• Enhanced ability to control moisture and indoor air quality
• Minimized drafts
• Properly installed insulation
• Sealed combustion equipment
• Carbon monoxide detectors
• High performance windows and doors
• Certificatinof its efficiency, for peace of mind that you've made a smart investment

I.  Planning and Material Specifications: 

The customer works with a builder on layout, plans and amenities to make their dream home a reality.

Independent consultants review plans with the builder to determin efficiency of design, verify component specifications and identify important construciton features and details for building performance. 

II.  Three-Phase Inspection During Construction

Site Visition One:  Envelope "Framing" Check:
Spot un-designed holes or air bypasses in framing, review ventilation system strategy, combustion safety, moisure management and insulation  standard, and eveluate air-tightness approach of exterior envelope and windows.

Site Visit Two:  Insulation and Vapor Retarder Check:
Examine insulatin for gaps andmisalignment with the air barrier, review the continuity of interior vapor retarder and perform a final check of the ventilation ductwork, installed/planned combustion equipment, building dimensions and components.

Site Visit Three:  Performance Testing:
Test final construciton for air tightness and ventilationcapacity and verify combustion safety.  This proves and documents that program building performance standards have been met for certification and ensures systems are operating effectively and efficiently.

• Building Tightness - a blower door test quantifies the air tightness of the building shell and defines the quality of the home.
• Building Ventilation - ventilation system is tested for airflow capacity and the potential to properly remove moisture, odors and other indoor air pollutants.  This provides homeowners with the ability to better manage and control their environment.
• Combustion Safety - verify types of heating and water heating systems, their safety and the presence of required carbon monoxide dectors.

III.  Upon Certification, you will receive:

Homeowner's Manual - to help you maintain and contol your home and its systems for optimal performance.

Certification Report - documents the efficiency hour home achieved when tested and checked for air-tightness, ventilation capacity and combustion safety.

Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home Certification Plaque - usually displayed on your electrical box, this plaque serves as a reminder toyou, contractors and prospective buyers that your home is a certified Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home.

• Computer modeling:  Software analysis must verify compliance with EPA's efficiency requirements.
• Site visits and performance tests: Three site visits are required for certification of the first three homes completed in the program for all new builders.

• Standard 1H - Full coverage foundation insulation:  Foundation insulation required and must cover the complete height of the wall (for new starts as of Jan. 1, 2004).
• Standard 1M - Sealed sump pit: Any sump pit(s) installed must be airtight.
• Standard 1A - Air barrier:  Home must have a continuous and durable air barrier in order to meet the program air tightness requirements.
• Standard 1AQ - Overall house ventilation:  Ventilation equipment for the home must be designed, installed and tested to satisfy minimum exhaust flow requirements.
• Standard 2AQ - Spot ventilation for bathrooms:  A bathroom exhaust fan ducted to the exterior is required in each bathroom if the home is not using a centrally ducted ventilation system with an exhaust pick-up in each bathroom or other rooms with high moisture sources.
• Standard 2AQ - Spot ventilation for electic kitchen range:  Dedicated exhaust (Such as vented range hood or down-draft exhaust) ducted to the exterior must be installed if the home is not using a centrally ducted ventilation system with an exhaust pick-up in the kitchen.
• Standard 2AQ - Spot ventilation for gas kitchen range:  Dedicated exhaust (such as vented range hood or down draft exhaust) ducted to the exterior must be installed if the home has a gas cook-top and/or gas oven.
• Standard 3AQ - Gas and wood burning fireplaces:  All gas fireplaces must be direct-vent technology and include a non-openable face.  All wood burning fireplaces or stoves must be closed combustion, fitted with outdoor combustion air supply and have fully gasketed door(s).
• Standard 4AQ - Sealed, power-vented or direct-vented heating and water heating systems:  Any combustion equipment installed in the conditioned space must be power-vented, direct-vent, or sealed combustion.
• Standard 5AQ - Carbon monoxide detector:  One carbon monoxide detector must be installed on each floor with a bedroom.  Detectors can be hard-wired, integrated or plug-in models.