Indoor AirPlus builds on the foundation of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR requirements for new homes and provides additional construction specifications for indoor air quality protections in new homes. ENERGY STAR’s residential programs include a process for approving Home Certification Organizations (HCOs) or Multifamily Review Organizations (MROs) to oversee the certification process. Under the framework of Indoor AirPlus Version 1, these organizations may also participate in the labeling and reporting of Indoor AirPlus certified homes, described below.
For Indoor AirPlus Version 2 (forthcoming), the EPA is proposing a similar Certification System which introduces a parallel structure for HCOs to be approved to implement Indoor AirPlus certification, including formal roles in verification oversight and quality assurance. For more details, please see the Indoor AirPlus Version 2 public comment page.
For more information on ENERGY STAR HCOs, please see: Home Certification Organizations (HCOs).
For more information on ENERGY STAR Multifamily Review Organizations, please see: Multifamily Review Organizations (MROs)
As an active EPA partner, you can help raise awareness and educate the public about the value of Indoor airPlus labeled homes. Program partners, including any ENERGY STAR HCO/MRO approved by the EPA, can use the Indoor AirPlus logos and marketing resources, per the Indoor AirPlus Promotional Guidelines.
If you have questions, contact an Indoor AirPlus account manager: (Indoor_airPLUS@epa.gov).
Both the builder and rater must sign an Indoor AirPlus Partnership Agreement.
There is no cost to join as an Indoor AirPlus partner. Partnership is free and completing the Partnership Agreement should only take a few minutes.
If you have questions, contact an Indoor AirPlus account manager (Indoor_AirPlus@epa.gov).
Both the builder and verifier/rater need to complete all applicable ENERGY STAR trainings.
If you have questions, contact an Indoor AirPlus account manager: (Indoor_AirPlus@epa.gov).
All homes/apartments that are eligible under the ENERGY STAR residential programs can also earn the Indoor AirPlus label. The home must be designed and built to the applicable ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program requirements and the Indoor AirPlus Construction Specifications.
Verifiers/raters and builders should coordinate on the front end to review the home design and low-emission materials specifications for your project to ensure that all Indoor AirPlus program requirements will be met.
If you have questions, contact an Indoor AirPlus account manager: (Indoor_AirPlus@epa.gov).
Before the home officially earns the Indoor AirPlus label, it is inspected by an independent third-party verifier/rater to ensure compliance with the EPA’s specifications.
Use the Indoor AirPlus Verification Checklist of the Construction Specifications or download the separate Verification Checklist to verify that homes comply with all requirements.
As builders construct homes meeting Indoor AirPlus requirements, they also schedule on-site visits with the verifier/rater, who will typically perform verification in the same inspections required for ENERGY STAR.
File completed Indoor AirPlus checklists with the rating files for each labeled home, following the filing requirements of the HCO/MRO or their designee. Keep Indoor AirPlus checklists with the completed ENERGY STAR verification documentation. For more information, see the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction Program Requirements.
When the checklist is completed and signed, place the Indoor AirPlusS label near the ENERGY STAR label, usually on the home utility panel. HCOs/MROs (or their designees) may obtain Indoor AirPlus label stock from the EPA during the Indoor AirPlus reporting process (see Step 6 below) or by request to Indoor_AirPlus@epa.gov. Labels and certificates may be printed by HCOs/MROs or their designees.
Indoor AirPlus Version 2 will propose a formal application for recognition for HCOs/MROs, which will include requirements for Indoor AirPlus quality assurance and training.
While Indoor AirPlus Version 1 is available, an approved ENERGY STAR HCO/MRO may voluntarily design and implement a quality assurance program for Indoor AirPlus homes.
It is the responsibility of the verifier/rater and builder associated with the home to ensure that they have met all eligibility criteria to have Indoor AirPlus labeled homes reported on their behalf. This includes having signed Indoor AirPlus Partnership Agreements in place and having met all mandatory ENERGY STAR trainings.
The ENERGY STAR HCO/MRO or their designee reports completed Indoor AirPlus projects to the EPA in conjunction with ENERGY STAR reporting. During each reporting period (January, April, July and October), ENERGY STAR HCOs or their designees report ENERGY STAR and Indoor AirPlus homes through the ENERGY STAR Homes Online Submission Tool (HOST), while MROs report directly to the EPA.
Blank label stickers can be ordered through HOST for both Indoor AirPlus and ENERGY STAR. An Indoor AirPlus label printing tool is available for HCOs/MROs or their designees to customize and print sticker labels, certificates, and optional homebuyer letters.
If you have questions about whether labeled homes have been accounted for on the ENERGY STAR Partner Locator, contact an Indoor AirPlus account manager: (Indoor_AirPlus@epa.gov)