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EnergySmart Home Scale Performance Path

The performance path is a very flexible method for meeting the U.S. Department of Energy's Builders Challenge and applying the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale) to your high-performance homes. It enables you to design your own approach and gain recognition for the actual energy performance you achieve.

To "meet the Challenge" and use the E-Scale with the U.S. DOE Seal and the Building America logo, a home must have an E-Scale rating of 70 or lower and meet the Builders Challenge Quality Criteria.

Please follow the step-by-step process outlined for a customized E-Scale for each qualified home.

Illustration showing the EnergySmart Home Scale, which is a horizontal bar with a rating of 150 on the left to represent poor energy performance, and 0 on the right to represent best energy performance. The color fades from red on the left to orange to yellow to green on the right. Several typical ratings are shown along the scale, with a typical existing home at 130 in the red, a typical new home at 100 in orange, a Builders Challenge home at 70 or lower in yellow, and a net zero energy home at 0 in green. Spaces are included for users to record the estimated annual energy cost and the estimated annual energy use. An example labeled 'Your Home' is shown to have a rating of 65. The DOE and Building America logos are displayed on the bottom of the graphic.

 

  STEP-BY-STEP Responsible Party
1 Take the Challenge Builder Third-Party Verifier
  Register your company as a builder and pledge the number of homes you expect to meet the Challenge within the next 12-24 months. Don't forget to electronically sign the agreement to demonstrate your willingness to follow guidelines and maintain the integrity of the program.

By completing this step you will receive access to the Builders Challenge marketing toolkit and a listing on www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge.

Third-party verifiers may also register to receive the use of marketing materials.		 X  
2 Meet the Challenge and Qualify Homes    
a Construct homes that meet the Builders Challenge Quality Criteria. Homes completed in 2007 or later may qualify if they meet the energy threshold and a third-party verifier can verify the Quality Criteria. X  
b Have a qualified third-party verifier complete the Performance Path Form to verify that the home "meets the Challenge." More information on the E-Scale and how to find a qualified verifier is available at www.buildingamerica.gov/challenge.   X
c Submit the completed Qualification Form to:

  • EMAIL: builderschallenge@newportpartnersllc.com
  • FAX: 301-889-0019
  • MAIL: Builders Challenge, 3760 Tanglewood Lane, Davidsonville, MD 21035
  • ONLINE: (available soon)
  • RESNET ACCREDITED SOFTWARE: (available soon)
X or X
d To include the registered builder's logo on the E-Scale, submit the logo in a high resolution format (.jpg, .tif, .pdf), to builderschallenge@newportpartnersllc.com at the same time as you submit the Qualification Form. X or X
e Receive your customized E-Scale from DOE within 5-10 business days of receipt of the Qualification Form. X or X
3 Market and Sell Your High-Performance Home    
  Apply the E-Scale on or near the home's electric fuse box / power panel. Give buyers a copy of the E-Scale to use with their lender. And, let all your customers know that your home meets the DOE's Builders Challenge by customizing and using the marketing tools provided to you in the marketing toolkit. X