The green building program the Northeast Florida Builders Association and JEA currently have under development will achieve more efficient home energy and water usage performancethrough ENERGY STAR and water conservation.
ENERGY STAR is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) energy-efficiency certification. A water efficiency certification is currently being developed by the St. Johns River Water Management District and should be available in late 2006.
EPA’s ENERGY STAR program and includes a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) for new home construction.
ENERGY STAR is the symbol for energy efficiency as designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ENERGY STAR label helps consumers identify products and homes that are more energy efficient than comparable ones.
An ENERGY STAR qualified new home uses less energy for heating, cooling and water heating than a comparable home built to the national Model Energy Code. It also saves consumers money and improves the quality and comfort of the home while protecting the environment.
Common features of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes include:
HERS is an evaluation of the energy efficiency of a home, compared to a computer-simulated reference house of identical size and shape as the rated home that meets minimum requirements of the Model Energy Code. HERS results in a score between 0 and 100.
HERS involves the analysis of a home’s construction plans, and at least one on-site inspection of the home. Plan review provides the home energy rater technical information such as orientation of the home, shading area, proposed SEER rating, insulation levels, etc. The on-site inspection includes a blower-door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are entered into a computer simulation certified energy analysis software program to perform the energy analysis and calculate the HERS score.
Plan review inputs include:
Construction drawings, including construction details of insulation levels and placement;
Upon completion of air sealing phase of construction, an on-site inspection is performed. The purpose of this inspection is to verify that the house was built as designed. This inspection also verifies assumptions made during the plan review about the tightness of the envelope and ducts.
The on-site inspection includes:
Home energy raters are trained and certified in ENERGY STAR protocols and testing. The EPA requires raters to be third-party, independent contractors. They provide energy-efficiency strategies and tests for existing and new residential and commercial construction. Home energy raters play an integral part in the ENERGY STAR process. Raters offer two major types of services: 1) assistance in reviewing current construction practices and recommended improvements that will result in ENERGY STAR compliance; and 2) conduct HERS inspections.
Builders, home buyers and JEA benefit from better performing homes. Builders gain a competitive edge for a better product, have reduced call-backs and may qualify for rebates. Home buyers have lower operating costs and better comfort performance and JEA uses less fossil fuel.