The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that new multifamily high-rise
residential buildings are now eligible to qualify as Energy Star buildings (
www.energystar.gov/mfhr). Expanding the
Energy Star eligibility to such properties will allow property owners the
opportunity to increase the asset value and offer tenants comfortable homes.
An
independently licensed professional engineer or architect is required to verify
that the program’s requirements are met through on-site testing and inspections
conducted throughout the construction process. In the past, only single-family
homes and units in low-rise multifamily buildings were eligible to earn the
Energy Star designation.
To
qualify for Energy Star, new or substantially rehabilitated multifamily
high-rise buildings must meet energy-efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and
be designed to be at least 15 percent more energy-efficient than buildings that
meet the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers energy use standard. Qualified buildings feature a combination of
energy-efficient improvements, including:
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Effective insulation systems.
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Properly sized heating and cooling equipment.
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Tight construction and ducts.
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Energy Star-qualified lighting and appliances.
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High–performance windows.
