ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that provides guidelines and requirements for building and certifying energy-efficient homes. The program’s primary goal is to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the residential building sector by promoting energy-efficient construction practices.
Homes that meet the ENERGY STAR requirements are designed and built to be more energy-efficient than standard homes, which results in lower energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR certified homes are typically at least 10% more energy-efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which is the national model energy code for residential construction.
To qualify for the ENERGY STAR label, homes must meet specific energy performance criteria, including reduced energy consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved indoor air quality. Builders must follow specific construction practices, including using energy-efficient windows, sealing air leaks, and installing high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
In addition to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, ENERGY STAR certified homes also offer other benefits, such as improved indoor air quality, increased comfort, and reduced maintenance costs. Homeowners can also benefit from the program by receiving rebates and incentives from local utilities and governments for purchasing or building energy-efficient homes.
ICS Inspectors is a nationwide leader and provider of ENERGY STAR certification services. As a team of HERS and BPI Raters, Energy experts, and Green Building consultants, we help builders and developers achieve ENERGY STAR certification through energy audits, diagnostic testing, planning and design consulting, and assisting in the certification process. Our expertise in energy-efficient construction practices and the ENERGY STAR certification process ensures that our clients meet or exceed the program’s requirements, gain an increased market demand, reduce construction costs, and higher profits.
Just a few of the ways our experts will help your designers plan for success:
- Provide expert advice on the latest green building technologies and best practices to help designers incorporate sustainable features into their projects.
- Evaluate designs to identify areas where sustainability can be improved, such as by reducing energy consumption, optimizing resource use, and improving indoor air quality.
- Recommend energy-efficient products and building materials to help designers make informed choices that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.
- Provide guidance on certifications, such as ENERGY STAR, LEED, and other green building standards, to help designers achieve their sustainability goals and differentiate their projects from competitors.
- Collaborate to develop sustainable design strategies that meet both their clients’ needs and sustainability objectives, ensuring that the final design is both practical and environmentally responsible.
- Conduct audits and assessments to identify opportunities for improving sustainability and energy efficiency throughout the design and construction process.
- Demonstrate a cost-benefit for each recommendation to show how our design team can help reduce construction costs, and become more profitable.
- Offer ongoing support and consultation to help designers maintain a sustainable focus throughout the project lifecycle, from design through occupancy and operation.