What is an Indoor airPlus Certified home?

A new home that has earned the ENERGY STAR® label is eligible for additional certifications. Utilizing the software modeling, site visit inspections and diagnostic testing of the ENERGY STAR® HERS rating, a national certification with superior indoor air quality as its goal is available. The EPA has devised a checklist method to help builders provide an additional level of building excellence that confirms the indoor air quality best practices the builder has installed. A HERS rater will work with an ENERGY STAR® certified builder partner and credentialed mechanical contractor (for ducted heating and cooling systems) to facilitate that all Indoor Air Plus requirements are met. Click the link below for a broader look at the Indoor Air Plus homes program.Indoor airPlus - Homepage

Benefits of an Indoor airPlus Certified home:

ENERGY STAR® certified new homes with the Indoor Air Plus designation have additional air quality benefits over a typical ENERGY STAR® home.Click the link below for a broader look at the Indoor Air Plus homes program.Advantages for Homeowners - Indoor Air Plus Homes

Initiating and processing an Indoor Air Plus certification:

As mentioned above and on the IAP website, a home must be ENERGY STAR® certified before it can receive the optional Indoor Air Plus designation.

Follow the same NH utility home application/enrollment process for ENERGY STAR® homes, and let Horizon RES know that you’d like to get the Indoor Air Plus designation as well. Your builder must become an IAP partner, separate from being an ENERGY STAR® builder partner.

The certification for Indoor Air Plus is not covered by the NH utilities, the homeowner or builder will have to pay the additional fees for the IAP certification directly to Horizon RES NH LLC.  Builders: see link below to become an IAP partner. The 1st inspection for ENERGY STAR® certification is also utilized to inspect for installation of the majority of IAP program required construction specifications, as outlined in the Version 1, Revision 1 checklist. (See link below)  The rater will document any non compliance deficiencies and provide a means to mitigate these to the builder. The rater may have to make an additional return to the site to verify compliance.   The 2nd inspection, regarded as the Final Inspection, is conducted at the “move in” stage just prior to homeowner occupancy. Several additional checklist items will be inspected for verification and compliance during this visit. Only when a home that certifies to ENERGY STAR® Version 3 and the completed Indoor airPlus Verification Checklist is provided to the HERS provider that the HERS rater is rating for, can the Indoor airPlus certification be provided.Click the link below for a broader look at the Indoor Air Plus homes program.Indoor Air Plus construction specification checklistAt Horizon RES, all HERS activities including Indoor airPlus certifications will be conducted by a RESNET certified Home Energy Rater, working under the providership umbrella of Horizon RES NH LLC.