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ENERGY Star

BACORP is an DOE/EPA Energy Star Partner...

BACORP is an DOE/EPA Energy Star Partner

It's easy.
Either a home is built to ENERGY STAR standards or it is not. Period.
All BACORP homes are ENERGY STAR homes.

 

What is the Process of the Energy Star Qualified Home?
An ENERGY STAR qualified home is independently verified by a certified Home Energy Rater to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's strict guidelines for energy efficiency. Energy Star Homes use at least 30% less energy than required by the national building code. Homes not constructed to the Energy Star standard are achieving the absolute minimum required for energy efficiency; if built any lower, these other homes would be illegal. BACORP homes achieve the ENERGY STAR label under the endorsement of the federal government, indicating that the energy efficient home is more comfortable, more durable, costs less to own, and is better for the environment.

Blue Print and Mechanical Analysis of the Home
Initially, a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Modeling Analysis is conducted by a company that is certified by the federal government. This independent, third party is sanctioned by the Department of Energy and the EPA, to ensure that the home's exterior shell and all internal mechanical components will qualify or exceed ENERGY STAR's stringent requirements for energy efficiency and performance...before construction even begins. Quite often, home specifications are modified in order to comply with the ENERGY STAR program.

On-site 3rd Party Inspections
Subsequently, several on site inspections are conducted by the Home Energy Rater throughout the construction process and while the home is still in it's "rough stage". This field verification offers quality control and will ensure that the home is being built to ENERGY STAR standards. Special equipment is used in the final test to pressurize the house to 50 pascal, which essentially places the house under a partial vacuum as electronic sensors detect the amount of air leakage from the house. The heating, ventilation and air duct system is also isolated and pressurized in the same fashion in order to analyze and rate the amount of air leakage it will have. This final test is most important as air leakage directly impacts utility bills, indoor air quality and occupant comfort. At this point, the home will either pass as an ENERGY STAR qualified home or not.

Features of an ENERGY STAR Home

A federally approved Home Energy Rater conducts a blower door test...

Above, a federally approved Home Energy Rater conducts a blower door test. The test simulates the rate of air leakage in the home to be measured and quantified. Excessive air leakage directly impacts indoor air quality as well as heating and cooling costs.

Third-Party Verification
With the help of independent Home Energy Raters, ENERGY STAR builder partners choose the most appropriate energy-saving features for their homes. Additionally, raters conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, air tightness, and duct sealing details.

Peace-of-Mind for Making a Smart Purchase (Hide Section...)

Before buying a used car, consumers often take the car to a trusted mechanic not affiliated with the seller to have an expert verify its performance. This helps ensure they are making a smart purchase. Home buyers can have similar peace-of-mind by looking for the ENERGY STAR label, typically located on a home's circuit breaker box. This label assures home buyers that the home has been verified by an independent Home Energy Rater to be truly energy efficient. In addition to lowering monthly utility bills, the energy efficiency features typically found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes can also contribute to improved home durability and homeowner comfort.

Climate-Specific Recommendations (Hide Section...)

An energy-efficient home built in Florida would not necessarily be energy efficient if it were built in Michigan. For a home to be energy efficient, it must be designed for regional weather characteristics. Home Energy Raters are trained in climate-effective energy saving techniques, and their knowledge and field experience helps ENERGY STAR builder partners construct high-quality, energy-efficient homes.

Additional Inspections for Quality (Hide Section...)

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR undergo more inspections and testing than code-built homes. The ENERGY STAR verification process helps identify and correct mistakes before they are hidden behind the walls and holds builders constructing ENERGY STAR qualified homes to a higher standard. As a result, independent inspection and testing can help improve the quality and energy efficiency of a home.

"A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted thay the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors."
-U.S. EPA, Office of Air and Radiation

Mechanical Ventilation
Without mechanical ventilation to provide fresh air, moisture, odors, and other pollutants can build up inside a home. Mechanical ventilation systems circulate fresh air using ducts and fans, rather than relying on airflow through small holes or cracks in a home's walls, roof, or windows. Homeowners can breathe easier knowing their home has good ventilation.

Better Indoor Air Quality (Hide Section...)

Indoor air can be many times more polluted than outdoor air, and the average American spends 90 percent of the day inside. Ventilation systems can significantly improve a home's air quality by removing allergens, pollutants, and moisture that can cause mold problems.

A Heat Recovery Ventilator captures heat from exhaust air...

Above, a Heat Recovery Ventilator captures heat from stale exhaust air and transfers it to the fresh air entering the building to preheat the air, thus reducing energy consumption.

More Control (Hide Section...)

When homes rely on air flow through walls, roofs, and windows for ventilation, there is no control over the source or amount of air that comes into the house. In fact, air leaking into the house may come from undesirable areas such as the garage, attic, or crawl space. Mechanical ventilation systems, however, provide proper fresh air flow along with appropriate locations for intake and exhaust.

Improved Comfort (Hide Section...)

Mechanical ventilation systems allow a constant flow of outside air into the home and can also provide filtration, dehumidification, and conditioning of the incoming outside air.

A technician installs soy based spray foam insulation...

Above, a technician installs soy based spray foam insulation.

Effective Insulation
Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use, and increased comfort.

Enhanced Comfort (Hide Section...)

Properly installed insulation minimizes temperature variability indoors and helps keep rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Lower Utility Bills (Hide Section...)

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. By preventing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, a properly installed insulation barrier reduces utility bills year round.

Lower Utility Bills (Hide Section...)

When insulation is properly installed, the potential for condensation that can lead to decay of building materials is reduced, helping to improve the durability of your home.

Better Resale Position (Hide Section...)

The improved comfort, lower utility bills, and improved durability of a properly installed insulation barrier can translate into higher resale value compared to other homes.

Diagram of an Energy Star Compliant Window...

High Performance Windows
Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.

Energy Savings (Hide Section...)

ENERGY STAR qualified windows and skylights feature advanced technologies such as invisible glass coatings, vacuum-sealed spaces filled with inert gas between the panes, improved framing materials, better weather stripping, and warm edge spacers, all of which reduce undesirable heat gain and loss.

Improved Comfort (Hide Section...)

Compared to less efficient windows, ENERGY STAR qualified windows help keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This is because they can block 70 percent or more of the solar heat gain in the summer and reflect radiant heat indoors during winter.

A thermal image showin heat loss from inefficient windows...

Above, a thermal image shows excessive heat loss through inefficient windows installed in the building in the rear of the photo. The building on the right demonstrates the superior insulating properties of more efficient windows.

Protection of Your Home's Interior (Hide Section...)

Photographs, furniture, flooring, and window treatments can fade or discolor after repeated exposure to direct sunlight. An ENERGY STAR qualified window with special (Low-E) coatings can reduce fading. These coatings can reduce fading by up to 75 percent.

Reduced Condensation (Hide Section...)

If an inefficient window or window frame gets too cold, water can condense (or even freeze) on the interior surface and then pool on the sill. Over time, chronic condensation can damage window sills, cause paint to crack, and encourage the growth of mold. Advanced frames, glass coatings, spacers, and other technologies enable ENERGY STAR qualified windows to keep the inner surface of the glass and frame warmer, reducing the potential for condensation and ensuring a clearer view on winter mornings.

Tight Construction and Ducts
Sealing holes and cracks in the home's "envelope" and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance.

Improved Comfort (Hide Section...)

When ducts are properly sealed and insulated, they deliver conditioned air more effectively to all rooms, helping to ensure a more constant temperature throughout the home.

Lower Utility Bills (Hide Section...)

Tightly sealed and well insulated ducts found in ENERGY STAR qualified homes can reduce annual utility bills.

Improved Air Quality (Hide Section...)

Leaky ducts in attics, unfinished basements, crawl spaces, and garages can allow dirt, dust, moisture, pollen, pests, and fumes to enter the home. Sealing these ducts helps improve indoor air quality.

Lower Equipment Costs (Hide Section...)

When ducts are leaky, the heating and cooling system has to work harder to condition the home. Duct sealing, along with proper insulation, allows the installation of a smaller, less costly heating and cooling system.

Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity, and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won't have to work so hard to heat and cool the home.

Lower Utility Bills (Hide Section...)

ENERGY STAR qualified heating systems are designed to use less energy than standard systems. When properly installed, these heating systems can save money on utility bills. Central air conditioners with the ENERGY STAR label have a higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) than standard models. The higher the SEER, the greater the efficiency.

A thermal image of a radiant floor heating system...

Above, a thermal image of a radiant floor heating system.

Less Noise (Hide Section...)

Many ENERGY STAR qualified air conditioning systems have variable speed fans, more insulation, and improved compressors that operate more quietly than standard models.

Improved Comfort (Hide Section...)

When properly sized and installed, an energy-efficient system supplies conditioned air more steadily over longer periods of time than an oversized unit. This results in more effective dehumidification and better mixing of conditioned air in the interior space.

Reduced Maintenance (Hide Section...)

Over-sized equipment typically results in "short cycling," (frequent on and off), which increases wear and tear and the need for future repairs. Right-sized ENERGY STAR qualified cooling equipment often uses higher quality components that can result in longer equipment life and longer warranties compared to standard models. Properly designed and installed ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can provide optimal performance with fewer problems down the road.

Less Risk of Air Quality Problems (Hide Section...)

ENERGY STAR qualified gas-fired boilers and furnaces are designed to reduce the risk of backdrafting dangerous carbon monoxide exhaust into the home.

Increased Durability (Hide Section...)

Most ENERGY STAR qualified boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps employ advanced technologies and high quality components, often resulting in longer equipment life and longer warranties compared to standard models.

 
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