Earning the ENERGY STAR®

Offered jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy, the ENERGY STAR label can be earned by single- and multifamily homes, a range of commercial and industrial building types, and individual retail products such as appliances. The ENERGY STAR program encourages homeowners and developers across the U.S. to adopt energy-saving practices, upgrade to high efficiency appliances and equipment, and ultimately reduce environmental pollution as we also reduce utility costs. Existing buildings that perform better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR, while new residential projects are required to demonstrate 15% savings relative to current energy codes and standards. The EPA also recognizes exceptional performance by awarding ENERGY STAR Partner or Leader designation, or the coveted Partner of the Year Award.

As one of ENERGY STAR’s oldest Rater Partners, SWA has the depth of experience needed to help a variety of clients earn the ENERGY STAR label for their projects. More importantly, our benchmarking and recommendation process is performed by engineers who understand the ENERGY STAR rating system not only as a checklist, but also as an opportunity to save our clients money and make their buildings more comfortable, healthy, and durable spaces.

To begin earning the ENERGY STAR in new home projects, SWA raters use energy modeling in the design phase to get an accurate view of how building systems should optimally work. During construction, the raters check compliance with various EPA checklists, which mandate air sealing, insulation, proper HVAC installation, and other building performance measures. When construction is complete, SWA raters perform a thorough inspection and field testing to verify that all systems are running according to specifications. SWA auditors and raters are RESNET-certified to generate a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index for your new construction.

ENERGY STAR homes are more comfortable, more durable, and healthier to live in, as well as less costly to operate.