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Q. What services does the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR^® Homes Program provide builders?
A. The Program's services include:

• Independent testing and certification. Every Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home is tested for air tightness and ventilation by our trained consultants, who are also Wisconsin's only recognized energy rating providers.
• Technical training. We can organize training sessions for the builders' sales and construction staffs, tailored to meet their needs.
• Information resources. Builders and homeowners enjoy access to valuable information and expert resources, including potentially money-saving construction practices, access to the latest high-performance construction information and home energy tips.
• Support for your business. Builders may receive cooperative advertising dollars to help support their business and their relationship with Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes.

Q. What does it cost to join the program?
A. Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes is a voluntary program, so there is no cost to builders. A certification fee is charged for each home. Prices vary by consultant and builders may qualify for Cash-Back Rewards offered by Focus on Energy.

Q. How can I participate?
A. Contact a consultant in your area or Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes at 800.762.7077 or WESHinfo@focusonenergy.com.

Q. What does a consultant partnering with Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes do?
A. Consultants act as third-party evaluators who ensure program standards are met. They also answer questions homeowners may have regarding the home's performance in terms of air tightness, ventilation and low-cost ways to control moisture.

Q. What is the process to certify a home?
A. The certification process works like this:

1. Your consultant will review the home's plans.
2. The consultant performs an initial review based on the plans and a computer evaluation to ensure the home meets the program's energy efficiency requirements. If it does not, the consultant makes recommendations to increase the home's efficiency. This gives the you and the homeowner an estimate of the annual costs of heating and cooling the home.
3. The consultant performs an on-site evaluation after the home is framed, and another evaluation after the home is insulated. The consultant recommends improvements to ensure the home meets the performance testing standards.
4. A final site visit is conducted after the home is complete. At this site visit, the consultant conducts a blower door test and checks the flow of high-moisture area fans. Additionally, the consultant looks for other program standards, including carbon monoxide detectors.
5. If the home meets program standards, the home is certified and a certification report and plaque are sent to the homeowner.

Q. Does the program require different building practices than I use today?
A. Most builders are already using many of the construction practices required by the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program. Usually, builders need only make modest changes and additions to their practices. The program's third-party certification then verifies and assures that the homes meet standards.

Q. How much time will the site visits add to my building schedule?
A. Very little. The builder or builder's representative is only required to be on-site for the visits of the first three Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes constructed by that builder.