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Energy & Climate Resilience

Electrified Living

All major end uses — heating, cooling, hot water, cooking, drying — are electric.

Electrified Living (placeholder seal) EL PLACEHOLDER

Description

The Electrified Living badge recognizes homes that have eliminated combustion appliances entirely from major end-uses: space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying. This is the GreenStar program's acknowledgment of a project that has fully decoupled from on-site fossil-fuel combustion.

Earning the badge requires meeting the four electrification requirements that already exist in the standard at Gold+ tier — but the badge is independent of certification tier. A Certified-tier project that elects to install all-electric appliances can earn this badge alongside the base certification; it does not require pursuing Gold.

Required standard requirements

To earn this badge, the project must meet all of the following existing GreenStar requirements:

Additional badge criteria

Beyond the required standard requirements above, the project must also satisfy:

Additional badge-specific criteria

  1. 01.

    No active natural-gas or propane service to the dwelling. Existing gas meters/lines must be disconnected at the meter (utility sign-off required) or removed. A capped-but-active gas service does not qualify.

  2. 02.

    All electrified appliances must be ENERGY STAR-certified or qualify for the federal IRA tax-credit list (whichever is stricter).

  3. 03.

    Heat-pump water heater and heat-pump space-heating equipment must be installed by an HVAC contractor with documented HPWH/heat-pump training (NATE certification or equivalent).

Verification by tier

Evidence the project team submits at each certification tier. Cumulative — higher tiers include everything below unless noted otherwise.

  1. Certified

    Self-attestation
    • 01.

      Owner-signed appliance inventory listing make, model, and energy source for the four electrification end uses (space heating, water heating, cooking, dryer).

    • 02.

      Photos of each installed appliance with model number visible.

  2. Silver

    Documents + photos
    • 01.

      Spec sheets for the heat pump, heat-pump water heater, induction/electric cooktop, and electric dryer — ENERGY STAR or IRA-list qualification visible.

    • 02.

      Installer credentials for the heat pump and HPWH (NATE certification or equivalent HVAC training).

  3. Gold

    Third-party test
    • 01.

      Utility sign-off on gas-meter disconnection (or builder letter confirming no gas service was ever installed for new construction).

    • 02.

      Plumber sign-off on capping of any retained gas lines, per local code.

  4. Platinum

    Post-occupancy verification
    • 01.

      12 months of utility data showing zero natural-gas or propane consumption — or documented absence of a gas meter at the property.

Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Gold GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Carbon Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Electrified Living Peak Load Shaver

All-Electric or Dual-Fuel Heating

Space heating is all-electric or dual-fuel/hybrid. (At Platinum, all-electric only.)

Scope

The primary space-heating system — central heat pump, ducted air handler, mini-split, or hydronic system.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    At Gold: space heating must be either (a) all-electric (heat pump preferred, resistance backup OK) or (b) a dual-fuel hybrid system (heat pump primary, gas backup for extreme cold).

  2. 02.

    At Platinum: all-electric only. Dual-fuel is not accepted.

  3. 03.

    Heat-pump capacity must be sized to meet 100% of the heating load at the local 99% winter design temperature (per Manual J), or a supplementary heat source must cover the gap.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Equipment spec sheet for installed heat pump showing HSPF2 (≥ 8.1 for ENERGY STAR cold-climate, ≥ 8.5 for cold-climate ENERGY STAR Most Efficient).

  2. 02.

    Manual J load calculation showing the heating load at design temperature and the equipment capacity at that temperature.

  3. 03.

    For dual-fuel systems: thermostat configuration documentation showing the changeover temperature (typically 20-35°F).

Guidance

Cold-climate heat pump selection

Modern variable-speed heat pumps maintain 100% of nameplate capacity down to 5°F and 75%+ down to -15°F — well past where dual-fuel systems used to be necessary. NEEP's Cold-Climate Heat Pump list filters for systems that maintain capacity at low temperatures. ENERGY STAR Cold Climate label is the easiest filter.

Resources

Note

IRA federal tax credit covers 30% of installed cost up to $2,000 for qualifying HPs. Many states stack additional rebates of $1,000-$8,000 through utility programs.

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Gold GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Carbon Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Electrified Living Peak Load Shaver

All-Electric or Solar Water Heating

Water heating is all-electric (heat pump preferred) or solar.

Scope

The primary domestic hot-water heater serving the dwelling. Recirculation loops and point-of-use boosters are downstream of this and not constrained by this requirement.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    The primary water heater must be either: (a) a heat-pump water heater (HPWH), (b) an electric-resistance water heater, or (c) a solar-thermal system with an electric backup.

  2. 02.

    HPWH is strongly preferred — it delivers the same hot water with ~70% less electricity than resistance.

  3. 03.

    For Platinum, electric-resistance alone is not sufficient (HPWH or solar required).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Manufacturer spec sheet showing UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) ≥ 2.0 for HPWH or ≥ 0.92 for resistance.

  2. 02.

    Photo of the installed unit with model number visible.

  3. 03.

    For HPWH: documentation that the installation location meets the minimum ambient air-volume requirement (typically 1000 cu ft, or ducted intake/exhaust).

Guidance

Heat-pump water heaters in practice

HPWHs need ambient heat to extract — they actually cool the room they're in by ~5°F and dehumidify it. Ideal locations: garage in warm climates, basement, dedicated utility room. Avoid bedrooms (compressor noise is real) and very small closets without ducting. Hybrid units allow electric-resistance fallback for high-demand periods.

Resources

Note

Federal Inflation Reduction Act offers a 30% tax credit (up to $2,000) for HPWHs through 2032, plus utility rebates of $500-$1,500 in many areas. Stack these for under $1,000 net installed cost on many models.

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Gold GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Carbon Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Electrified Living

All-Electric Cooking

Cooking appliances are all-electric.

Scope

All primary cooking appliances in the dwelling — cooktop, range, oven, wall oven, microwave-convection. Outdoor grills and supplementary appliances (toaster oven, slow cooker) are excluded.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    All installed cooking appliances must be electric — either induction or electric resistance.

  2. 02.

    Induction is strongly preferred for performance and indoor air quality.

  3. 03.

    If existing gas hookups remain, they must be capped per local code.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Equipment spec sheets for cooktop, oven, and any other installed cooking appliance.

  2. 02.

    Photo of installed appliances.

  3. 03.

    Plumber sign-off on gas-line capping (if applicable).

Guidance

Induction vs electric resistance

Induction heats the pan directly via electromagnetic field — boils water roughly 50% faster than gas, with finer temperature control than either gas or resistance. Downsides: only works with magnetic cookware (cast iron, magnetic stainless), and quality units are more expensive. Electric resistance ("smoothtop") is cheaper, works with any cookware, but slower and less responsive.

Note

Switching from gas to induction often requires upgrading from a 120V outlet to a 240V circuit — confirm electrical panel capacity early in design. Portable induction burners (110V, 1800W) are a useful try-before-you-buy option.

Resources

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Gold GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Carbon Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Electrified Living Peak Load Shaver

All-Electric Dryer

Clothes dryer is all-electric (heat-pump dryer preferred).

Scope

The primary clothes dryer in the dwelling.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    The clothes dryer must be electric. Heat-pump dryers are strongly preferred over electric-resistance vented dryers.

  2. 02.

    If a gas dryer is being replaced, the gas line must be capped per local code.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Equipment spec sheet for installed dryer showing combined energy factor (CEF) — typical HP dryers are 5-7+, resistance vented dryers are 3-4.

  2. 02.

    Photo of installed unit.

Guidance

Heat-pump dryers in practice

HP dryers use ~50% less electricity than vented resistance dryers, are ventless (so no exterior wall penetration needed), and operate at lower temperatures (gentler on fabrics). Tradeoffs: cycle time is ~25% longer, and the condensate needs to drain (either to a drain line or a removable tank).

Note

Ventless HP dryers can be installed in apartments and tight spaces with no exterior wall — opens up laundry placement options. Most newer models (Whirlpool, LG, Miele, GE) qualify for the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient list.

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