What Is The ENERGY STAR^® for New Homes Initiative

The ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative promotes energy efficiency guidelines that enable new homes to be approximately 30 percent more energy efficient than those built to minimum provincial building codes. The increased efficiency of these homes translates into reduced energy costs for homeowners.

ENERGY STAR for New Homes is currently available only in Ontario and Saskatchewan and is managed for Natural Resources Canada by regional service organizations.

If you are a builder in Ontario or Saskatchewan who would like to become involved in the ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative, consult your Service Organization for details.

For energy-efficient home building in other provinces, consult your EnerGuide service organization.

Within This Page

• What is an ENERGY STAR qualified home?
• Benefits of Building ENERGY STAR qualified new homes
• ENERGY STAR and EnerGuide – A winning team!

What Is an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home?

An ENERGY STAR qualified home is a home that has been built by a licensed ENERGY STAR for New Homes builder. The builder incorporates energy efficient features into the home so that it can meet the ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications.

To meet the ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications, builders typically incorporate these energy efficiency measures:

Heating and cooling systems – All furnaces, heat pumps, thermostats and fireplaces are ENERGY STAR qualified. The annual fuel utilization efficiency rating (AFUE) of furnaces complies with rigorous Canadian minimum efficiency requirements. As a result, you use less fuel and save money.

Ducts – Ducts gain efficiency by providing heating and cooling to designated areas only. In addition, there is less leakage at duct joints because all supply and return trunk ducts and all take-offs are sealed. This means that less heat is lost as air moves from the furnace to the living areas of your home and air conditioning is evenly and properly distributed.

Windows, patio doors and skylights – All windows, glass doors and skylights comply with Canada's requirements for ENERGY STAR qualified windows. This feature alone could cut more than 10 percent off your energy costs.

Walls and ceilings – There is more insulation in the ceilings and walls of an ENERGY STAR qualified home than is required by building codes. This reduces heat loss, puts less strain on your heating and cooling systems and keeps your house more comfortable.

Ventilation and air leakage – ENERGY STAR qualified new homes must meet rigorous airtightness targets. Reduced air movement through the building envelope, as revealed by an air leakage test, means less draftiness for the homeowner. Inclusion of a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) creates improved air quality.

There are additional homeowner savings if builders supply ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and lighting.

Upon completion of the ENERGY STAR qualified home, an independent third party ENERGY STAR for New Homes evaluator verifies that the home has been built to ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications. After the verification process is complete, Natural Resources Canada issues an ENERGY STAR for New Homes label and certificate to the homeowner. The label is usually placed on the home's electrical panel and includes a regional service organization seal of authenticity.

Contact your regional service organization for the ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications in your province.

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Benefits of Building ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes

Joining this initiative offers a number of benefits to you and your company:

• Increased market exposure by being part of a credible international endorsement initiative
• Use of the internationally recognized ENERGY STAR symbol
• Opportunities for joint marketing and promotional campaigns
• Heightened public image by showing leadership in addressing environmental challenges such as climate change and air pollution
• Access to training workshops, participant updates, survey data on consumer attitudes, case studies and ready-to-print marketing material
• Increased internal support for energy efficient homes that save money, reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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ENERGY STAR and EnerGuide – A Winning Team!

In addition to an ENERGY STAR for New Homes label and certificate, an ENERGY STAR qualified new home can receive an energy rating label – the EnerGuide label – to compare and rate the energy consumption of the home.

To determine the home's energy rating (on a scale from 0 to 100), a trained energy advisor enters the house and conducts an energy evaluation. After this is complete, the energy advisor provides an EnerGuide label and a homeowner report that outline the home's level of energy efficiency.

Although most new houses receive an energy rating of 68 or higher on the scale of 0 to 100, while the average ENERGY STAR qualified home in Ontario receives an energy rating of 78 or higher (minimum requirements will be 80 or higher as of April 1, 2007). ENERGY STAR qualified homes in Saskatchewan receive an energy rating of 80 or higher. Therefore, when you see the ENERGY STAR symbol on a new house, you know that it is an energy-efficient new home that would receive an excellent EnerGuide rating.

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The ENERGY STAR name and the ENERGY STAR symbol are registered trademarks of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and are used with permission.