The Energy Rating Process — For a Builder
The Energy Rating process involves accredited E-Star® Home Energy
Raters collecting detailed data on a home, which is then processed through
E-Star’s proprietary software to produce a report of the home’s
energy performance. This process supports builder’s efforts to
produce higher quality homes, to meet local energy codes, and to objectively
measure home energy performance for a variety of purposes. Builders
can order an Energy Rating online
through E-Star, and can access online ordering directly from the E-Star
home page.
The E-Star Energy Rating
An E-Star Energy Rating gives each home a score expressed on a scale
from 0-to-100 points and one to five stars. As a uniform measure of
residential energy performance, an E-Star Energy Rating serves as a
“miles-per-gallon sticker” for homes. In addition to the
energy-efficiency score, E-Star Energy Ratings include property-specific
recommendations for cost-effective energy improvements. These recommendations
help customers select and prioritize potential home improvement projects.
E-Star Energy Ratings can be performed on new and existing homes of
almost every construction type and style.
Each E-Star Energy Rating includes a thorough, on-site evaluation of
a home's energy features. A Rater certified by the E-Star program spends
several hours in the home collecting data about the thermal performance
of the building envelope and the solar orientation of the structure.
The Rater gathers more than 200 pieces of data such as the R-values
of insulation and windows and the delivery efficiency of space and hot
water heating systems. In addition, the tightness of a home against
infiltration from unconditioned air is quantified in each E-Star Energy
Rating through a blower
door test. Finally, the data is sent through proprietary E-Star
software that calculates the energy efficiency of the home as a system.
E-Star Energy Rating Report
The result of the rating is an Energy Rating Report that provides the
0-to-100 score, the efficiency levels of the major aspects of the home,
and, in the case of existing homes, recommendations about how efficiency
levels can be increased. Overall, the Energy Rating Report gives builders
important information about the homes they construct and an objective
measure of energy performance. Some jurisdictions offer reduced permit
fees for builders that submit From-Plans Energy Rating Reports and also
agree to submit the As-Built Energy Rating Report to demonstrate energy
codes compliance upon completion of construction. With sufficiently
high energy rating scores, the builder’s buyer pool increases
as the home qualifies for energy-efficient
loan packages that give buyers more purchasing power.
E-Star Energy Raters
Raters are independent contractors who must have several years of experience
in the homebuilding, real estate, or energy industries before they can
qualify for E-Star training. To become an Energy Rater, an individual
attends a rigorous training course that includes supervised, hands-on
work in the field. Raters maintain their certification from the E-Star
program by keeping up to date on the latest developments in construction
techniques and energy-efficiency evaluation practices. On-staff technical
experts continually review the work of Raters. Annually, each Rater
is thoroughly reviewed for business practices and technical competency.
Cost of Rating
E-Star
Raters are independent contractors who set their own prices to evaluate
a home. The typical cost for a Home Energy Rating, however, ranges from
$200 to $300. Some builders negotiate a volume discount with a Rater
based on the quantity of homes rated and the type of rating produced.
Types of Ratings for
Builders
The E-Star program offers, and an E-Star Rater can
conduct, three types of energy ratings to meet the needs and objectives
of builders.
From-Plans Ratings. From-Plans ratings are conducted when
a Rater reviews a builder’s plans and specifications prior to
construction. From-Plans ratings can show builders (and/or homebuyers)
how alternative packages of upgrades can affect the energy performance
of a home.
As-Built Rating. A Rater conducts an As-Built, or Final, rating
on a newly constructed home before it is sold. An As-Built rating compares
the energy efficiency of a completed home to one built to the (now expired)
statewide Energy Code of 1977. Builders use Final As-Built ratings to
demonstrate the energy efficiency of their homes to buyers. Homebuyers
may then use such ratings to qualify for Energy Efficient Mortgages.
Final-Improved Ratings. A Final-Improved rating is conducted
on a new home after it has been improved in order to reach a specific
energy rating score. A Final-Improved rating is always done after an
As-Built rating.
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