When I started the project I hoped to go for Passive House Certification or perhaps LEED certification. However, I quickly learned that both of these certifications were quite costly and required an enormous investments in time to ensure the right building materials and construction methods are used.

I had all but given-up on achieving outside certification that validated the incredible energy efficiency of the house until I came across the Energy Star Home Certification program.

The certification consists of an outside HERS rater confirming the efficiency of the house through a simple blower door test and observation of building methods used as well as the builder confirming they have constructed the structure to the specifications laid-out in the program.

I had a great call with Mark Blake from Structure Metrics of Maine and he confirmed what I thought: Energy Star Home Certification is worth it. Not only will he validate the house was built to the standard, but will periodically check-in during construction to ensure the builder is following the prescribed energy efficiency measures laid out in the plans.