ENERGY STAR Home Certification
Last Updated: Apr 7, 2025Most consumers recognize the ENERGY STAR brand when buying appliances. For three decades, the United States Environmental Protection Agency program has worked and encouraged manufacturers to create more efficient products.
Appliances affixed with the ENERGY STAR seal of certification find recognition with more than 90% of consumers. Merchants sold more than 300 million products with ENERGY STAR certification, with $100 billion of value in 2018. For energy-conscious consumers, the certificate offers differentiation from other competitors, a way to buy the best and most efficient refrigerator or dishwasher.
Table of Contents
- What is ENERGY STAR Home Certification?
- What Are the Benefits of ENERGY STAR Certified Homes?
- What Are the Main Areas of Focus for ENERGY STAR Certified Homes?
- What Kinds of Housing Does ENERGY STAR Certification Cover?
- What Are the Differences in ENERGY STAR Home Certification Versions?
- Are ENERGY STAR Home Certification Standards the Same in Every State?
- When Is the Next ENERGY STAR Home Certification Update?
- How Many ENERGY STAR Homes Have Been Certified?
- What States Lead in ENERGY STAR New Construction Certification?
- What Are the Steps to ENERGY STAR Home Certification?
- Does the EPA Provide ENERGY STAR Home Certification Guidelines?
- Are There Other Issues to Keep in Mind When Certifying ENERGY STAR Homes?
- Do Builders and Contractors Have to Provide Any Documents to the EPA When Building ENERGY STAR Homes?
- When Should Raters Get Involved In ENERGY STAR Home Certification and How Much Do Their Services Cost?
- What Is the Projected Value of ENERGY STAR Home Certification?
However, most consumers aren't aware of ENERGY STAR's breadth, which also extends to utilities, local governments, and builders on building certification and efficiency programs. Homeowners, developers, and apartment landlords can even earn ENERGY STAR certification for new and existing properties.
ENERGY STAR's residential program competes with the more popular Home Energy Rating System (HERS), which has certified nearly 3 million homes. Still, the strong brand has great popularity in several states, where more than a third of new homes get certified. Canada has its version of ENERGY STAR, adapted for the Canadian market.
What is ENERGY STAR Home Certification?
ENERGY STAR homes must perform 10% better than homes built to current building codes and 20% or more above average dwellings of the same size. To earn certification, homeowners have to get their houses verified by an energy rating company. The Canadian version generally covers the same territory as the American version for appliances and residential certification.
What Are the Benefits of ENERGY STAR Certified Homes?
First, you get an energy-efficient house that will bring lower utility bills. Second, the air you breathe will be better indoor air quality due to more efficient and clean running heating and cooling equipment. Third, your home can fetch a higher price when you sell it after certification.
What Are the Main Areas of Focus for ENERGY STAR Certified Homes?
ENERGY STAR focuses on four building science areas.
- Thermal enclosure ensures homes have strong air sealing, professionally installed insulation, high-performance windows, and minimize thermal bridging where air leaks out due to a lack of insulation.
- Certification demands a complete heating and cooling system with right-sized equipment, sealed ductwork, and a mechanical ventilation system drawing outside air.
- A whole water system must direct water off roofs and away from foundations, moisture-resistant barriers, and building materials protected from the elements before construction begins.
- Efficient lighting and appliances include those carrying the ENERGY STAR certification and advanced lighting (such as LEDs), which may be the most familiar to consumers. Anyone who has purchased a significant appliance – a refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher – will see an ENERGY STAR certification on many models.
What Kinds of Housing Does ENERGY STAR Certification Cover?
The certification covers nearly every kind of housing. The EPA certifies new construction of single-family homes, townhouses, apartments (of specific sizes), manufactured homes, and apartments. Owners of existing homes can seek certification if they do a "gut" renovation involving major work. This work includes steps like removing exterior cladding, replacing roofs and household systems (ducts, windows, HVAC). Moisture management strategies also count toward certification. The process covers the same areas as ENERGY STAR for new homes but uses different benchmarks for existing homes.
Are ENERGY STAR Home Certification Standards the Same in Every State?
No. The EPA maintains several versions for new construction of homes in all categories. For example, California, Florida, and the Tropics have their ENERGY STAR certification because their climates differ significantly from other regions. Oregon and Washington have stretch codes beyond the national standard. Many states use "National Version 3.1," but others continue on Version 3.0. EPA also tracks "Revisions" of "Versions." Minnesota, Texas, and others use Version 3.1, Revision 10 before moving to Revision 11 in 2022.
When Is the Next ENERGY STAR Home Certification Update?
EPA updated Vision 3.1 to Revision 11, which many states plan to adopt in 2022. Version 12's release date has not been announced.
How Many ENERGY STAR Homes Have Been Certified?
More than 2 million homes have been certified as of 2019 since the program began. In 2019, EPA certified nearly 100,000 homes. More than 870,000 existing homes have received ENERGY STAR recognition after retrofits. To date, the Canadian ENERGY STAR Homes program has certified more than 60,000 homes.
What Are the Steps to ENERGY STAR Home Certification?
For property owners serious about certifying homes, the first key will be to work with trusted contractors who have experience or knowledge of the ENERGY STAR program. The EPA's website hosts dozens of pages of information for contractors, builders, and raters. The agency has existing partnerships with developers, home builders, and factory builders found on this website, which allows a search by state and by metropolitan region. Following the main focus areas, as described above, builders will ensure strong thermal enclosures, ENERGY STAR rated appliances, and water systems that efficiently preserve water and efficient lighting.
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Are There Other Issues to Keep in Mind When Certifying ENERGY STAR Homes?
After completing the above process, contractors must meet the EPA's Mandatory Requirements for All Certified Homes. That means homes have to have EPA-required insulation levels and quality, duct leakage limits, and window performance. By meeting those requirements, contractors and homeowners should close in on ENERGY STAR certification. Remember, onsite generation, such as solar energy, cannot be used to achieve certification.
Frank Jossi
Based in St. Paul, Frank Jossi is a journalist, editor and content strategist. He covers clean energy in Minnesota for Midwest Energy News and writes frequently for Finance & Commerce. His work has appeared in more than 70 local, national and international publications.
