Menu
Menu
This resource is free and open-source to use for residential buildings with the goal to certify through the GreenStar program.
Keep up to date with the latest workbook here which can be used in google sheets or excel. Great for design evaluations.
If you are a GreenHome Institute Inspector or just want something to use to evaluate a home onsite for the basic level of GreenStar use our inspection form here.
You can sort it by your project type and/or goals. In order to find what you are looking for try using control F for keywords or clicking the links in the latest checklists on the credits which bookmark directly to each reference detail here in the manual.
Watch our 3 part how to achieve GreenStar Homes Webinar CE series to learn more
Water leak detection and real-time metering
Platinum
Similar to energy monitoring, water must be monitored in real time to determine water usage, waste, and savings opportunities. The water metering system must be able to detect water leaks and may be able to turn the water off automatically or inform the occupant of the leak.
Verification
Photos of the device installed and details of the device. Manual and training should include details on how to operate and track water use as well as what to do in case of a leak.
If installing new wood products, do not use tropical wood OR make sure it is certified
Gold | Platinum
To help alleviate pressure on tropical forests please specify Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified wood products if using wood from outside of North America or Europe.
Resources & Studies
GreenHome Institute webinar: Sustainable Forestry Initiative & Green Building
Verification
Chain-of-custody documentation of any wood products used that are from tropical areas or a letter from the lumber supplier stating no tropical wood was used.
Tap water filtration added that is appropriate to the area
Gold | Platinum
Water quality is of great concern in regards to human health. Perform water quality testing and address any concerns. All drinking water must be filtered through reverse osmosis or other effective filtration system.
Alternative approach
N/A
Resources & Studies
GreenHome Institute webinar: Introduction to Air and Water Purification
Verification
Results of water tests. Photos and specifications of the installed filtration system. Details in the instructions to tenant or homeowner on how to maintain and operate the system
Insulate cold water pipes or keep them out of unconditioned space
Gold | Platinum
Cold water pipes running in unconditioned spaces may have moisture issues, which could cause water damage. Keep these pipes out of those spaces, add conditioning or insulate the pipes to R4. In renovation projects, insulate as much of the piping that can be reached.
Resources & Studies
Energy.gov: Insulating Plumbing Pipes
Verification
Photos of plumbing plans, if present, and photos of the installation and location of piping.
Add an air quality sensor to the main living area or ducts
Gold | Platinum
With more affordable air sensors coming to the market it’s now easier than ever to continuously monitor air quality in a home and help ensure the home is healthy long after the construction project is completed. These devices can also be used prior to construction to identify any issues.
Air quality shall be certified to the RESET standard and should measure:
The device shall be set up and working and the homeowner must be trained on how to use it.
Resources & Studies
GreenHome Institute webinar: Introduction to real time air quality metrics and scores
Products that can help
Awair features an integrated and standalone air quality monitoring system that tracks air quality scores based on the level of pollutants and records patterns. The results can be sent to a phone or PC to inform occupants in real time.
Sunradon offers professional level monitors for monitoring multiple buildings, projects or for home inspectors to get certified radon reports. https://www.sunradon.com/
Verification
Receipt of product purchase, photos of the monitor in operation, and details on how to use it in the homeowner or tenant training manual.
Verification
Receipt of purchase of a product, photos of it being set up, and details on how to use it in the homeowner or tenant training manual.
Balanced fresh-air system installed and tested
Gold | Platinum
Better ventilation systems supply fresh air and exhaust stale air simultaneously and at the same rate in compliance with the ASHRAE 62.2 2016 standard (or higher) based on the number of bedrooms and square footage of the home. These systems may include a supply air vent fan as a standalone or in heating/cooling system and then exhaust air from a bath fan or other exhaust fan.
An alternative approach
Natural ventilation is allowed in warmer climates.
Resources & Studies
Energy.gov: Whole-House Ventilation
GreenHome Institute CE webinar: How to improve the air with ventilation
Products that can help
Panasonic SelectCycler can communicate with a bath fan and furnace intake to bring in fresh air as needed.
Build Equinox CERV2 works to ensure balanced fresh air and monitor air quality, and has a built-in heat pump.
Verification
During predrywall or installation, confirm that the ducts do not have significant bends, turns, or drops to ensure proper flow. Photo document the installed device and label and use ventilation testing equipment to ensure proper flow meeting the ASHRAE 62.2 2016 (or higher) standard, which may also include results from a blower door test.
Reduce embodied carbon in materials
| Silver 10% | Gold 15% | Platinum 25%
Embodied carbon is the amount of carbon released in the process of obtaining or manufacturing construction materials before construction begins. It includes material extraction, production, transportation and disposal, along with construction practices and processes.
Reduce embodied carbon from the average 154 kg CO2e/m2 by: 10 percent for Silver, 15 percent for Gold, and 25 percent for Platinum.
Current approved modeling tools that can be used include:
Alternative approach
Use one or more of these pathways
Silver Level Only
Any level alternative
Build a small single family home of 800 square feet or less or a multifamily building with units averaging 600 square feet
Resources & Studies
Passive Buildings of Canada and Builders for Climate Action conducted a first-of-its-kind embodied energy study called EMBARC.
GreenHome Institute embodied carbon youtube “playlist”
Products that can help
Mineral wool reduces embodied carbon in most cases as compared to foam insulation. Consider using Rockwool exterior insulation or batts.
Verification
Provide results obtained from the embodied carbon modeling tool and compare to construction plans and specifications.
The kitchen must have proper ventilation through rangehood or outdoor air system or monitor
Silver | Gold | Platinum
The kitchen must have an outdoor air hood range tested to at least 100 CFM but no more than 400 CFM without additional makeup air such as a window nearby or intake that turns at 400 CFM. If the system is modulating, the makeup air is not required but owner education is.
Alternative approach
All these approaches require the stove to be electric
Resources & Studies
Energy.gov: Kitchen Exhaust Retrofit Duct Guide
Specify the exhaust system with 120 CFM or more to ensure the fan pulls at 100. When designing a system reduce bends and turns in ducts to ensure proper pull.
Products that can help
Verification
Reports of duct testing, note on plans, photos and other calculations.
Whole-house fresh air supply provided
Silver | Gold | Platinum
The home must have adequate fresh air provided either by supply or exhaust air. Balanced ventilation is suggested but is not required for Silver-level certification. Exhaust air is recommended in cooler climates, while supply air is suggested in warmer climates. This can be accomplished by using a continuously running or intermittent running bath fan or supply air fan in the furnace or alternative means. Systems must be tested to ensure they ventilate properly per the ASHRAE 62.2 2016 standard or higher.
An alternative approach
Passive ventilation may be allowed in milder climates.
Resources & Studies
Products that can help
Panasonic has several bath fans, supply fans, and energy recovery ventilators that will help you meet this goal.
Build Equinox offers the CERV2 smart ventilation system that be a whole house ventilation system that also conditions and filters air. It detects indoor air pollution and runs higher when the home or space is more polluted but runs lower when there is less.
Verification
System details, photos, reports and testing results.
Moisture resistant flooring in bathroom, kitchen & main entryways
Silver | Gold | Platinum
All main entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms must a moisture-resistant flooring, usually that means avoiding carpet. We recommend avoiding or removing all carpet if possible
Resources & Studies
Energy.gov: Water-Resistant Flooring
Verification
Verification by GreenHome Inspection Report and/or photos.
Properly sized cooling equipment
Silver | Gold | Platinum
Ensure the installed cooling system is properly sized by using a certified Manual J 8th Edition report (or newer versions as they come out). This will ensure the system runs appropriately and dehumidifies. Consider using a modulating or two-stage system to handle extreme loads as the weather warms up during heat waves.
An alternative approach
Products that can help
Mitsubishi offers air source heatpumps including ducted, ducted mini-splits and full mini-splits that are right-sized for low load homes that demand little cooling
Verification
Submit sizing documentation and specs and photos of installed cooling equipment
Evaluate embodied carbon
Certified | Silver | Gold | Platinum
Embodied carbon can contribute a substantial percentage of a home’s lifetime carbon emissions, with the remaining portion being from energy use.
While industry and governments work to solve this problem, embodied carbon can be reduced through better material selections.
New construction projects and renovations that involve additions must evaluate and report the embodied carbon associated with all materials associated with the project. While the Certified level only requires an evaluation and a report on the results, reductions or offsets are required at the Silver level and beyond.
Use one of these approved tools:
Alternative approach
Verification
Provide a report on the tool’s results.
If a fireplace exists, ensure occupants are not exposed to bad air quality
Certified | Silver | Gold | Platinum
A fireplace needs to be sealed, vented, and equipped with makeup air, and a carbon monoxide detector must be placed in the same room.
Alternative approach
If a fireplace is not able to meet all of the above requirements, a low-level carbon monoxide detector must be installed nearby along with a RESET certified air quality monitor that can detect and easily inform occupants about rising levels of PM2.5 and carbon monoxide. Occupants must be trained and informed on how and why to use this.
Electric or LED fireplaces are preferred alternative options
Resources & Studies
Energy.gov: Fuel-burning and space-heating appliance emissions standards
Products that can help
If using the alternative approach, consider using an Awair device to ensure poor air quality is not continuous.
Verification
Photos and receipts of devices and install.
Reduce Air Leakage Between Units in Attached Housing
Certified | Silver | Gold | Platinum
Ensuring air does not move between housing units is good for occupant health and comfort and addresses concerns about the spread of airborne viruses. This is done by measuring air leakage with a blower door test and measuring the square footage of the walls, floors and ceilings to ensure 50 CFM per wall enclosure is achieved.
Alternative approach
None at this time
Resources & Studies
Green Building Advisor: Compartmentalization in Multifamily Buildings
GreenHome Institute webinar: Multifamily Air Sealing and Compartmentalization Strategies
Products that can help
One study shows Indow interior storm windows may reduce air loss by up to 10%
Verification
Energy Rater Testing Reports from Blower Door
Homeowner or tenant trained on how to maintain the building
Silver | Gold | Platinum
The people who live in the home or manage the building must be trained briefly on how to maintain the GreenStar Homes standards.
Alternative approach
Create a virtual walkthrough with videos and/or matterport that can be used anytime. If this is an owner-occupied project where the homeowner is managing the project, this is met.
Resources & Studies
Verification
Submit a summary on how the training takes place or how tenants are educated during unit turnover.
Create instructions documenting how to maintain the building
Silver | Gold | Platinum
Instructions must be completed and given to the homeowner or building manager.
Instructions shall include:
Consider creating videos or Matterport walkthroughs of the project with details on how to maintain systems.
Alternative approach
Create a virtual walkthrough with videos and/or matterport and verbal maintenance instructions
Resources & Studies
Green Door energy efficiency tool
Enterprise Green Communities Operations & Maintenance templates
Matterport example
Verification
All manuals must have a digital component and this will need to be shared with GHI
Gutter system draining away from home or well-draining sandy soils
Certified
Ensure gutters are set up either externally or internally and are draining away from foundations to prevent moisture and water entry issues.
Gutters should appear in working order and not clogged upon inspection.
Alternative approach
Using USDA maps or an engineer’s sample report, verify that the area has well-draining sandy soils. There can also be foundational gutters installed around the home’s perimeter, such as french drains, which may be more appealing and work just as well.
Resources & Studies
Energy.gov: Gutters and Downspouts
Verification
Photos, USDA maps or engineer’s report
Verification – Photos and/or GreenHome Inspection report completed by GreenStar Homes Inspector. A good home inspection report may suffice too.
Floorscore or Green Label Plus on new carpet
Platinum
All new carpets shall be certified to Floorscore or Green Label Plus to ensure reduced VOCS.
Alternative approach
Other air quality certifications for carpets may apply.
Verification
Photos of carpeting and specs
No combustion fireplace present indoors
Platinum
Do not install combustion-based fireplaces indoors; remove any existing combustion-based fireplaces. Electric fireplaces are allowed.
Alternative approach
Allowed as a backup heating source in the case of a power outage in climate zones 4+ if no other backup is available.
Verification
Plans and specs show no evidence of combustion-based fireplaces.
Advanced plumbing or hot water test passed
Platinum
Following the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Requirements Rev 7 page 7 “No more than 0.6 gallons (2.3 liters) of water shall be collected from the hot water fixture before hot water is delivered. Only the fixture with the greatest stored volume between the fixture and the hot water source (or recirculation loop) needs to be tested. To field verify that the system meets the 0.6 gallon (2.3 liter) limit, verifiers shall first initiate operation of on-demand recirculation systems, if present, and let such systems run for at least 40 seconds….Next, a bucket or flow measuring bag (pre-marked for 0.6 gallons) shall be placed under the hot water fixture. The hot water shall be turned on completely and a digital temperature sensor used to record the initial temperature of the water flow. Once the water reaches the pre-marked line at 0.6 gallons (approximately 24 seconds for a lavatory faucet), the water shall be turned off and the ending temperature of the water flow (not the collection bucket) shall be recorded. The temperature of the water flow must increase by ≥ 10 °F.”
Resources & Studies
Review the GreenHome Institute CE webinar: Practically Perfect Plumbing Part 1 and Part 2
Verification
Complete and document the hot water test as listed above
The GreenHome Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization funded by members who support the residential green building movement. Becoming a member helps support our mission and keeps us going, and you can also receive several benefits.
The GreenHome Institute is a non-profit organization that empowers people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of the places we live.
Copyright © 2023 GreenHome Institute. All rights reserved. Designed by Multiserv.
