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Resources for Contractors
Contractors, such as remodelers, home improvement consultants, insulators, and HVAC specialists, can use ENERGY STAR recommended practices to increase their revenues, improve customer satisfaction, and make homes perform better.
While there is no partnership program for contractors, ENERGY STAR provides educational resources to help you explain to homeowners the benefits of services such as HVAC quality installation and maintenance, air sealing, duct sealing, and adding insulation. Using these materials will allow you to provide homeowners with credible, unbiased information about the value of these services.
Materials can be ordered, free of charge, on-line at ENERGY STAR Publications or through the ENERGY STAR Hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).
Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR
Sealing and insulating the “envelope” or “shell” of a home—its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors—is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. ENERGY STAR estimates that a skilled contractor can save homeowners up to 20% on their heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating. ENERGY STAR offers the following educational resources:
Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR Brochure
(615KB)—Use this brochure to show homeowners how common home performance problems can often be fixed by sealing the home envelope and adding insulation.Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR
(2MB)/ en espanol (2MB)—This brochure educates homeowners about common techniques to make home envelope improvements. Sharing this Guide with your customers will help build both trust and potentially result in future referral work from homeowners who do not want to do the work themselves.
Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling
As much as half of the energy used in a typical home goes to heating and cooling. So helping your customers make smart decisions about their home's heating and cooling system can have a big effect on their utility bills and comfort. ENERGY STAR offers the following materials:
- Guide to Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling (708KB)—Use this guide to educate homeowners about ENERGY STAR’s guidance on best practices for HVAC system maintenance and replacement.
- Duct Sealing—Duct systems that are properly sealed and insulated can make homes much more comfortable and energy efficient. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of a home’s heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent. Use our Duct Sealing Brochure (1.13MB) to educate your customers about the benefits of this service.
Quality HVAC Installation
—The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has developed nationally recognized requirements for quality installation of HVAC systems (download requirements (815KB)). Adopting these could transform the quality of service that your business delivery to customers. ACCA has also developed a nationally recognized standard for third-party verification of HVAC installations (download standard (2.1MB)). This document should be used by Verification Service Providers to ensure that each installation meets ACCA requirements.
ENERGY STAR Qualified Products
Recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products like air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, windows, lighting, and appliances when jobs call for the replacement of these items. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR are a smart choice because the customer will save money on energy bills without sacrificing comfort or quality. Energy-efficient products are also a key part of a growing movement toward environmentally-friendly green remodeling.
Take a Whole-House Approach
Contractors who participate in a locally-sponsored Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program offer homeowners a comprehensive approach to home improvement that provides better energy efficiency, greater comfort, and lower utility bill. These specially-trained contractors evaluate homes using state-of-the-art equipment and recommend comprehensive improvements that will yield the best results. Contractor Success Stories highlight how real companies have changed the way they do business to include a whole-house approach to solving common home performance problems. Learn more about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.
