Minnesota’s Green Path is lighting the way to energy-efficient homes of the future. Testing nearly 5,000 new construction homes per year, the Green Path certification program gives homeowners a clear understanding a home’s energy performance. With rigorous standards and independent, third-party raters, you can be confident in Green Path certifications.
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Green Path offers three certification levels for homes —Energy Tested, Advanced Certified, and Master Certified — each receiving a HomePerformance Report. Homes are rated on five main categories: energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, resource management in construction, water management, and land use. Raters walk through their checklist and look for things like quality insulation, seals, and foundation; use of solar power or energy-efficient appliances; air quality and flow; and use of recycled materials to name a few.
Once a home receives certification, Home Performance Reports(HPRs) reveal energy efficiency scores in an easy-to-understand format — an essential tool in your homebuying journey. Minnesota’s Green Path goal is to breakdown the barriers of understanding how a high-performance home offers superior comfort, lower utility costs, and reduced environmental impact.
Advanced Certification is where homes truly start to differentiate themselves in the realm of energy efficiency. To achieve this level, homes must incorporate enhanced insulation, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and superior windows and doors, among other features. This results in a lower HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index score, reflecting significant energy savings. The Advanced certification is ideal for builders and homeowners committed to exceeding the norm and investing in long-term efficiency and sustainability.
The Parade of Homes is proud to feature 23 AdvancedCertified homes on the fall tour. These homes represent a commitment to higher standards in comfort, sustainability, and long-term cost-savings.
As a part of Xcel Energy’s commitment to green building, ithas teamed up with Minnesota’s Green Path to recognize new homes that go aboveand beyond in energy efficiency. Xcel Energy covers the $79 Advanced and MasterCertification application fees for builders that build in their territory andachieve Advanced or Master certification on their homes. Learn more >>
