PSO offers substantial rebates to homebuilders who construct energy-efficient homes. New homes must adhere to PSO guidelines and have third-party validation. New homes must also pass thermal bypass inspections, building envelope pressure tests, and duct pressure tests. To qualify for rebates, a home must be enrolled in the PSO service before the walls are framed, and homebuilders must contract with an independent HERS rater during the early stages of design and construction.
To qualify for PSO rebates, click here or call 1-888-776-1366 for more information.
The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. It’s also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance.
To calculate a home’s HERS index score, a certified HERS rater does an energy rating on the home and compares the data against a ‘reference home’ — a designed-model home of the same size and shape as the actual home, so the score is always relative to the size, shape and type of house being built.
Click here to learn more and find a home energy rater in your area.
The Thermal Bypass Checklist is a comprehensive list of building details where thermal bypass — or the movement of heat around or through insulation — frequently occurs due to missing air barriers or gaps between the air barrier and insulation. The Thermal Bypass Checklist must be completed by a certified home energy rater in order for a home to qualify for ENERGY STAR® or PSO certification.
Click here to learn more about ENERGY STAR’s Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist.
Building envelope testing, or blower door testing, determines a home’s air tightness. Establishing proper air tightness reduces energy consumption due to air leakage, moisture condensation problems and drafts. It also determines how much ventilation is required to provide acceptable indoor air quality.
A duct pressure test measures the airtightness of HVAC ductwork. Duct leakage should be determined and documented by a rater using a RESNET-approved testing protocol.
| Measure | Minimum Code* | ENERGY STAR* | Rebate | PSO certified | Rebate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting | 50% CFL Lighting excluding can lights | 90% CFL Lighting | $400 | 95% CFL Lighting | $800 |
| Insulation | R-value of 13 for walls, R-value of 30 for attics (batt insulation allowed) | R-value of 20 for walls, R-value of 38 for attic | R-value of 15 for walls; R-value of 38 for attic | ||
| HVAC Equipment | 14 SEER | 15 SEER | 15 SEER | ||
| House Infiltration (envelope leakage) | No code requirement | 3 Air Changes Per Hour | 6 Air Changes Per Hour | ||
| Duct Infiltration (duct leakage) | No code requirement | 4 CFM per 100 square feet (leakage to outside) with all bedrooms pressure balanced | 6 CFM per 100 square feet (leakage to outside) | ||
| Windows | U-value 0.50 or less, SHGC-value 0.35 or less | U-value 0.30 or less, SHGC-value 0.25 or less | U-value 0.30 or less, SHGC-value 0.25 or less: 100% ENERGY STAR certified windows | ||
| Indoor Air Quality | No code requirement | Kitchen and bathrooms must be ventilated to the outside, mandatory outdoor "fresh" air systems integrated into the HVAC system | Industry best practices are encouraged | ||
|
Third Party Verification & Testing |
No code requirement | HERS Rater, must pass insulation inspection, testing of building envelope and duct system. | HERS Rater, must pass insulation inspection, testing of building envelope and duct system. | ||
| *No rebates are available for a home built to minimum code. | *Must be a ENERGY STAR v3.1 rev 08 certification | ||||
| BONUS Rebates | |||||
| HVAC Upgrade | 16 SEER | $200 | |||
| 17 SEER | $300 | ||||
| 18+ SEER | $400 | ||||
| 20+ SEER | $600 | ||||
| Heat Pump (max $1000 per home) | $200/ton | ||||
| Duct Infiltration | Duct infiltration (4% leakage to outside) | $100 | |||
| Lighting Bonus | 95% LED | $200 | |||
| HVAC Design Assistance | Per builder for 2-3 plans that will cover a portion of the architectural design fees ($2,000) to re-work floor plans and HVAC system design ($1,000) for optimal energy efficiency performance and ENERGY STAR certification | $3,000/plan value offered at no cost to the builder | |||
*A cap of $5,000 applies to each home
| Measure | Minimum Code* |
|---|---|
| Lighting | 50% CFL Lighting excluding can lights |
| Insulation | R-value of 13 for walls, R-value of 30 for attics (batt insulation allowed) |
| HVAC Equipment | 14 SEER |
| House Infiltration (envelope leakage) | No code requirement |
| Duct Infiltration (duct leakage) | No code requirement |
| Windows | U-value 0.50 or less, SHGC-value 0.35 or less |
| Indoor Air Quality | No code requirement |
|
Third Party Verification & Testing |
No code requirement |
| *No rebates are available for a home built to minimum code. | |
| BONUS Rebates | |
| HVAC Upgrade | |
| Duct Infiltration | |
| Lighting Bonus | |
| HVAC Design Assistance |
| Measure | ENERGY STAR* | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | 90% CFL Lighting | $400 |
| Insulation | R-value of 20 for walls, R-value of 38 for attic | |
| HVAC Equipment | 15 SEER | |
| House Infiltration (envelope leakage) | 3 Air Changes Per Hour | |
| Duct Infiltration (duct leakage) | 4 CFM per 100 square feet (leakage to outside) with all bedrooms pressure balanced | |
| Windows | U-value 0.30 or less, SHGC-value 0.25 or less | |
| Indoor Air Quality | Kitchen and bathrooms must be ventilated to the outside, mandatory outdoor "fresh" air systems integrated into the HVAC system | |
|
Third Party Verification & Testing |
HERS Rater, must pass insulation inspection, testing of building envelope and duct system. | |
| *Must be a ENERGY STAR v3.1 rev 08 certification | ||
| BONUS Rebates | ||
| HVAC Upgrade | 16 SEER | $200 |
| 17 SEER | $300 | |
| 18+ SEER | $400 | |
| 20+ SEER | $600 | |
| Heat Pump (max $1000 per home) | $200/ton | |
| Duct Infiltration | Duct infiltration (4% leakage to outside) | $100 |
| Lighting Bonus | 95% LED | $200 |
| HVAC Design Assistance | Per builder for 2-3 plans that will cover a portion of the architectural design fees ($2,000) to re-work floor plans and HVAC system design ($1,000) for optimal energy efficiency performance and ENERGY STAR certification | $3,000/plan value offered at no cost to the builder |
| Measure | PSO Certified | Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting | 95% CFL Lighting | $800 |
| Insulation | R-value of 15 for walls; R-value of 38 for attic | |
| HVAC Equipment | 15 SEER | |
| House Infiltration (envelope leakage) | 6 Air Changes Per Hour | |
| Duct Infiltration (duct leakage) | 6 CFM per 100 square feet (leakage to outside) | |
| Windows | U-value 0.30 or less, SHGC-value 0.25 or less: 100% ENERGY STAR certified windows | |
| Indoor Air Quality | Industry best practices are encouraged | |
|
Third Party Verification & Testing |
HERS Rater, must pass insulation inspection, testing of building envelope and duct system. | |
A cap of $5,000 applies to each home
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