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Energy Star Homes
We offer consulting and verification services for the both the EPA Energy Star and Northwest Energy Star Homes programs. Homes certified under these programs use 20% less energy than a home built to 2006 IECC standards. Both programs yield the same end result of a certified Energy Star home, but offer different methods to to achieve the certification.
The EPA offers builders a $2000 tax credit if they build to an even more stringent standard, equating to over twice the reduction in energy consumption compared to an Energy Star home.
EPA Energy Star for Homes
The EPA's Energy Star program offers a 'performance path', employing software based modeling, that uses a homes' HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating to determine qualification for Energy Star certification. Homes must recieve a HERS index of 80 or less to qualify in Montana's climate zone, meaning that they use 20% less energy than a home built to the 2006 IECC standards. This software modeling makes the EPA program flexible when attempting to certify a home, as there are very few specific requirements that must be followed. A builder is thus given more freedom to design the building shell how they choose.
The EPA program does require a the completion of aThermal Bypass Checklist (TBC). The TBC is an inspection to ensure that common areas of missing or improperly installed insulation are not present in the home. Every item on the checklist applicable to the home must be satisfactoy with no exceptions. Up to 6 items on the TBC may be verified by the builder, provided the builder signs the TBC.
Northwest Energy Star Homes
The Northwest program uses a 'prescriptive path' by prescribing criteria for each building component and bundling them into Builder Option Packages (BOP's). The BOP's list the minimum criteria for all energy related components, with limited relief from a list of Technical Compliance Options (TCO's) and tradeoff spreadsheet. While the Northwest program is a bit more rigid with its specific criteria, it does not require a TBC and therefore becomes useful if a home fails the TBC for some reason. The most common example is when a builder pours a basement foundation and floor before consulting with a representative of the program, and fails to properly insulate the basement floor. This is required by the TBC, and so disqualifies the home under the EPA program. The Northwest program also requires slab floor insulation, but offers relief via the spreadsheet if other certain building components compensate for the floor.
In summary, if a home fails the TBC then the Northwest program may be able to certify the house under their prescriptive path BOP's. BOP's also serve as an excellent guide for builders who prefer the EPA program, as they are based upon a 15% energy reduction relative to Montana code.
$2000 EPA Tax Credit
A tax credit is available to builders who's homes use 50% less energy than a home built to 2006 IECC standards. The National Center for Appropriate Technology has developed a spreadsheet that suggests BOP minimum requirements for tax credit homes as well. For more information, visit the Energy Star web-site.
The EPA offers builders a $2000 tax credit if they build to an even more stringent standard, equating to over twice the reduction in energy consumption compared to an Energy Star home.
EPA Energy Star for Homes
The EPA's Energy Star program offers a 'performance path', employing software based modeling, that uses a homes' HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating to determine qualification for Energy Star certification. Homes must recieve a HERS index of 80 or less to qualify in Montana's climate zone, meaning that they use 20% less energy than a home built to the 2006 IECC standards. This software modeling makes the EPA program flexible when attempting to certify a home, as there are very few specific requirements that must be followed. A builder is thus given more freedom to design the building shell how they choose.
The EPA program does require a the completion of aThermal Bypass Checklist (TBC). The TBC is an inspection to ensure that common areas of missing or improperly installed insulation are not present in the home. Every item on the checklist applicable to the home must be satisfactoy with no exceptions. Up to 6 items on the TBC may be verified by the builder, provided the builder signs the TBC.
Northwest Energy Star Homes
The Northwest program uses a 'prescriptive path' by prescribing criteria for each building component and bundling them into Builder Option Packages (BOP's). The BOP's list the minimum criteria for all energy related components, with limited relief from a list of Technical Compliance Options (TCO's) and tradeoff spreadsheet. While the Northwest program is a bit more rigid with its specific criteria, it does not require a TBC and therefore becomes useful if a home fails the TBC for some reason. The most common example is when a builder pours a basement foundation and floor before consulting with a representative of the program, and fails to properly insulate the basement floor. This is required by the TBC, and so disqualifies the home under the EPA program. The Northwest program also requires slab floor insulation, but offers relief via the spreadsheet if other certain building components compensate for the floor.
In summary, if a home fails the TBC then the Northwest program may be able to certify the house under their prescriptive path BOP's. BOP's also serve as an excellent guide for builders who prefer the EPA program, as they are based upon a 15% energy reduction relative to Montana code.
$2000 EPA Tax Credit
A tax credit is available to builders who's homes use 50% less energy than a home built to 2006 IECC standards. The National Center for Appropriate Technology has developed a spreadsheet that suggests BOP minimum requirements for tax credit homes as well. For more information, visit the Energy Star web-site.
Phone: (406) 671-6296
Email: prinkkim@aesmt.net
Email: prinkkim@aesmt.net
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