GreenStar Homes Certification logo
Pillar
Tier
Project
Energy & Climate Resilience

GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified

Home is built efficient and wired so a future solar PV installation can take it to net-zero energy.

GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified (placeholder seal) GZE PLACEHOLDER

Description

The GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified badge recognizes homes built efficient enough — and wired so well — that adding a future on-site renewable system (typically rooftop PV) would take the home to net-zero energy. The home is not yet zero-energy in operation; the badge confirms that the path is open without significant retrofit work.

Functionally, this is the GHI-administered analog of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program: high-performance envelope and HVAC, all-electric or dual-fuel ready, plus structural and electrical pre-provisioning for solar. It is a common stepping stone for owners who want the certification today and the panels later, especially when financing or roof orientation defers the PV installation.

The badge can also be used as an alternative pathway to GreenStar's Platinum-tier energy-performance requirement for new construction (equivalent to ERI 20 / 17.1 MBtu / 5,400 kWhe annual modeled use).

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:

Energy performance

  1. 01.

    Modeled annual energy use ≤ 17.1 MBtu/year — OR ERI ≤ 20 — OR DOE Home Energy Score of 10 (existing). Approved tools match the Zero Energy Certified list: DOE HES, HERS, ASHRAE 90.1, WUFI Passive, PHPP.

  2. 02.

    Envelope: blower-door air leakage testing required. Targets meeting DOE ZERH thresholds for climate zone (typically ≤ 3.0 ACH50 in zones 1-2, ≤ 2.5 in zones 3-4, ≤ 2.0 in zones 5-7, ≤ 1.5 in zone 8) are the practical compliance path.

  3. 03.

    Heating, cooling, and water heating must be all-electric or dual-fuel-ready. The four electrification requirements at Gold tier apply as the practical compliance path.

Solar readiness

  1. 01.

    Roof orientation and shading: at least one roof plane with ≥ 300 sq ft unshaded between 10am-4pm at winter solstice, facing within 90° of true south (i.e. ESE through WSW).

  2. 02.

    Structural: roof framing designed to accept future PV array load (typically +5 lb/sq ft live load). Truss / rafter stamped sealed drawings indicate PV-ready loading.

  3. 03.

    Electrical: panel with reserved 60A+ breaker space for future PV interconnection (NEC 705 backfeed) and conduit run from the panel location to the planned inverter / roof junction.

  4. 04.

    Site plan and electrical drawings call out the future PV array size (kW DC), inverter location, and conduit pathway.

Documentation

  1. 01.

    Final energy rating report (HERS Index, DOE Home Energy Score, or equivalent) at or below the Zero Energy Ready threshold for the project type.

  2. 02.

    Stamped structural drawing or letter from the structural engineer confirming PV-ready roof loading.

  3. 03.

    Electrical panel schedule with the reserved PV breaker labeled; marked-up plan showing the conduit run.

  4. 04.

    Solar pathway analysis (Helioscope, Aurora, or hand-calc Sun Path output) confirming the unshaded-roof-area requirement.

  5. 05.

    Base certification through GreenStar Homes, LEED, NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, Passive House, 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.

      Energy-model output (HERS, DOE HES, or equivalent) showing the project hits the ZERH threshold: HERS ≤ 60 or modeled ≤ 17.1 MBtu/year.

    • 02.

      Owner-signed solar-readiness checklist (panel space, conduit, structural).

  2. Silver

    Documents + photos
    • 01.

      Solar-pathway analysis (Helioscope, Aurora, or hand-calc Sun Path) confirming ≥ 300 sq ft unshaded roof area.

    • 02.

      Stamped structural drawing / engineer letter confirming PV-ready roof loading.

    • 03.

      Envelope blower-door test report meeting climate-zone ACH50 threshold.

  3. Gold

    Third-party test
    • 01.

      Electrical panel schedule (final) with reserved PV breaker labeled; pre-drywall photos of the conduit run.

    • 02.

      Verified HERS or ZERH rating from a RESNET-certified rater.

  4. Platinum

    Post-occupancy verification
    • 01.

      Re-verification at the time the future PV is installed (or 5-year mark, whichever comes first) — confirms the readiness work has not been compromised by subsequent renovations.

Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Silver GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Carbon Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Foam-free

Home Energy Performance

DOE Home Energy Score (existing) or modeled annual energy use (new construction). Alternative tools include HERS, PHPP, WUFI Passive, BeOpt, and 90.1.

Spec by tier

TierSpec
CertifiedNot required at this tier
SilverDOE Home Energy Score of 6
GoldDOE Home Energy Score of 8
PlatinumDOE Home Energy Score of 10 (existing) — or 17.5 MBtu/year (new construction)

Scope

Whole-house energy performance, rated using DOE Home Energy Score or an equivalent recognized rating tool.

Requirements

Performance targets

  1. 01.

    Engage a qualified DOE Home Energy Score assessor (or equivalent: HERS rater, PHIUS verifier) to score the home.

  2. 02.

    Score must meet or exceed the tier threshold in the "Spec by tier" table above. For new construction, the equivalent thresholds in modeled annual energy use (MBtu/year) apply.

  3. 03.

    Acceptable alternative scoring tools: HERS Index, PHIUS+, Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), BeOpt, ASHRAE 90.1 modeled output.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    DOE Home Energy Score report from a certified assessor — includes the score (1-10), label-style summary, and improvement recommendations.

  2. 02.

    OR equivalent: HERS Index report, PHIUS verification, PHPP output, or BeOpt modeling output.

Guidance

How the Home Energy Score scale works

DOE Home Energy Score is a 1-10 scale based on modeled annual energy use per square foot, normalized for local climate. A score of 5 represents the U.S. average existing home; a score of 10 represents the best 10% of homes nationally. The score is asset-based (not consumption-based), so it reflects the building itself rather than how the occupants use it.

Why one tier might map to several scores

A Gold-tier home (score 8) modeled at the local 99% design temperature lands in roughly the same actual annual consumption as a 17.5 MBtu/year new build — the standard accepts either pathway. Use whichever tool your rater is certified for; results are interchangeable for compliance.

Resources

Open full page →
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.

Open full page →
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.

Open full page →
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

Open full page →
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.

Open full page →
Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Platinum GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Carbon Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Resilience Walkability Peak Load Shaver

Solar- and EV-Ready Electrical Service

200-amp breaker box with capacity to add future solar PV and electric-vehicle chargers.

Scope

The main electrical service panel and the conduit/wiring runs from panel to roof and panel to the EV-charging location.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Main service must be at least 200 amps.

  2. 02.

    Panel must have a dedicated 60A+ breaker space reserved for future solar PV interconnection (NEC 705 backfeed).

  3. 03.

    Panel must have a dedicated 40A+ breaker space (with conduit run + outlet box) for a Level 2 EV charger.

  4. 04.

    Conduit must be run from the main panel to the roof (for future solar inverter) and from the panel to the primary parking space (for the EV charger).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Panel schedule listing all breakers, with the reserved solar + EV breakers labeled.

  2. 02.

    Photo of the installed panel.

  3. 03.

    Marked-up electrical plan showing the conduit runs and termination points.

  4. 04.

    Electrical permit + final inspection sign-off.

Guidance

Why this is cheap to do now and expensive later

Adding the EV-ready conduit + 240V outlet during initial wiring costs ~$300-$800. Retrofitting after drywall and finishes are in often costs $2,000-$5,000 and may require surface-mounted conduit. The panel + solar conduit story is similar.

Resources

  • NEC 705 — Interconnected Power Production Sources

    Code section governing solar backfeed. The most common compliance path is the 120% rule: PV breaker + main breaker ≤ 120% of panel busbar rating.

  • EV Charger Installation Cost Guide →

    DOE guide to Level 2 charging selection and installation.

Note

SB-100 (California), HB 6-1-23 (Colorado), and similar state laws now require new construction to be EV-ready. Even where not required by code, the resale premium for EV-ready homes is documented at $1,500-$3,500.

Open full page →
Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Certified GHI Zero Energy Certified GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified Reduced Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF)

Majority LED Lighting

A majority of fixtures use LED lamps.

Scope

All interior and exterior lighting fixtures in the dwelling. Decorative-only fixtures (e.g. chandeliers used <1 hr/day) count toward the total.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    At least 50% of installed lamp sockets must be fitted with LED lamps or LED-integrated fixtures (Certified threshold).

  2. 02.

    For Gold+, the practical target is >90% LED — incandescent + halogen should be limited to specialty applications (oven, refrigerator, niche decorative).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Lighting inventory listing each fixture type, lamp type (LED / CFL / halogen / incandescent), and count. Spreadsheet or marked-up floor plan both acceptable.

  2. 02.

    OR purchase receipts / fixture spec sheets showing LED-integrated rating for new construction.

Guidance

Quality over count

A "majority LED" count check can pass with low-CRI cheap bulbs that look terrible. For long-term satisfaction, specify ≥90 CRI bulbs and a consistent color temperature (2700K-3000K for residential spaces). ENERGY STAR-rated LEDs include color rendering and lifetime requirements.

Note

Dimmer compatibility is a common failure point — many older incandescent dimmers cause LED flicker. Replace dimmers when swapping to LED, or specify "dimmable LED" + a matched LED-compatible dimmer (Lutron Diva, Leviton SureSlide, etc.).

Resources

Open full page →