ENERGY STAR® Partnership Agreement

For ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation (QI) Program Partners	



Mail this form to:

ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Program Manager

US EPA (Mail Code 6202J)

1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC  20460

	

Or	Fax this form to:

202-343-2200



	

Organization
Name:___________________________________________________________________
_________________

Address:________________________________________________City/State/Zip:_
________________________________

Telephone:_________________________ Fax:__________________________ Web
Site: ___________________________

Major Area(s) Served: 
________________________________________________________________________
_________





Authorized Company/Organization Representative (printed name):
_____________________________________

Title: __________________________________________  E-mail:
________________________________________________

Signature:  ________________________________________________________ 
Date:  ____________________________

 



To be completed by U.S. EPA: 

Kathleen Hogan; Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division, US
Environmental Protection Agency

 Signature:  ________________________________________________________ 
Date:  __________________________





ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Program Goals 

ENERGY STAR helps consumers, businesses, and public organizations
protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. 

The ENERGY STAR HVAC QI program seeks to improve HVAC installation
practices to deliver greater energy efficiency and comfort to consumers
and to provide energy efficiency program strategies to utilities.  

Note:

The ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Program is applicable to installations of
central air conditioning (CAC) systems and air-source heat pump (HP)
systems, with a rated capacity up to 65,000 BTU/H. 

Program requirements may be used for replacement systems in existing
homes and for new construction.  Installation requirements for new
construction are more stringent than for replacement systems.

If the home has multiple zones that require multiple HVAC systems, each
system must be verified as a separate unit.

Although the ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Program does not require contractors to
install ENERGY STAR qualified equipment we strongly encourage program
partners to promote ENERGY STAR qualified equipment in tandem with
quality installation.





ENERGY STAR Commitments to Partners

Increase awareness of the ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation Program
by distributing key messages on the benefits of proper installation
practices and verification.

Provide current ENERGY STAR news, information, and reference documents
(via the ENERGY STAR Web site, Hotline, e-mail or other means).

Provide ENERGY STAR partners with public recognition for their
involvement in ENERGY STAR.

Respond swiftly to any partner request for information or clarification
on ENERGY STAR policies.





For the purpose of this agreement the following terms are defined as
follows:

ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) facilitates the
development of American National Standards by accrediting the procedures
of standards developing organizations.  Accreditation by ANSI signifies
that the procedures used by the standards body in connection with the
development of American National Standards meet the Institute’s
essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process.


ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Guidelines

Requirements for installations under the program must meet the ACCA HVAC
Quality Installation Specification standard or equivalent standard
approved by EPA.

Level 1 Verification

Level 1verification is a data review of Manual J calculations and
commissioning report, and does not include in-field verification.  The
data review will include confirming that all required installation
elements were performed using an approved method and check for data
inconsistencies   

Level 2 Verification

Level 2 verification is an in-field verification of the installation
that follows established protocols.



Terms of the Agreement:

The following are the terms of the ENERGY STAR Partnership Agreement as
it pertains to ENERGY STAR HVAC Quality Installation (QI) Program
Partners.  The ENERGY STAR Partner under HVAC QI is defined as a program
sponsor who agrees to the following commitments, and is legally
independent from contractors performing installations and third-party
verifiers verifying installations under this program.

The ENERGY STAR Partner may issue an ENERGY STAR Quality Installation
Certificate for a central air conditioning (CAC) system or an air-source
heat pump (HP) system, with a rated capacity up to 65,000 BTU/H, if the
following criteria are met:

The participating contractor has signed a participation agreement with
the ENERGY STAR Partner implementing the program.

The participation agreement between the contractor and the ENERGY STAR
partner must include at a minimum:

Entry and training requirements

Installation requirements

Documentation requirements

Sampling and verification requirements

A conflict resolution process

A process for dismissal from the program if the terms of the
participation agreement are not adhered to

The CAC or HP system is installed by a technician working as or for a
state licensed contractor, where a license is required.

The CAC or HP system is verified to meet the ENERGY STAR HVAC QI
Guidelines by an eligible and qualified third party verifier.

The criteria for meeting the ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Guidelines are
established by:

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s (ACCA) HVAC Quality
Installation Specification or comparable ANSI-recognized, HVAC
specification related to the proper installation of residential and
commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

To be considered eligible under the program the third party verifier
must:

Be an autonomous organization/individual with no financial or ownership
connections to the contractors participating in the program

Demonstrate knowledge and ability to verify each element of the ENERGY
STAR HVAC QI Guidelines 

 





Terms of the Agreement (Continued):

Sampling Rates and Verification Protocols.

The program requires that all partners meet, at a minimum, the following
sampling rates on verifications, or offer an alternate verification
schedule for EPA approval.  All sites must receive a Level 1
verification:

Phase 1 - Level 2 verification protocols will be conducted on 3 of the
first 5 installations submitted by a new contractor participant.  

Phase 2 – Level 2 verification protocols will be conducted on 20% of
the next 25 installation submittals.  

Phase 3 – After successful completion of Phase 1 and 2 the partner may
use Level 2 verification protocols at a rate of 5%.  

A contractor is not eligible to move to the next phase, or lower
sampling rate, until they can demonstrate to the Program Partner that
they are consistently meeting all program requirement and technical
standards.

If a contractor fails a Level 2 verification they will be required to
move to a phase with a higher verification sampling rate.  

All of the installations submitted to the Partner under the program must
be verified using the sampling rates above.  

All Installation must be verified using the verification protocols
outlined in the ENERGY STAR HVAC QI Program Plan document

The Partner has submitted a detailed implementation plan to EPA
describing how they will implement sections 1 through 4 of this
agreement.  The Partner may not proceed with the program until this plan
has been approved by EPA.





Other Partner requirements under this agreement:

Provide EPA, on a quarterly basis, market indicators to assist in
determining the effects of the program in promoting quality HVAC
installations.  EPA will only use the data for program evaluation
purposes.  The following data should be submitted in electronic format:

Number of participating contractors

Number of installations performed

Number of installations inspected

Number of installations failing verification

Number of certificates issued

Reasons for installation failures and the action that was taken to
resolve the problem

 

Adhere to the ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines (available at   HYPERLINK
"http://www.energystar.gov/marks"  www.energystar.gov/marks ) and ensure
that authorized representatives, such as advertising agencies also
comply.

Prior to use, submit all marketing materials developed for Partner’s
ENERGY STAR promotions to ENERGY STAR for review to ensure accuracy of
ENERGY STAR logo use and consistency of the ENERGY STAR message. 
Partner will allow a minimum of five full working days for ENERGY STAR
to review and approve ENERGY STAR aspects of the marketing materials.

Notify EPA of a change in the designated responsible party or contacts
within 30 days.





General Terms and Disclaimers

The partner will not construe, claim or imply that its participation in
ENERGY STAR constitutes federal government approval, acceptance, or
endorsement of anything other than the partner’s commitment to ENERGY
STAR.  Partnership does not constitute federal government endorsement of
the partner or its services. 

The partner understands that the activities it undertakes in connection
with ENERGY STAR are voluntary and not intended to provide services to
the federal government.  As such, the partner will not submit a claim
for compensation to any federal agency.

The partner and ENERGY STAR will assume good faith as a general
principle for resolving conflict and will seek to resolve all matters
informally, so as to preserve maximum public confidence in ENERGY STAR.

This agreement is voluntary and can be terminated by either party at any
time or any reason, with no penalty.

Failure to comply with any of the terms of this partnership agreement
can result in its termination and cessation of access to the benefits of
ENERGY STAR, including use of the marks.

ENERGY STAR will actively pursue resolution of noncompliance related to
the use of the ENERGY STAR marks.





           HVAC QI			    06/05/2008

OMB Control No. xxxx-xxxx

EPA Form 5900-183

The government estimates the average time needed to fill out this form
is 1.50 hours and welcomes suggestions for reducing this effort. Send
comments (referencing OMB Control Number) to the Director, Collection
Strategies Division, U.S. EPA (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
Washington, D.C. 20460.

