New EPA Certification Program can help you build and buy the homes of tomorrow, today

ENERGY STAR NextGen builds on the 25-year legacy of the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program, which has certified more than 2.3 million new homes and apartments to date. These homes are at least 10% more energy efficient than homes built to code and achieve a 20% improvement on average. They save homeowners and renters money on their utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve indoor air quality and comfort.

ENERGY STAR NextGen goes even further. It sets a new bar for energy efficiency and performance, requiring homes and apartments
to meet rigorous criteria that reflect the latest innovations and best practices in the industry.

ENERGY STAR NextGen certified homes are good for the environment, good for your wallet, and good for your well-being. They can save you
up to 50% on your energy bills, compared to typical new homes and apartments. They can also increase your home’s value and resale potential, and make you eligible for tax credits and incentives. And they can provide you with a more comfortable, healthy, and secure living space, where you can enjoy a better quality of life.

If you are a homebuilder or a homebuyer, you have the opportunity to be part of the ENERGY STAR NextGen movement. You can help shape the future of housing in America, and make a difference for yourself, your family, and your community. You can learn more about the program and find certified homes and apartments near you at www.energystar.gov/nextgen.

ENERGY STAR NextGen features

To earn the ENERGY STAR NextGen certification, homes must be independently verified to include these key features:

1. An ENERGY STAR Version 3.2 building envelope, which minimizes temperature fluctuation, and reduces the risk of moisture
   and mold problems.
2. A high-performance, all- electric heating system that delivers optimal comfort and efficiency, and uses less energy than conventional systems.
3. High-efficiency, all-electric water heating system.
4. Electric cooking appliances that can provide more control and quicker heat than even natural gas cooking can – with fewer emissions.
5. Prewiring for a Level 2 electric vehicle charger in the garage.

An EV charger is an easy way to save big

Even if you don’t have an EV today, having the necessary wiring installed will make it easier to drive electric when you’re ready to make the switch. Putting a Level 2 EV charging station in your garage is simple. All you have to do is add a 240-volt circuit – similar to what an electric clothes dryer uses. You can charge your car three to four times faster than you could with a Level 1 charger plugged into a common 110-volt outlet. In addition to almost no maintenance cost besides tires, you’ll also spend about $1 per e-gallon equivalent. With today’s gas prices, the savings add up!

Now all you need is the coolest electric car on the market.

Electric cooktops and ovens

Optional induction cooktops help you cook like a pro, with fast heating, precise control, easy cleaning and surfaces that remain cool to the touch, making them safer than other cooktops. Electric models eliminate the emissions of indoor air pollutants associated with gas combustion, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, and contribute to a healthier indoor living environment.

ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters

One of the main advantages of electric water heaters is their high energy efficiency. Heat pump water heaters can convert. three times the electricity they consumer into heat, while gas storage water heaters lose at least 20% of the energy through the flue.

Heat pump water heaters have fewer moving parts and require less servicing than gas water heaters, which need regular inspections, cleaning, and repairs. Heat pump water heaters also have a longer lifespan, averaging 15 years, compared to 10 years for gas water heaters. Furthermore, heat pump water heaters are cheaper to install, as they do not need venting, gas lines, or combustion air supply.

All of these factors can result in significant cost savings over the lifetime of the water heater.

ENERGY STAR certified cold climate heat pump

An air-source heat pump (ASHP) is a central heating and cooling system that uses electricity to move heat from one space to another.

In the summer, an ASHP works the same way as an air conditioner; it takes heat from inside, blows it across a cooled radiator, and moves that heat outside. In the winter, the ASHP works exactly the same, but in the opposite direction; the heat pump blows air over a warmed up radiator, and moves the cold air to the condenser outside.

Historically, ASHPs became less efficient below 32F, but technological advances have made that a thing of the past. Today’s heat pumps are capable of providing heat in all but the coldest of winter nights, when a supplemental heating system can effortlessly make up the difference.

There’s an added bonus. ENERGY STAR NextGen allows for supplemental gas heat. In those rare occurrences when an ASHP can’t quite keep up, an efficient gas furnace can guarantee that a polar vortex doesn’t leave you out in the cold.

To learn more about Xcel Energy’s rebates and energy programs, please visit xcelenergy.com.