High Performance Homes
E-Star’s statewide home energy rating program facilitates the
design and construction of energy-efficient homes and High Performance
Homes.
Definition
A High Performance Home relies on systems-engineered design, quality-controlled
construction, and performance testing to ensure that it is healthy,
comfortable, affordable, energy-efficient, durable, and environmentally
responsible. To qualify as a High Performance Home, the dwelling must
consume 40% less energy than a home built to the 1995 Model Energy Code.
Such an energy-efficient home will receive a score of 86 points or more
on the 100-point E-Star Home Energy Rating scale. High Performance Homes
can receive the ENERGY STAR®
label, which is issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Homes that score between 80 and 85 points on the E-Star scale are energy-efficient
but cannot display the ENERGY STAR®
label.
Benefits to Homebuyer
- A High Performance Home offers many benefits to owner and occupants:
- Saves money. The high scores on the E-Star Home Energy Rating mean
the home will generate lower utility bills.
- Increased comfort. The added features of High Performance Homes—quality
windows, high-efficiency heating systems, and increased insulation in
walls and attics and around pipes and ducts—improve the comfort
level in the dwelling.
- Robust structure. High Performance Homes incorporate durable construction
practices that increase the life and robustness of a home.
- Healthy air. Other features of High Performance Homes, such as careful
use of vapor barriers and conscious ventilation, improve moisture control
and indoor air quality.
E-Star’s Contributions
- Increasing the number of High Performance Homes contributes to the overall
E-Star goal of promoting energy conservation in buildings.
- Measurement scale. The E-Star Home Energy Rating system makes it possible
to measure the performance of these homes in a consistent way with a
comparable format.
- Trained Raters. E-Star trains and certifies E-Star Raters, independent
contractors who perform the work for profit. E-Star controls the quality
of Raters’ work to ensure consistent and comparable ratings.
- Technical resource. Raters and builders can rely on the E-Star program’s
technical staff to facilitate design and construction of High Performance
Homes.
- Homeowner education. E-Star works with builders of High Performance
Homes to tell homebuyers about the link between good building science
and higher comfort, increased durability, lower long-term ownership
costs, and healthy indoor air quality.
Related Information
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