Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the benefits of the program?
A: The program provides a number of resources, including marketing and technical support, sales tools and training, and financial incentives. In addition, builders and other participants can brand the ENERGY STAR logo on their homes and corporate promotional materials. This logo associates participants with the nationally recognized ENERGY STAR brand, and adds instant credibility to their business.
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Q: What is a Home Energy Rating?
A: A Home Energy Rating is an energy efficiency evaluation of a home compared to a reference house. It provides objective, standardized information on the energy performance of a home. A Home Energy Rating evaluates the performance of the thermal envelope, glazing strategies, orientation, HVAC system and other efficiency criteria. A Home Energy Rating is obtained by an on-site inspection, and a computerized simulation using calculations to determine estimates of both annual energy performance and energy costs.
A Home Energy Rating calculates a score on the HERS Index. This rating indicates the estimated annual energy use of a rated house relative to a reference house built to the current energy code.
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Q: Does every New York ENERGY STAR Home have to be rated?
A: Yes. Home Energy Raters that are Partners in the New York ENERGY STAR Homes program, and who are certified, must inspect and rate every new home before it earns the New York ENERGY STAR Label.
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Q: Who are Home Energy Raters?
A: Home Energy Raters provide energy-efficiency strategies and tests for new residential construction. Raters play an integral part in the ENERGY STAR process. They offer two major types of services: technical assistance to builders and conducting Home Energy Ratings.
To ensure homes meet New York ENERGY STAR requirements, builders usually submit a homes' design plans to a Home Energy Rater for "plan review." Raters input information from the plans into computer software, which estimates the annual energy use of the builder's current house design. With this information, the Rater determines a projected Home Energy Rating – based on plans – of the current homes' design. The Home Enery Rater then makes recommendations to the builder on construction practices to ensure the home reaches the New York ENERGY STAR level.
Upon a homes' completion, a Home Energy Rater performs a final rating of the house. The final rating includes a blower-door test that tests the leakiness of the house; and a combustion safety test that ensures combustion appliances draft properly. Based on these results, computer software then estimates the rated houses' annual use. The Home Energy Rating process remains identical to the plan review process except that actual construction and measured performance data are used.
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Q: How do I find a Home Energy Rater?
A: You can find a Home Energy Rater by using the locator map.
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Last Updated: 01/18/2012