The second green building program we are going to explore is going to be the Energy Star program.  The energy star program is slightly different than other green building programs.  With most green building programs the builder must incorporate green, renewable, or recyclable products as well as make the home energy efficient.  Energy Star, however, focuses only on energy efficiency.  According to the Energy Star website there are six areas of focus in the Energy Star Program for new homes.

 The first focus is "Effective Insulation."  The goal of this area of focus it to ensure that the home is insulated properly and energy is not lost due to inadequate or improperly installed insulation.  Not insulating your home properly can lead to energy loss and cause your HVAC system to work overtime to keep your home and the desired temperature.

The second focus on the Energy Star program is "High Performance Windows."  Qualifying windows will help improve energy efficiency in your home.  They also will help block UV light which can damage/discolor flooring, paint, and furniture.

The third focus is "Tight Construction and Ducts."  This mean that the HVAC system and envelope penetrations are sealed.  Sealing the HVAC system includes making sure the ductwork is sealed to registers, to other ductwork and to the furnace.  The building envelope is the border between conditioned air and unconditioned air in your home.  For example, and exterior wall or the border of the highest floor of your home and the attic would be the boundary of the envelope.  Essentially you want to keep unconditioned air from entering your home and you want to keep conditioned air into your home. 

The fourth focus is "Effective Heating and Cooling Equipment."  Effective heating and cooling equipment is a system that will use less energy to heat and cool you home.  Often they are also quieter than less effective equipment.

The fifth focus is "Effective Products."  With this focus Energy Star want you to incorporate energy efficient lights, bulbs, and appliances into your home.

Finally, the sixth focus is "Third Party Verification."  This means that in order to get the Energy Start rating a home must have third party inspectors come to the home to do tests and verify that the home is energy efficient.

As you can see there is no focus on renewable, recycled, or green products.  Energy Star's goal is to increase the homes efficiency by 15% to 20% as compared to the 2003 IRC minimum requirements.  For more information on the Energy Star program visit www.energystar.gov.