Revised Guidelines for ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes in Florida

Revised Guidelines for ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes in Florida

Effective June 1, 2009



On March 1, 2009, Florida adopted a 2009 Supplement to the 2007 Florida Building Code, which increased the energy efficiency of the 2007 code baseline by 15%. As a result, the energy performance of code-built homes in Florida will approach that of homes earning the ENERGY STAR. To address this concern, EPA must take steps to increase the ENERGY STAR guidelines for homes built in Florida. EPA, in consultation with the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), has developed the following policy:

All homes permitted in Florida beginning on June 1 must achieve a HERS Index of 77 or better to earn the ENERGY STAR. Homes permitted prior to June 1 can continue to be qualified using the existing guidelines. EPA is also developing a commensurate regional Builder Option Package (BOP) for Florida that will take effect upon completion.

This is consistent with existing EPA policy that in states with energy codes more rigorous than the national code, homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the state code. Therefore, in states with rigorous codes, EPA has increased the requirements for earning the ENERGY STAR beyond the national program requirements.

Note that EPA is currently formulating a policy for the early adoption of the 2011 guidelines in states with more rigorous code. Once adopted, these new guidelines will supersede the HERS 77 requirement for Florida homes to earn the ENERGY STAR. The new guidelines will also reflect the state’s enhanced code requirements.

If you have questions about the ENERGY STAR guidelines, please email energystarhomes@energystar.gov.



For more information, visit: http://www.energystar.gov/

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Clean energy jobs in Florida
Florida is leading the nation in solar energy developments, and will be the second largest supplier of utility-generated solar power in the nation. And investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, like solar power, shows big gains for the state.

A recent report estimates that a $5.7 billion investment in deploying clean energy technologies in Florida can create over 120,000 jobs. This net increase in jobs will reduce the state’s unemployment rate to 4.4% in two years from 5.7% in June 2008.

Sources: Center for American Progress

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Kevin and Russell O. of Miami are twin brothers, veterans, and co-founders of Veterans Energy Solutions, LLC, a Miami-based provider of home energy efficiency audits and designer and installer of solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems. Their interest in renewable energy stems from their military service in Iraq, where they learned firsthand of the need to end our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and their experiences during the devastating hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005, where they were convinced of the need to stop climate change. Kevin said that he likes working in the renewable energy industry because it “kills two birds with one stone by achieving energy independence and addressing climate change.” Russell, a ten year veteran of the US Military and veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, added that, “Although I left active military service, I continue to serve in a different capacity: Energy Independence!”