ENERGY STAR® Plus Homes Program
The ENERGY STAR® Plus Homes Program provides support to builders for improving the energy efficiency of homes. It is available for any builder who is building a home that will have natural gas service provided by Minnesota Energy Resources. The goal of the program is to improve the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating of a home by at least 8%. Residential Science Resources (RSR) is a Minnesota Energy Resources subcontractor who supports builders enrolled in the program. At no cost to the builder, RSR will:
- Review the home's plan (blueprints) with recommendations for energy improvements.
- Perform an on-site inspection upon completion of framing with feedback on building to date, recommendations for improvements and needed corrections.
- Perform a second on-site inspection upon completion of the insulation with feedback on building to date, recommendations for improvements and needed corrections.
- Perform a final on-site inspection with a blower door test, an infrared camera test, and duct leakage test for verification of performance with needed corrections.
ENERGY STAR Home and ENERGY STAR Plus Home Benefits
| ENERGY STAR Home | ENERGY STAR Plus Home | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Construction Blueprint Evaluation |  |
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| Post-Construction Building Evaluation | |
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| ENERGY STAR Home Certificate | |
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| Listing on Minnesota Energy Resources Website | |
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| ENERGY STAR Home Plus Certificate | |
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| Rebate of $500 for 8% increase in HERS | |
|
| Rebate of $1,000 for 10% increase in HERS | |
ENERGY STAR Plus Home Program Minimum Requirements
At a minimum, the home must contain the following:
- A 92% AFUE or higher sealed combustion condensing furnace or a 85% AFUE or higher sealed combustion condensing boiler or a 90% CAE integrated heating system.
- A 0.64 EF (or higher) power vented water heater or .82 EF gas tankless water heater.
- Design mechanical ventilation.
- A programmable setback thermostat.
- Air tightness standards compliance.
In addition to the above support, Minnesota Energy Resources plans to assist in the training and promotion of ENERGY STAR Plus Homes with the following:
- Training for real estate agents on how to sell ENERGY STAR Plus homes (at least once per year) - as requested.
- Training for building crews on building sciences (at least once per year) - as requested.
- Bill inserts and website promotions on the ENERGY STAR Plus homes and encouragement to home buyers to look for an "ENERGY STAR Plus home."
Minnesota Energy Resources will cooperate with electric utilities that may want to partner in providing these training programs and promotional efforts.
Both single family and townhouses will be eligible to participate in the program.
Each builder can receive rebates for a maximum of 10 homes per year. Builders that receive ENERGY STAR Plus Home rebates for 10 homes and continue to build homes that meet ENERGY STAR Plus Home criteria in any given year will receive a rebate of $5.00 per projected MCF saved.
Builders that participate in the program will not be eligible for gas equipment rebates from the Residential Heating Rebate, Residential Water Heating Saver and Air Sealing & Insulation Rebate programs. The builder should inform buyers of this limitation.
For more detailed information about this program, including the minimum requirements, please call 612-387-7796.