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Pillar
Tier
Project

Pillar 1

Energy & Climate Resilience

Reduce a home's energy use, electrify its mechanical systems, and harden it against future climate risks. Covers Home Energy Score, heating/cooling, water heating, cooking, ventilation, and air-leakage targets.

12 requirements · 6 badges

Requirements

Grouped by the tier at which they first become mandatory. Tap any row to slide in the full detail.

Certified (3)

  • Climate Risk Assessment

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

    Open

  • Majority LED Lighting

    A majority of fixtures use LED lamps.

    Open

  • Air Leakage Between Attached Units

    Reduce air movement between attached housing units. Stringency tightens at higher tiers (ACH50 thresholds differ for new construction vs. renovation).

    Open

Silver (3)

  • 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.

    Open

  • Properly Sized Cooling Equipment

    Cooling equipment sized per ACCA Manual J 8th Edition (or equivalent load calculation).

    Open

  • Refrigerant Charge Verification

    Refrigerant charge test completed on all AC and heat-pump equipment.

    Open

Gold (4)

  • All-Electric or Dual-Fuel Heating

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

    Open

  • All-Electric or Solar Water Heating

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

    Open

  • All-Electric Cooking

    Cooking appliances are all-electric.

    Open

  • All-Electric Dryer

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

    Open

Platinum (2)

  • Time-of-Use / Peak-Load Appliances

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

    Open

  • Solar- and EV-Ready Electrical Service

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

    Open

Badges in this pillar

  • GHI Zero Energy Certified

    Home produces as much renewable energy on-site as it consumes annually.

    Open

  • GHI Zero Carbon Certified

    Net-zero operational carbon emissions, accounting for both energy use and grid mix.

    Open

  • GHI Zero Energy Ready Certified

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

    Open

  • Electrified Living

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

    Open

  • Resilience

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

    Open

  • Peak Load Shaver

    Smart controls, storage, and demand response coordinate the home with grid peak-load signals.

    Open
Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Certified

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 Certified

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

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Certified

Air Leakage Between Attached Units

Reduce air movement between attached housing units. Stringency tightens at higher tiers (ACH50 thresholds differ for new construction vs. renovation).

Spec by tier

TierSpec
CertifiedReduce air leaks between attached units (no specific threshold)
Silver0.3 ACH50 (new) / 0.4 (existing) between units
Gold0.23 ACH50 (new) / 0.3 (renovation) between units
Platinum0.15 ACH50 (new) / 0.23 (renovation) between units

Scope

Air leakage between adjoining dwelling units in attached housing — duplex, townhouse, multifamily, ADU sharing a wall. Single-family detached homes are exempt.

Requirements

Performance targets

  1. 01.

    Perform a blower-door test specifically isolating air leakage between the test unit and adjoining units (pressurize the test unit and measure airflow into the neighbor units).

  2. 02.

    Measured air leakage between units must meet the tier threshold in the "Spec by tier" table above. Each tier has separate values for new construction and existing/renovation.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Blower-door test report from a RESNET-certified or BPI-certified rater, showing inter-unit air leakage measurements in CFM50 or ACH50.

  2. 02.

    Floor plan marked with leak-test locations.

Guidance

Why it matters more in attached housing

In a single-family detached home, air leakage means heat loss + comfort issues — annoying, not unsafe. In attached housing, inter-unit air leakage moves combustion gases, cooking odors, allergens, secondhand smoke, and noise between dwelling units. A unit can fail its CO test because of a neighbor's furnace.

Common leak locations

Shared chases for plumbing and HVAC, electrical penetrations through the demising wall, unsealed top plates above the demising wall (especially under a common attic), and gaps where the demising wall meets exterior walls. Aerosolized sealant ("AeroBarrier") is increasingly used in multifamily new construction for hard-to-reach demising-wall seams.

Resources

  • ASTM E779 — Air Leakage Measurement

    The blower-door test method most jurisdictions reference.

  • AeroBarrier →

    Aerosolized envelope sealant used to hit aggressive ACH50 targets without manual caulking.

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Silver

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

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Silver

Properly Sized Cooling Equipment

Cooling equipment sized per ACCA Manual J 8th Edition (or equivalent load calculation).

Scope

All air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment installed for space cooling — central, mini-split, and packaged systems.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Cooling equipment sized using ACCA Manual J 8th Edition load calculation, or an equivalent ASHRAE-recognized method.

  2. 02.

    Installed nominal capacity must not exceed the Manual J calculated load by more than 15% (oversizing causes humidity issues and short-cycling).

  3. 03.

    Manual S equipment selection and Manual D duct design (where applicable) must accompany the load calc.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Manual J load-calculation report prepared by an ACCA-certified or equivalent professional, listing room-by-room sensible + latent loads.

  2. 02.

    Equipment cut sheet for installed AC/HP showing the AHRI-rated capacity at design conditions.

  3. 03.

    Manual S equipment selection rationale (if separate from the Manual J).

Guidance

Why oversizing is harmful

Most U.S. homes have AC oversized by 50-100% — a leftover habit from the days of poorly-insulated houses and pre-Manual-J rules of thumb. Oversized AC short-cycles (cools the air without removing humidity), leaving the home cool but clammy. It also wastes 5-25% more energy than a properly-sized unit.

Note

Heat pumps follow the same sizing rule but additionally need to be checked against the heating load at the local 99% design temperature — undersizing causes auxiliary resistance heat to kick in too often. Use ACCA Manual J + Manual S for both heating and cooling capacity selection.

Resources

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Silver

Refrigerant Charge Verification

Refrigerant charge test completed on all AC and heat-pump equipment.

Scope

All split-system AC and heat-pump equipment installed (factory-charged window/PTAC units excluded).

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Verify refrigerant charge using the subcooling method (TXV systems) or superheat method (fixed-orifice systems), per ACCA Quality Installation Standard.

  2. 02.

    Charge must fall within the manufacturer's specified target range for the system at the test conditions.

  3. 03.

    If charge is off, adjust before sign-off and re-verify.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Signed refrigerant charge test record per installed unit, listing model number, outdoor temperature at test, measured superheat or subcooling, and manufacturer target range.

Guidance

Why charge matters so much

A typical residential AC system underperforms by 5-20% when charge is off by even 10%. Industry surveys consistently find 60%+ of new installations have improper charge — this requirement catches that during commissioning rather than after months of high bills.

Resources

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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Gold

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

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

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

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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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Platinum

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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Energy & Climate Resilience Required from Platinum

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

GHI Zero Energy Certified

Home produces as much renewable energy on-site as it consumes annually.

Description

The GHI Zero Energy Certified badge recognizes homes that have been designed, built, tested, and modeled to produce on-site at least as much renewable energy as they consume over an average year. It is administered through GreenHome Institute's separate Zero Energy Certified program and added to the base GreenStar Homes certification.

The certification is design-and-model based rather than utility-bill based — a home does not need 12 months of zero net utility bills to earn the badge, but it does need third-party verification of the envelope, ducts, and combustion safety, plus an energy model showing net-zero performance. Because operational fossil-fuel use cannot be offset by on-site renewables, the program requires all-electric construction (with narrow exceptions noted below).

The badge can also be used as an alternative pathway to satisfy GreenStar's Platinum-tier energy-performance requirement.

Required standard requirements

To earn this badge, the project must meet:

Additional badge criteria

Performance & verification

  1. 01.

    Energy model demonstrating that the home produces, on an average-year basis, as much or more energy on-site than it is modeled to consume. Approved tools: DOE Home Energy Score, HERS Index, ASHRAE 90.1 modeling, WUFI Passive, or Passive House Planning Package (PHPP).

  2. 02.

    Third-party testing of the building envelope (blower-door air leakage), duct leakage to outdoors, total duct leakage, and worst-case combustion spillage (where any combustion appliance remains under the multifamily exceptions).

  3. 03.

    Final energy rating completed and signed by the appropriate certification body — not a draft.

  4. 04.

    Base certification: project must also hold a certification through GreenStar Homes, LEED, National Green Building Standard, Enterprise Green Communities, Passive House, or equivalent.

All-electric requirement & exceptions

  1. 01.

    Default: home must be all-electric. The four electrification requirements at Gold tier (heating, water heating, cooking, dryer) are prerequisites regardless of base certification tier.

  2. 02.

    Renovation exception: in climate zones 4 and above, a dual-fuel heat pump system is permitted in lieu of fully electric heating.

  3. 03.

    Multifamily / attached-housing exceptions: combustion fireplaces for aesthetics only, gas dryers in non-resident (shared) laundry, corridor heaters, and gas water heating in climate zones 6+ are permitted.

  4. 04.

    Vehicle charging energy and special farm or manufacturing energy uses may be excluded from the model with documented justification.

Documentation & fees

  1. 01.

    Stamped PV system design (or other on-site renewable system) showing array size, tilt/azimuth, and annual production estimate.

  2. 02.

    Net-meter / interconnection agreement signed by the serving utility.

  3. 03.

    Badge certification fee: free for GHI members and member project teams; $100 for non-member single-family homes ($10 per additional unit in multifamily).

Program page → Open full page →
Energy & Climate Resilience

GHI Zero Carbon Certified

Net-zero operational carbon emissions, accounting for both energy use and grid mix.

Description

The GHI Zero Carbon Certified badge recognizes homes that achieve net-zero operational carbon emissions — accounting not just for kWh consumed but for the emissions intensity of those kWh on the local grid. It is administered through GreenHome Institute alongside Zero Energy Certified and aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Emissions Building (ZEB) definition: energy efficiency + electrification + renewables (on-site or off-site through RECs).

The badge differs from Zero Energy Certified in two important ways. First, off-site renewables and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) count toward the offset — generation does not need to be on-site. Second, the accounting is carbon-weighted rather than kWh-weighted: a home in a coal-heavy grid region needs more offsets than the same home in a hydro-heavy region, even with identical consumption.

Embodied carbon is currently treated as "part two" of the standard and is under separate development by DOE; the GreenStar embodied-carbon requirement is the most relevant overlap until that update lands. GHI has stated the badge will be updated to match the final DOE ZEB definition as it stabilizes.

Required standard requirements

To earn this badge, the project must meet:

Additional badge criteria

Performance & verification

  1. 01.

    All-electric construction. Operational fossil-fuel combustion at the dwelling cannot be offset under this badge — combustion appliances disqualify the project regardless of how renewables are sourced. (Same multifamily exceptions as Zero Energy Certified apply.)

  2. 02.

    Existing homes: ENERGY STAR Home Energy Score of 75 or higher (requires 12+ months of utility data) — OR demonstrated 35% reduction below the regional median Energy Use Intensity for projects without sufficient utility history.

  3. 03.

    New construction: energy model demonstrating operational carbon emissions of zero on an average-year basis, using grid-emissions factors for the project's eGRID region. Approved modeling tools match the Zero Energy Certified program list.

  4. 04.

    Third-party verification: building envelope air leakage, duct leakage, and combustion-safety testing (the last where any combustion appliance remains under exceptions).

Renewable accounting

  1. 01.

    On-site renewable generation is preferred but not required. Off-site renewables qualify if backed by retired RECs (Green-e Energy certified or equivalent).

  2. 02.

    Community-solar subscriptions qualify if the associated RECs are retired on the homeowner's behalf.

  3. 03.

    RECs must cover 100% of the home's modeled annual grid electricity use, measured in MWh and matched to a renewable source within the same grid region where practical.

Documentation

  1. 01.

    Energy model output showing modeled annual kWh consumption, eGRID emissions factor used, and resulting tCO₂e/year — net of any on-site PV production.

  2. 02.

    REC purchase certificates or community-solar subscription agreement showing the project address and the MWh allocated.

  3. 03.

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

  4. 04.

    Note on evolving criteria: until GHI publishes the final DOE-ZEB-aligned criteria, this badge is reviewed case-by-case by the GreenHome Inspector. Pre-registration consultation with GHI is recommended.

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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.

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:

Additional badge criteria

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.

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Energy & Climate Resilience

Electrified Living

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

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:

Additional badge criteria

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).

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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.

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:

Additional badge criteria

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).

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Energy & Climate Resilience

Peak Load Shaver

Smart controls, storage, and demand response coordinate the home with grid peak-load signals.

Description

The Peak Load Shaver badge recognizes homes that actively coordinate with grid peak-load signals to reduce demand during the dirtiest, most expensive hours — typically late afternoons in summer and early mornings in winter. Where the Platinum-tier Time-of-Use requirement asks for smart appliances and TOU enrollment, this badge asks for measurable, automated load shifting backed by storage where applicable.

The badge benefits the project (lower utility bills under TOU rates), the grid (less peaker generation), and the carbon profile of every kWh consumed (peak hours = highest marginal emissions intensity in most U.S. markets). It is one of the few badges where the grid externalities are as large as the on-site savings.

Required standard requirements

To earn this badge, the project must meet:

Additional badge criteria

Automated load coordination

  1. 01.

    At least four of the following major loads must support automated, scheduled, or demand-response control: HVAC, heat-pump water heater, EV charger, electric dryer, dishwasher, pool/spa pump, irrigation pump. Smart-home hub or utility-controlled DR interface required.

  2. 02.

    Heat-pump water heater operating in load-shift mode (heat-up scheduled to off-peak hours, holding through peak) — verified by 7-day load profile.

  3. 03.

    EV charger configured to charge during off-peak hours by default, with the schedule documented in the EV-app or charger configuration.

  4. 04.

    HVAC setpoint pre-cooling (summer) or pre-heating (winter) during shoulder hours to reduce peak-hour cycling.

Storage (where present)

  1. 01.

    If battery storage is installed, system must operate in time-of-use arbitrage mode (charge off-peak, discharge during peak) — not just backup mode. Self-consumption-only mode does not qualify.

  2. 02.

    Minimum usable capacity: 5 kWh dispatchable per peak event.

  3. 03.

    Storage inverter must be programmable from a homeowner-accessible interface — utility-controlled-only systems require documented homeowner override capability.

Utility programs

  1. 01.

    Project must be enrolled in a utility Time-of-Use rate plan where one is available (state retail-choice projects: enroll with a TOU-equivalent retail supplier).

  2. 02.

    Where the local utility offers a demand-response or direct-load-control program covering the controlled loads, enrollment is encouraged but not strictly required.

Verification

  1. 01.

    Submit a 7-day load profile (15-minute interval data from utility meter, AMI portal, or whole-home monitor) showing peak-hour kW demand reduction of at least 30% vs. baseline off-grid-naive equivalent.

  2. 02.

    Baseline calculated from the home's modeled energy use (HERS, BeOpt, equivalent) assuming flat dispatch.

  3. 03.

    12-month true-up acceptable for renovation projects without a settled baseline.

Documentation

  1. 01.

    Smart-appliance inventory listing model numbers, DR capabilities (CTA-2045, ENERGY STAR Connected, OCPP for EV chargers), and schedule configuration.

  2. 02.

    Utility statement or screenshot confirming TOU rate enrollment.

  3. 03.

    7-day or 30-day load profile data export from the utility AMI portal or whole-home monitor.

  4. 04.

    Storage configuration screenshot showing TOU arbitrage mode active (if applicable).

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