What Is an ENERGY STAR® Home And Why Should You Care?

You’ve seen the blue ENERGY STAR® label on appliances, windows, and HVAC units. However, when it appears on an entire home, it means much more than energy savings on your next fridge.

An ENERGY STAR-certified home is a high-performance structure built to deliver measurable savings, comfort, and durability. It’s not just marketing, it’s verified. So what does it take to earn the label? And why does it matter for New Jersey builders and homeowners?

Let’s break it down, no fluff, just facts.

What Is an ENERGY STAR Home?

An ENERGY STAR-certified home meets strict performance standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These homes:

• Are at least 10% more energy-efficient than those built to code

• Typically achieve 20–30% in total energy savings

• Get tested and verified by third-party professionals before certification

And it’s not just about good windows. It’s a full-system approach to energy performance.

Key Features of an ENERGY STAR-Certified Home:

• Tightly sealed building envelope

• Proper insulation and thermal protection

• High-efficiency HVAC systems

• Energy-saving windows, doors, and appliances

• Verified by a certified HERS Rater

Every home undergoes blower door and duct leakage testing to prove it performs not just on paper, but in real-world conditions.

How to Achieve ENERGY STAR® Certification

Whether you’re building new or pursuing upgrades, the certification path follows a clear (but strict) checklist:

1. Start with a Certified ENERGY STAR®  Builder

You’ll need a builder experienced in ENERGY STAR® protocols.

2. Hire a HERS Rater

A certified Home Energy Rater models your home’s energy performance before construction, and then tests it on-site to ensure it meets the EPA’s strict criteria.

3. Focus on the Thermal Envelope

At this point, Seal Team gets involved and assists where many projects face challenges.

We ensure:

• Air sealing at every critical junction

• Proper installation of closed cell spray foam, hybrid flash & batt, or fiberglass insulation systems

• Minimal thermal bridging through strategic detailing

  
  

Did you know that poor insulation and duct leaks can waste up to 30% of conditioned air?

4. Use ENERGY STAR-Rated Systems

These include:

• HVAC equipment

• Water heaters

• Windows and doors

• Lighting and appliances

  
  

These systems reduce the building’s overall energy demand, making it easier to hit certification targets.

5. Verification & Final Testing

The HERS Rater conducts:

• Blower door testing (airtightness)

• Duct leakage testing

• Visual inspections

  
  

If the house doesn’t perform? No blue label. No exceptions.

Incentives: Why ENERGY STAR Pays Off

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), ENERGY STAR® certification comes with real money-saving incentives for both homeowners and builders.*

For Homeowners:

• 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit: Up to $1,200/year for upgrades like air sealing, insulation, HVAC, and more.

• ENERGY STAR Product Credits: Get $250 to $2,000 in tax credits for high-efficiency windows, doors, heat pumps, etc.

For Builders & Developers:

• 45L Tax Credit

  • $2,500 for ENERGY STAR-certified homes

  • $5,000 for Zero Energy Ready Homes (builds on ENERGY STAR® standards)

On multi-home projects, that adds up fast, making innovative construction a smart business.

Why It Matters

ENERGY STAR® homes are more than efficient; they’re built for performance.

Benefits Include:

• Lower utility bills from day one

• More consistent indoor temperatures

• Better indoor air quality (especially with balanced ventilation)

• Greater durability and moisture control

Where Seal Team Comes In

At Seal Team, we bring airtight execution to your high-performance builds. We’ve worked on ENERGY STAR projects across New Jersey and understand the balance between specs and field realities.

We support builders and HERS Raters with:

• Proper insulation installation

• Precise air sealing

• Coordination with mechanical teams to avoid costly misses

Building to code isn’t enough. ENERGY STAR® is the new standard, and we help you hit it every time.

*In July 2025, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) was signed into law, which eliminates many federal tax credits for energy efficiency and clean energy projects originally extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). This law ends key federal incentives tied to ENERGY STAR® certification after December 31, 2025, though other money-saving opportunities may remain.