When a house is listed for sale in Colorado, the seller can fill out a green disclosure form to indicate what "green" or environmentally friendly qualities the house has. Many of the terms on the form are specific terms, often abbreviated, that may be unclear. Let's go over them and discuss what they mean.
The first item asks a seller to indicate whether or not the house has been optimized under the "Home Performance with ENERGY STAR" program. "Optimizing" means that an authorized contractor carefully evaluates the house and makes recommendations designed for "whole house" efficiency. Then the seller makes a series of improvements in a specific order, so that the changes work together.
For example, the first improvement could be to seal air leaks and add insulation. This breaks down into two tasks: sealing air leaks, such as leaks in the attic floor, before adding insulation. Leaks must be sealed first so that insulation isn't filled with warm, moist air from elsewhere in the house. The consequences of moisture in attic insulation can include decreased efficiency, mold, roof rot, and ice dams on the roof.
Once leaks have been sealed and insulation has been improved, the second recommended improvement might be to upgrade old heating and cooling systems to ENERGY STAR appliances, when possible.
You can see a full example at the ENERGY STAR "What to Expect" page. You can also check out
the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR for Homeowners page and find out whether this program is available in your area.
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