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Energy & Climate Resilience

Resilience

Backup power, passive survivability, hardened envelope, and other features that keep the home livable during extreme events.

Resilience (placeholder seal) R PLACEHOLDER

Description

The Resilience badge recognizes homes designed to remain habitable, safe, and functional during the kinds of extreme events the project's Climate Risk Assessment has already identified — heat waves, cold snaps, hurricanes, wildfire, flooding, wind, and grid outages. Where the base Certified-tier risk assessment requires acknowledging and mitigating the worst risk, the badge requires actively designing the home to ride through it.

Resilience is not a single feature but a portfolio: backup power, passive survivability, a hardened envelope, on-site water reserves, and operational instructions for occupants. A home earns the badge by showing meaningful investment across at least three of those domains, calibrated to the local risks.

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:

Hazard-specific hardening (project must address all locally-identified risks)

  1. 01.

    Wildfire (where identified): Class A roof assembly, 5-ft defensible-space zone with non-combustible materials, ember-resistant vents (1/8-inch mesh), enclosed eaves, and tempered-glass windows on fire-exposed elevations. Aligns with IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home or CAL FIRE Chapter 7A.

  2. 02.

    Hurricane / severe wind (where identified): IBHS Fortified Roof designation, impact-rated windows or shutters (ASTM E1996), reinforced garage door, and continuous load path framing.

  3. 03.

    Flood (where identified): finished floor elevation at least 2 ft above the FEMA Base Flood Elevation, flood-resistant materials below the design flood elevation, and backflow prevention on sewer connections.

  4. 04.

    Freeze events (where identified): all water lines either in conditioned space or wrapped in heat-trace + insulation rated for the local 99% design temperature; freeze-resistant hose bibs.

  5. 05.

    Seismic (where identified, primarily climate zones with seismic overlay): foundation bolting, cripple-wall bracing where applicable, and water-heater strapping.

Backup power & passive survivability

  1. 01.

    Backup power: battery storage (≥ 5 kWh usable) wired to a critical-loads sub-panel covering at minimum refrigerator, well pump (where applicable), one heating/cooling zone, and a charging outlet. OR a fixed automatic-transfer generator with 72-hour fuel reserve.

  2. 02.

    Passive survivability: envelope and orientation must keep indoor temperature within 55–85°F for at least 96 hours without grid power at the local 99% summer and winter design temperatures. Documented via modeling (BEopt, WUFI Passive, PHPP).

  3. 03.

    Operable windows on at least two opposing facades per occupied story to support cross-ventilation during outage.

Water & supplies

  1. 01.

    On-site potable water reserve: at least 14 gallons per occupant in a sealed, rotated reservoir OR a rainwater catchment + potable treatment chain (see Zero Water Capable badge for spec).

  2. 02.

    Sewage continuity: where municipal sewer is the discharge path, backflow prevention installed; where septic, a documented pump-out cadence and full reserve capacity verified.

Operations

  1. 01.

    Occupant resilience plan delivered to the homeowner/tenant: outage operating procedure for the backup system, evacuation triggers, and an annually-tested communication plan.

  2. 02.

    Site-specific go-bag inventory documented (water, non-perishable food, first aid, radio, key documents) — not provisioned by the project, but listed.

Documentation

  1. 01.

    Climate Risk Assessment report (already submitted for Certified tier) used as the basis for which hardening items above are required.

  2. 02.

    Passive-survivability model output showing the 96-hour indoor temperature curve under outage.

  3. 03.

    Spec sheets and as-built photos for backup power, hardened roof / windows, water reserve, and freeze protection.

  4. 04.

    Resilience operating manual delivered to occupants (homeowner-training requirement satisfies the format).

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.

      Climate Risk Assessment report (already required at Certified tier) cross-referenced to the hardening features installed.

    • 02.

      Owner-signed occupant resilience plan (outage operating procedure, evacuation triggers, communication plan).

  2. Silver

    Documents + photos
    • 01.

      Spec sheets and as-built photos for backup power (battery / generator), hardened roof / windows, water reserve, and freeze protection installed for locally-identified risks.

    • 02.

      IBHS Fortified or equivalent designation documentation (wildfire / wind, where claimed).

  3. Gold

    Third-party test
    • 01.

      Passive-survivability model output: 96-hour indoor temperature curve at the local 99% design temperatures.

    • 02.

      Commissioning report for the backup power system including the critical-loads sub-panel breakdown.

  4. Platinum

    Post-occupancy verification
    • 01.

      Documented operation during at least one real event (extended outage, heat wave, severe storm) within the first 24 months — or annual table-top drill log signed by occupants.

Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Certified Resilience Nature-friendly Walkability

Climate Risk Assessment

Determine the project's future climate risks using a climate-resource tool. Document and mitigate identified risks (stringency rises by tier).

Scope

Site-specific climate risks over the project's expected lifetime (typically 30-60 years), identified using a recognized climate-projection tool.

Requirements

Assessment + mitigation

  1. 01.

    Run the project address through a climate-risk tool such as NOAA's Climate Explorer, FEMA's National Risk Index, or the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit.

  2. 02.

    Identify the top risks for the project location — typical categories: extreme heat days, wildfire, riverine/coastal flooding, hurricane/severe wind, drought, freeze events.

  3. 03.

    Document a mitigation strategy for each identified risk. The stringency rises by tier: Certified must mitigate the highest risk; Silver and above must mitigate progressively more.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Climate-risk report exported from NOAA Climate Explorer, FEMA NRI, or equivalent tool, dated within 12 months of registration.

  2. 02.

    Mitigation plan listing each risk and the specific design or operational response (e.g. "high heat → install 200A panel for future heat-pump upgrade; specify R-21 walls").

Guidance

Why this is the first requirement

Climate risk drives many of the downstream Energy and Moisture decisions in this standard — sizing cooling for the higher peak days, hardening the envelope against wildfire, raising the foundation in flood-prone areas. Doing the assessment up front makes the rest of the certification easier to defend.

Tools

Example — A typical risk → mitigation chain

Project in central Texas: top risks come back as extreme heat (highest), drought (high), and severe wind/hail (high). Mitigation: oversized HVAC return + R-21 walls + cool roof for heat; xeriscape + rainwater catchment for drought; impact-rated windows + reinforced roof anchors for wind. Each mitigation aligns with a separate GreenStar requirement, so the climate report becomes the design narrative.

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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.

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Platinum Resilience Peak Load Shaver

Time-of-Use / Peak-Load Appliances

Major appliances support time-of-use scheduling and/or peak-load avoidance.

Scope

Major-load appliances: HVAC, water heater, EV charger, electric dryer, dishwasher, and (where present) battery storage system.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    At least the major-load appliances above (where installed) must support time-of-use scheduling, demand response, or peak-load avoidance — via smart-appliance controls, smart-home hub, or utility demand-response program.

  2. 02.

    Where the local utility offers TOU rates, the project must be enrolled in a TOU rate plan.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Inventory of installed smart appliances with model numbers, listing the demand-response or scheduling capability of each (e.g. CTA-2045 compliant water heater, ENERGY STAR Connected dryer, ChargePoint EV charger with TOU scheduling).

  2. 02.

    Confirmation of utility TOU rate enrollment (utility statement or screenshot).

  3. 03.

    Photo or screenshot showing scheduling configured in the smart-home hub.

Guidance

Why this matters at Platinum

A home that consumes the same kWh as the grid average but shifts those kWh off-peak avoids 30-60% of the carbon intensity of grid power (peak hours = dirtiest marginal generation in most U.S. markets). It also unlocks 10-40% savings on the utility bill under TOU rates. Without smart appliances, this is impractical to achieve manually.

Resources

  • CTA-2045 — Modular Communication Interface for Energy Management

    The open standard for utility-controllable appliances. Most newer HPWHs and EV chargers support it.

  • ENERGY STAR Connected Products →

    Searchable list of appliances with verified smart-connectivity features.

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Water Efficiency & Management Required from Platinum Zero Water Capable Resilience Home Water Score

Water Leak Detection & Real-Time Metering

Real-time water leak detection and metering system installed.

Scope

Whole-home plumbing — the system must monitor the entire supply line for unusual flow patterns indicative of a leak.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Install a whole-home water monitoring + leak detection system at the main supply line (post-meter, pre-distribution).

  2. 02.

    System must provide real-time flow data accessible via mobile app or web interface.

  3. 03.

    System must detect anomalous flow (continuous flow exceeding a threshold, indicating a likely leak) and alert the occupant within 1 hour.

  4. 04.

    Automatic water shutoff capability is strongly recommended but not required (alert-only systems are acceptable).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    System specification sheet (Flo by Moen, Phyn Plus, Sense Save, etc.) showing real-time metering + alert capability.

  2. 02.

    Photo of the installed unit at the main supply line.

  3. 03.

    Screenshot of the occupant's mobile app showing live data from the unit.

Guidance

Auto-shutoff vs alert-only

Auto-shutoff systems (Flo, Phyn Plus) close the main water valve when a leak is detected — they prevent damage even if the occupant ignores the alert. Alert-only systems (Sense Save, Streamlabs) are cheaper but rely on the occupant acting promptly. For Platinum-level homes, auto-shutoff is the better fit even though the requirement is permissive.

Pair with point sensors

Whole-home meters detect supply-line leaks but miss drain-side issues (washer drain backup, toilet overflow). Add inexpensive Wi-Fi water sensors under sinks, behind toilets, near the water heater, and in the laundry pan. Most whole-home systems pair with these as a unified alerting system.

Note

Many insurance carriers (Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide) offer 3-15% homeowner premium discounts for installed leak detection. Have the homeowner submit the device certification to their carrier after installation.

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Materials & Environmental Impact Required from Silver Accessibility Resilience

Building Maintenance Instructions

Create written instructions documenting how to maintain the building, equipment, and finishes.

Scope

Written documentation of how to maintain the building, equipment, and finishes — handed off to the homeowner or tenant at project completion.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Create a building maintenance manual covering: HVAC filter changes, water heater service intervals, gutter cleaning schedule, exterior caulk inspection, smoke/CO detector battery replacement, recommended deep-cleaning cadence for finishes.

  2. 02.

    Include manufacturer warranties, model numbers, and contact information for major appliances and systems.

  3. 03.

    Document the GreenStar certification level and which requirements were met (so future owners understand the home's features).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Completed maintenance manual (PDF or printed binder) delivered to the homeowner/tenant.

  2. 02.

    Homeowner/tenant signature confirming receipt.

Guidance

Why this is a Silver requirement, not Certified

The most well-designed green home will quietly degrade if the owner doesn't know which filter to buy or that the HRV needs filter changes too. The maintenance manual is the bridge between certification day and 10 years later — the difference between a home that holds its performance and one that drifts toward average.

Note

Many builders use a generic builder warranty book and bury the maintenance information. A standalone "GreenStar Owner's Manual" with the home-specific equipment list and a 1-page seasonal maintenance calendar is more likely to actually be used.

Resources

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Materials & Environmental Impact Required from Silver Accessibility Resilience

Homeowner / Tenant Training

Train the homeowner or tenant on how to operate and maintain the building.

Scope

In-person walkthrough and training session with the homeowner or tenant at project handover.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    GreenHome Inspector or builder must conduct an in-person training session with the homeowner/tenant covering: thermostat programming, HVAC filter location and changing, water shutoffs, electrical panel orientation, smoke/CO detector locations and testing.

  2. 02.

    Walk through the maintenance manual together and answer questions.

  3. 03.

    Demonstrate any complex systems (HPWH controls, smart appliances, HRV/ERV).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Training agenda + sign-in sheet with homeowner/tenant signature.

  2. 02.

    Optional: photo or video of the training session for the project record.

Guidance

Why this matters more than people think

A heat-pump water heater set to "electric resistance only" defeats its energy savings. A thermostat with a wide deadband (8°F+) wastes energy and creates discomfort. An HRV with a clogged filter circulates dust instead of removing it. Many efficiency features fail at the user-interface level — and a 30-minute training session prevents most of those failures.

Note

Recording the training (with the homeowner's permission) and providing them with the video is increasingly common — homeowners watch it again 6 months later when they've forgotten something.

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