Energy Star Home Rating Services

Condon engineering is a partner with the EPA and LIPA in the Energy Star Labeled Homes program. Condon Engineering is certified as an Energy Star Rater and provides Home Energy Rating System (HERS) certification for new or existing homes. Home Energy Raters are trained to evaluate construction techniques, perform inspections and testing procedures to verify a home’s efficient performance. In addition to HERS Ratings, we can provide a home energy audit of existing homes and make recommendations to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs.

As part of the Energy Rating System (HERS), we will provide the following services from the pre-design phase until the final field verification:

  • Projected Rating: Prior to construction, we will study and analyze the architectural plans for the new building and make recommendations to bring the home into Energy Star Compliance. The specific building characteristics for the home will be inserted into a nationally approved software which estimates the efficiency of the building and converts the information to a HERS Score. The higher the score, the more efficient the home will be. The results of this analysis allow us to identify the most effective upgrades to meet Energy Star performance guidelines and a minimum HERS score. As Raters, we will assist the architect, owner and builder in determining the most energy-efficient features for their Energy Star qualified home. After there is a consensus between the architect, owner and builder on the necessary upgrades required for the building, we will provide a set of minimum project specifications required for the building to reach the minimum HERS score along with any program specific documentation or forms. We will also provide an energy code compliance report for the building department for a building permit.
  • Inspections: We will provide two site inspections during construction prior to the installation of the drywall. We will inspect the air sealing and installation of the insulation. We will also verify the insulation R-values and note any deficiencies. We may also provide performance testing of the mechanical systems.
  • Confirmed rating: We will perform an on-site inspection to field verify that the building was completed in accordance with the plans and specifications. This field verification ensures that energy-saving measures are consistent with Energy Star guidelines and the project specifications relative to insulation, type and size of equipment, etc. The process includes a complete evaluation of the building including performance testing. The performance testing includes the blower door test, duct blaster test and completion of a thermal bypass checklist. The blower door test measures the leakiness of the house, a duct blaster test measures the leakiness of the duct system, and thermal bypass checklist is used during the course of construction to visually inspect the common construction areas where air can flow through or around insulation.

Energy Star Labeled Homes Links: