Verification Services
We are a certified third party verifier, and serve as the verifier for Northern Virginia homes seeking EarthCraft House Virginia certification. Whether you have completed your home energy audit, or are looking to take that next step, you may also consider taking the extra step of pursuing one of the following certifications. In most cases, the process is rather easy once you have completed the required efficiency uprades.
Additional Certifications
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Energy Star for New Homes: To earn the Energy Star, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
Energy Star for Existing Homes: Home Performance with Energy Star—A drafty home, rooms that are too hot or too cold, and high energy bills are all common issues for homeowners. A quality installation of a new heating or air conditioning system, buying replacement windows, or adding more insulation may fix part of the problem. But the way to better results is through a holistic approach that looks at your home as a system. Home Performance with Energy Star, a national program from the U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), offers certification based on this holistic approach to improving energy efficiency
EPA created Indoor airPLUS to help builders meet the growing consumer preference for homes with improved indoor air quality. EPA developed additional construction specifications to help improve indoor air quality in new homes. Construction specifications include the careful selection of and installation of moisture control systems; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems; combustion-venting systems; radon resistant construction; and low-emitting building materials. Ask about the Indoor airPLUS qualification for your next new home.
Watch the video! (Yes, the video features our own Chris Conway)
FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
The Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) program helps homebuyers or homeowners save money on utility bills by enabling them to finance the cost of adding energy efficiency features to new or existing housing as part of their FHA insured home purchase or refinancing mortgage.
In 1992, Congress mandated a pilot demonstration of Energy Efficient Mortgages in five states. In 1995, the pilot was expanded as a national program.
EEMs recognize that reduced utility expenses can permit a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage to cover the cost of the energy improvements on top of the approved mortgage. FHA EEMs provide mortgage insurance for a person to purchase or refinance a principal residence and incorporate the cost of energy efficient improvements into the mortgage. The borrower does not have to qualify for the additional money and does not make a downpayment on it. The mortgage loan is funded by a lending institution, such as a mortgage company, bank, or savings and loan association, and the mortgage is insured by HUD. FHA insures loans. FHA does not provide loans.
U.S. homebuilders of all sizes, from all areas of the country, report growing buyer interest in energy-efficient homes. Yet, they also find that many homebuyers want help in making informed decisions. How can homebuyers tell exceptional energy performers from average energy performers or code homes? How do they figure out just what that difference will mean in their energy bills?
Spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Builders Challenge is a voluntary effort to provide these compelling answers. Through the Builders Challenge, participating homebuilders will have an easy way to differentiate their best energy-performing homes from other products in the marketplace, and to make the benefits clear to buyers. DOE's ultimate vision is that, by 2030, a consumer will have the opportunity to buy a cost-neutral, net-zero energy home (NZEH) anywhere in the United States. This home is defined by being connected to a grid, and over the course of a year, produces as much energy as it uses. The Builders Challenge establishes a framework for continuous improvement that will help propel the market toward zero-energy performance resources, create less waste, and are more durable and comfortable for occupants.
