreach partnership.

Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to 

generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This 

includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology 

and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and 

maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to 

comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able 

to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection 

of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. 

To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided 

burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the

use of automated collection techniques, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under 

Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0500, which is available for public viewing at the Air and 

Radiation Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, 

Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public 

Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 

holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone 

number for the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center is (202) 566-1742. An 

electronic version of the public docket is available through the Federal Docket Management 

System (FDMS) at http://www.regulations.gov. Use FDMS to submit or view public comments, 

access the index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those documents in the 

public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select "search," then key in 

the docket ID number identified above. Also, you can send comments to the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, 

Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Office for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID No. 

EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0500 and OMB Control Number 2060-0586 in any correspondence.