ENERGY STAR Shines on Duct Sealing
It sure is nice when government regulations and federal programs actually help you make money. That’s why we’re so excited about the latest announcement coming out of Washington regarding the Federal Government’s new ENERGY STAR program.
Ever since the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency launched ENERGY STAR back in 1992, it has focused almost exclusively on products. As a result, the ENERGY STAR label is well recognized by consumers as a guarantee of smart, energy efficiency. Buy a refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR label, and you know it’s going to keep operating costs low. Buy an ENERGY STAR furnace, and you’ll get the actual efficiency ratings shown on the box…or not.
“By focusing on products alone, homeowners are often fooled by ENERGY STAR labeling and disregard the important role that installation and whole-system performance play on actual energy efficiency,” said Bryan Barnes, Aeroseal’s senior director of business development. “The update to this program highlights the fact that it takes more than high-efficiency products to get ENERGY STAR-level savings.”
The new ENERGY STAR program, called ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation (ESVI), replaces a “box-only” approach to ENERGY STAR certification with one that takes the entire system into account. Now, a homeowners looking for ENERGY STAR certification of their HVAC system will need to find a participating HVAC contractor that must verify the new equipment is ENERGY STAR compliant, and that the ductwork is properly sealed and the equipment is properly installed. The contractor works with an approved third party to verify the completed work and to receive ENERGY STAR certification.
According to Chandler von Schrader, national program manager for ESVI, the revamped ENERGY STAR program should prove to be a real boon to HVAC professionals that offer aeroseal duct sealing and other services based upon installation best practices.
“Now homeowners interested in ENERGY STAR level performance will have more than simply price on which to base their purchasing decision,” said von Schrader. “As well as offering a high-efficiency product, contractors will need to implement solid installation practices and prove they are delivering real efficiency. In many cases, a technology like aeroseal may be the only way to meet the standards this requires.”
This means that HVAC professionals with Aeroseal training and licensing have a huge leg up on the competition. If energy efficiency is the goal, aerosealing the ductwork is a fast-track component of getting there – and ENERGY STAR concurs.
The EPA’s new ESVI program was unveiled to a packed room of Aeroseal dealers and other HVAC professionals at a recent Success Summit gathering in Cleveland, Ohio. The enthusiastic response from the audience reflects the positive impact that the new program will have on the industry.
“Energy efficiency has become one of the most attractive features that consumers now look for when purchasing a home and one of the highest-priority upgrades in which they invest,” said Barnes. “HVAC businesses that offer Aeroseal are positioned to stand out from the competition and deliver the type of expertise and best practices that are now required for ENERGY STAR certification.”
Read more about ESVI here. For more information about becoming a licensed Aeroseal dealer, visit www.aeroseal.com or call 877-794-1367.