ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement for Energy Rating Companies (e.g., Home Energy Raters, HERS Raters, Providers) participating in the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Program

General Terms and Commitments for participation in the ENERGY STAR program (ENERGY STAR) and for the use of the ENERGY STAR marks

This AGREEMENT contains the general Terms applicable to partners' use of the ENERGY STAR trademarks, service marks, and certification marks and describes the Commitments made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the benefit of the ENERGY STAR program and its partners. Additional Terms and Commitments for Energy Rating Companies that partner with the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program are also included. EPA may periodically amend these Terms and Commitments and will provide notice to partners.

This AGREEMENT is voluntary and can be canceled by either party at any time and for any reason (including suspension or termination of professional certification/accreditation by a Home Certification Organization (HCO) or Multifamily Review Organization (MRO)) with no penalty. Upon cancellation of this AGREEMENT, the partner will no longer have access to program benefits and must promptly cease use of the ENERGY STAR name and marks.

By affixing an electronic signature to the Partnership Agreement, the signatory understands that they are committing their organization to a partnership with the ENERGY STAR program, acknowledges EPA's commitments to its partners, and agrees to comply with all Terms and Commitments of this AGREEMENT.

  1. EPA will work to promote the ENERGY STAR program and broaden public recognition of the ENERGY STAR marks as the trusted, government-backed symbols for solutions that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment.
  2. EPA will provide partners with timely program updates, information, and resources via the ENERGY STAR website, webinars, email, and presentations.
  3. EPA will provide partners with recognition for their participation in the program through the ENERGY STAR partner locator, special awards, and promotion through other media.
  4. EPA will respond to requests for information or clarification regarding ENERGY STAR program policies.
  5. EPA will maintain the integrity of the ENERGY STAR marks and take all possible steps to deter their misuse.
  6. EPA will protect the privacy and security of information/data collected related to an organization's ENERGY STAR partnership.

General Terms and Commitments for All ENERGY STAR Partners

  1. Partner will use the ENERGY STAR name and marks in accordance with the most current edition of the ENERGY STAR Brand Book (i.e., Logo Use Guidelines) and ensure that its authorized representatives (including, but not limited to, advertising agencies, distributors, installers, subcontractors, sales agents, and retailers) also abide by these requirements.
  2. Partner will not construe, claim, or imply that its participation in ENERGY STAR constitutes federal government approval, acceptance, or endorsement of anything other than the organization's participation in the ENERGY STAR program and acknowledges that partnership does not constitute the federal government's endorsement of the partner, its buildings, homes, or services.
  3. Partner acknowledges that its activities undertaken in connection with the ENERGY STAR program are voluntary and not intended to provide services to the federal government. Partner may not submit claims for compensation to any federal agency for its ENERGY STAR activities.
  4. Partner will act in good faith to resolve conflicts that may arise in relation to its program partnership and will seek to resolve all matters to preserve maximum public confidence in ENERGY STAR.

Additional Terms and Commitments for Energy Rating Companies participating in the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Program

  1. To be eligible for partnership, Energy Rating Companies must:
    1. Be credentialed through an EPA-recognized Home Certification Organization (HCO) (for all single-family homes and for any multifamily buildings using the Energy Rating Index compliance path) or Multifamily Review Organization (MRO) (for all multifamily buildings using the ASHRAE or prescriptive-based verification) and remain in good standing;
    2. Maintain at least one individual on staff that has met EPA's training requirements;
    3. Maintain at least one organizational contact in My ENERGY STAR Account (MESA) that is receiving required programmatic email communications from EPA; and
    4. Verify and have reported to EPA at least one ENERGY STAR certified home or apartment within the first 24 months of signing the ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement and every 24-month period thereafter.
    1. Modeled in accredited Home Energy Rating software (for single-family homes or multifamily apartments using ERI-based verification);
    2. Verified to meet all applicable ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program requirements;
    3. Submitted to their Home Certification Organization (HCO) or Multifamily Review Organization (MRO), as appropriate;
    4. Reported to EPA through an approved process; and
    5. Issued a completed ENERGY STAR certification label (PDF, 372 KB) to be affixed to the circuit breaker box (or other suitable location) and an ENERGY STAR certificate (PDF, 813 KB). Both the certification label and the certificate are provided to the partner by their Home Certification Organization (HCO) or Multifamily Review Organization (MRO).
      1. Homes or apartments that are certified to the requirements of the ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes and Apartments program must be provided a label (PDF, 1.4 MB) and certificate (JPG, 7.0 MB) for that program in lieu of the label and certificate described above.
      1. Upon request, partner must provide EPA, or its designated agents, with relevant documentation regarding any home, apartment, or building that was certified as ENERGY STAR (or potentially represented to homebuyers or renters as such). This documentation may include, but is not limited to, energy modeling files and/or reports, ENERGY STAR design reports and inspection checklists, supporting documentation such as photos, quality assurance records, and promotional materials.
      2. If requested by EPA, to facilitate investigation, partner will arrange on-site visit(s) to a certified home, apartment, or building by its Home Certification Organization's or Multifamily Review Organization's quality assurance staff (or their designees) and submit findings to EPA.
      3. If, following an investigation, EPA determines that a home or building's certification shall be withdrawn, partner will update their records accordingly.