The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the renaming of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program to the DOE Efficient New Homes Program. This new name reflects DOE’s commitment to advancing our nation’s housing in ways that are most responsive to current and future market conditions. The program continues to be grounded in its core values. Technical requirements and the certification process remain consistent, providing builders and industry partners with continuity and confidence as they deliver homes to American families. This includes maintaining co-requisite requirements such as alignment with the appropriate ENERGY STAR for New Homes certification pathway. The DOE Efficient New Homes Program is also announcing several planned program revisions to add clarifications and flexibility. Planned clarifications and additional flexibility can be found in the following newly released program revisions: DOE Efficient New Homes Single Family Version 2 (Rev. 3) National DOE Efficient New Homes Single Family Version 2 (Rev. 2) California DOE Efficient New Homes Multifamily Version 2 (Rev. 2) National DOE Efficient New Homes Multifamily Version 2 (Rev. 2) California All documents associated with these revisions are available on the DOE Efficient New Homes program website. The Policy Record documents detail the major updates included in these revised documents and the rationale behind the changes. All the changes introduced in these revisions improve the DOE Efficient New Homes program’s flexibility and provide clarity on various program requirements. The most significant updates include: Eliminating the UA backstop for windows and maintaining an SHGC backstop for windows in warm climate zones (1-4B). (This change does not apply in California.) Allowing the latest ENERGY STAR program versions to meet the co-requisite certification requirements. Adding the 2024 IECC’s thermal conductance (TC) limit as an alternative to meeting the 2021 IECC’s UA limit for ZERH’s mandatory high-performance envelope requirement. (This change does not apply in California.) Adjusting the implementation date for the co-requisite requirement for Indoor AirPlus Version 2 certification to 1/1/2027. The name change is now in effect. These program Versions/Revisions will all be required for projects with permit dates on or after January 1, 2026, but may be used for certification effective immediately. For projects with permit dates until 12/31/2025, projects may continue to use the previous revision of each set of program requirements if desired. Because the program updates only add clarifications and flexibility, a longer phase-in period is not necessary. Each program’s documents provide detailed definitions of allowable permit dates. A required training module and quiz for Raters covering these revisions will be released at a future time.
