Fillable Energy Star Qualified Homes Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist Template printable pdf download

ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes

Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist

The Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist must be completed for homes to earn the ENERGY STAR label. The

Checklist requires visual inspection of framing areas where air barriers are commonly missed and inspection of

insulation to ensure proper alignment with air barriers, thus serving as an extra check that the air and thermal

barriers are continuous and complete. State, local, and regional codes, as well as regional ENERGY STAR

program requirements, supersede the items specified in this Checklist.

Guidance on Completing the Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist:

1. Accredited HERS Providers and certified home energy raters shall use their experience and discretion in

verifying that each Inspection Checklist item is installed per the inspection guidelines (e.g., identifying

minor defects that the Provider or rater deems acceptable versus identifying major defects that undermine

the intent of the Checklist item).

2. Alternative methods of meeting the Checklist requirements may be used in completing the Checklist, if the

Provider deems them to be equivalent, or more stringent, than the Inspection Checklist guidelines.

3. In the event an item on the Checklist cannot be verified by the rater, the home cannot be qualified as

ENERGY STAR, unless the builder assumes responsibility for verifying that the item has met the

requirements of the Checklist. This option is available at the discretion of the Provider or rater but may not

be used to verify more than six (6) items on the Inspection Checklist. This responsibility will be formally

acknowledged by the builder signing-off on the Checklist for the item(s) that they verified. The column

titled “N/A” should be used when the checklist item is not present in the home or when local code

requirements take precedent.

4. The Checklist may be completed for a batch of homes using a RESNET-approved sampling protocol when

qualifying homes as ENERGY STAR. For example, if the approved sampling protocol requires rating one

in seven homes, then the Checklist will be completed for the one home which was rated.

5. In the event that a Provider or rater finds an item that is inconsistent with the Checklist Inspection

guidelines, the home cannot be qualified as ENERGY STAR until the item is corrected in a manner that

meets the ENERGY STAR requirements. If correction of the item is not possible, the home cannot earn

the ENERGY STAR label.

6. The Provider or rater is required to keep a hard copy record of the completed and signed Checklist. The

signature of a builder employee is also required if the builder verified compliance with any item on the

Checklist.

7. For purposes of this Checklist, an air barrier is defined as any solid material that blocks air flow between a

conditioned space and an unconditioned space, including necessary sealing to block excessive air flow at

edges and seams. Additional information on proper air sealing of thermal bypasses can be found on the

Building America Web site ( ) and in the EEBA Builder’s

Guides ( ). These references include guidance on identifying and sealing air barriers, as well

as details on many of the items included in the Checklist.

Energy Star Qualified Homes Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist Template