Green Home Programs for New Construction and Major Renovations

Do you have a new home or a major home renovation planned or under construction? Would you like your home to be easier on your wallet, less dependent on the power grid, responsible for less pollution, or made from sustainable and recycled materials?

Whether you have already mapped out your path to a greener home or would like complete guidance for yourself and your contractors, CET can help. We have certified hundreds of green homes, and we can provide you with expert guidance through either the ENERGY STAR program or the more comprehensive US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes program.

Call us today! 800-369-3333, ext. 21. We'll smooth the path to your greener abode.

LEED for Homes Program

The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution. CET is proud to be the local LEED for Homes certification provider in western Massachusetts and surrounding regions. If you would like your next new construction or gut rehab residential project to be certified please contact CET’s Builder Services Administrator at 800-369-3333 ext. 21.

Learn more about LEED for Homes:

• Contact CET’s builder services administrator, Megan McDonough
• Read the FAQs (a pdf download)
• Go to the USGBC’s website on residential construction
• Read about CET’s work in the LEED for Homes pilot

ENERGY STAR for Homes

The Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR® program is sponsored by:

• Bay State Gas
• Berkshire Gas Company
• National Grid
• Western Massachusetts Electric Company

What makes an ENERGY STAR® qualified home?

Building houses to the ENERGY STAR standard helps to save the earth and save you money. Usually without a great deal more effort, new homes can be built to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR for Homes standard. In a number of utility territories, your project may qualify for free ENERGY STAR certification and home performance testing, as well as an incentive for reaching the ENERGY STAR certification.

Typical ENERGY STAR upgrades may include:

Enhanced insulation

Greater insulation levels in walls, floors, and attics result in better energy performance and greater comfort. The higher the R-value of insulation, and proper installation increase the performance.

Instrumented air sealing

Sealing holes and gaps in the heated building envelope will improve comfort, reduce annual heat loss and utility bills by over 30%, and create a quieter interior environment.

Ventilation

According to building science, the best way to achieve a highly comfortable, energy efficient home is to build tight, and ventilate right. In Massachusetts, ENERGY STAR qualified homes must be equipped with a mechanical ventilation system to ensure optimum indoor air quality. This can be easily accomplished with a quiet, high-performance bathroom fan rated for continuous operation or with an air-to-air heat exchange system.

High-efficiency heating systems and appliances

Why spend $1,000 a year to run your heating system when you only need to spend $700 or less? That’s the idea behind ENERGY STAR-rated heating and cooling systems, which are over 30% more efficient than conventional equipment. When you choose equipment for your new home, you may qualify for cash rebates and save money on your monthly energy bills. ENERGY STAR refrigerators, dishwashers, and lighting also help to make operating your home more affordable.

Homeowner Benefits

Homeowner benefits Homeowners can expect greater comfort and quality when they live in a certified ENERGY STAR qualified home. Certified homes:

• Are inspected by expert energy raters and tested for building performance
• Are healthier
• Have a smaller carbon emissions footprint
• Have minimal callbacks
• Enjoy greater durability and fewer operating costs than comparable conventionally built homes

Because consumers today have a heightened consciousness about rising energy costs and environmental impact, you are likely to see a higher resale value should you ever need to sell your home.

Visit the EPA’s website to learn about all the benefits for you!

Energy Star® Certification
Step-by-Step

CET is a proud Energy Star partner.

Contact CET’s Builder Services Administrator at 800-369-3333, ext. 21 to learn how easy it is to build an ENERGY STAR qualified Home.

To start the process, CET’s energy Raters will perform a Home Energy Rating by reviewing your plans and assessing the energy efficiency of the home as currently designed. Your energy Rater will make recommendations for energy-saving improvements necessary to meet the minimum qualifying level.

Your home will be inspected twice during the construction phase. The builder is responsible for scheduling an inspection after the insulation is installed and before the drywall is placed, and a final inspection when the home is completed. A final Home Energy Rating is conducted to assess the home’s energy efficiency and certify that it meets the program guidelines.

Incentives

After the home is certified, builders (or homebuyers who initiate the ENERGY STAR process) may be eligible for incentives provided by sponsoring utilities. Contact CET for the latest incentive structure for single and multi-family residential buildings. In addition, get the scoop from GasNetworks about the latest rebates available for high efficiency heating and water heating systems.

Energy Efficient Mortgages

Energy efficiency improvements could save buyers $10,000 or more in energy costs over the life of the mortgage. This makes such homes truly affordable, helps improve neighborhoods, and helps protect owners from the unpredictable volatility of energy costs.

Because of the greater energy efficiency of an ENERGY STAR qualified home, the monthly utility bills will be lower than a home built to the state energy code. The lender issuing an Energy Efficient Mortgage will be allowed to use the lower monthly operating costs as income to the buyer, and therefore help buyers qualify for larger loans, from 10% to 24% larger mortgages than those who purchase homes that are less energy efficient. Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) are nationally available through FHA/HUD and Fannie Mae. Ask your lender whether they participate in any EEM program, or contact Peggy MacLeod for more information.

Other resources

Presentations given in Belchertown, Lenox, and Lexington, Spring 2008

• Powerpoint slides by Jay Walsh, CET
• Catch the Wave to Greener Construction

Green Building Handouts

• Marketing Green Building to Clients
• Requirements of the MA Residential Energy Code
• EPA - Thermal Bypass Checklist Guide
• Field Guide to Residential New Construction