The purpose of this tool is to provide technical guidance related to implementing the requirements of ZERH Multifamily V2. This tool is structured to mirror the ZERH program checklists. Navigate to a specific requirement to find guidance related to that requirement (not all requirements within a checklist have associated guidance).
Please visit the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program website to access the full program checklists, learn more about the program, become a partner, find partner resources, or to find participating builders.
-
-
- 1.1 Rater completes the DOE ZERH Multifamily Version 2 National Rater Checklist.
-
- 3.1a ERI and ASHRAE paths: Ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation for the building meets specified efficiency levels from the 2021 IECC.
- 3.1b Prescriptive path: Ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation for the building meets or exceeds specified ZERH MF V2 Target Dwelling Design insulation levels in dwelling units, and specified efficiency levels from the 2021 IECC in common spaces.
- 3.2 Windows in dwelling units meet high performance requirements based on climate zone.
-
- 5.1 WaterSense labeled fixtures for dwelling unit showerheads, bath faucets, and aerators.
- 5.2 Hot water delivery systems meet stored volume criteria.
- 5.3 In-dwelling unit recirculation systems use on-demand controls.
- 5.4 Recirculating central hot water distribution systems meet pipe insulation thickness criteria.
-
- 6.1 All builder-supplied and builder-installed in-dwelling refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, and clothes dryers are ENERGY STAR certified.
- 6.2 100% of in-dwelling, builder-installed lighting fixtures and lamps are LEDs.
- 6.3 All installed bathroom ventilation fans are ENERGY STAR certified.
-
- 8.1 Provisions of the DOE ZERH Multifamily PV-Ready Checklist Version 2 are completed.
-
- 9.1 Provisions of the DOE ZERH Multifamily EV-Ready Checklist Version 2 are completed.
-
- 11.1 For units with in-unit combustion space heaters, individual branch circuit outlet is installed, or conduit is installed to facilitate future wiring for a heat pump installation. Circuit or conduit labeled as “For future heat pump.”
-
- 12.1 HPWH has direct access to manufacturer-specified volume of ambient air (typically 450 to 1200 ft3), free of major dust sources, in the space surrounding the HPWH via the mechanical room volume or use of a louvered door, wall vents, ducting, or other.
- 12.2 HPWH installation complies with the manufacturer’s minimum clearance requirements to make the unit accessible for maintenance and filter cleaning/replacement.
- 12.3 HPWH has a sound rating of ≤ 55 dBA and a louvered door is not used to separate the unit from living space, or the HPWH has a sound rating of ≤ 35 dBA when a louvered door is used.
- (12.3) Alternately, the HPWH is separated from living spaces by sound-attenuating assemblies with STC 35 or greater (i.e., by adding batt insulation to the surrounding wall assembly).
-
-
-
- 1.1 Rater has verified that builder is a registered DOE ZERH Builder Partner and identified the builder’s Partner ID.
- 1.2 Rater has verified and documented that their company has a ZERH partnership agreement using the ZERH Partner Locator.
- 1.3 Rater(s) signing checklists attest that they have completed DOE-recognized training (according to the timeline posted on the ZERH website)
- (1.3) AND are credentialed by a Home Certification Organization for ZERH (HCO for ZERH) or meet the credential requirements of a Multifamily Review Organization for ZERH (MRO for ZERH).
-
- 3.1a ERI and ASHRAE paths only: ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation for the building meets specified efficiency levels from the 2021 IECC.
- 3.1b Prescriptive path only: ceiling, wall, floor, and slab insulation for the building meets or exceeds specified ZERH MF V2 Target Dwelling Design insulation levels in dwelling units, and specified efficiency levels from the 2021 IECC in common spaces.
- 3.2 Windows in dwelling units meet high performance requirements based on climate zone.
-
- 5.1 WaterSense labeled fixtures for dwelling unit showerheads, bath faucets, and aerators.
- 5.2 Hot water delivery systems meet stored volume criteria (using Calculation or Field Verification method).
- 5.3 In-dwelling unit recirculation systems use on-demand controls.
- 5.4 Recirculating central hot water distribution systems meet pipe insulation thickness criteria.
-
- 6.1 All builder-supplied and builder-installed in-dwelling refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, and clothes dryers are ENERGY STAR certified.
- 6.2 100% of in-dwelling, builder-installed lighting fixtures and lamps are LEDs.
- 6.3 All installed bathroom ventilation fans in dwelling units are ENERGY STAR certified.
-
- 8.1 Provisions of the DOE ZERH Multifamily PV-Ready Checklist Version 2 are completed.
-
- 9.1 Provisions of the DOE ZERH Multifamily EV-Ready Checklist Version 2 are completed.
-
- 11.1 For units with in-unit combustion space heaters, individual branch circuit outlet is installed, or conduit is installed to facilitate future wiring for a heat pump installation. Circuit or conduit labeled as “For future heat pump.”
-
- Track A
- Track B
-
- 13.1 ERI Path: Dwelling unit’s ERI value ≤ DOE ZERH Target Dwelling ERI
- 13.2 ASHRAE Path: Whole building model complies and meets DOE ZERH savings target.
-
- 14.1 For ASHRAE & Prescriptive path projects, photo documentation collected that complies with ZERH Photo Documentation Guidance. For ERI path projects, photo documentation collected that complies with Rater’s HCO for ZERH’s documentation requirements.
-
-
- 1. A solar-ready zone (a section or sections of the roof or building overhang designated and reserved for the future installation of a solar PV system) is located on the roof and/or other viable building surfaces.
- Building surfaces may include awnings and the roofs of ancillary buildings including carports. For buildings with roof slopes of 4:12 or greater, solar-ready zone is located in between 110 degrees to 270 degrees of true north.
- 2. The total solar-ready zone area is not less than 40 percent of the roof area calculated as the horizontally projected gross roof area less the area covered by skylights, occupied roof decks, vegetated roof areas,
- and mandatory access or set back areas required by the International Fire Code (IFC). For buildings with roof slopes of 4:12 or greater, the solar-ready zone is not less than 40 percent of the horizontally projected gross roof area with
- an orientation between 110 degrees to 270 degrees of true north (less the area covered by skylights, occupied roof decks, vegetated roof areas and mandatory access or set back areas required by the IFC).
- 3. The solar-ready zone is either a single area or several smaller, separated sub-zone areas not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) in width in the narrowest dimension.
- 4. The solar-ready zone is free from obstructions, including pipes, vents, ducts, HVAC equipment, skylights, and roof-mounted equipment.
- 5. A collateral dead load of no less than 5 pounds per square foot (PSF) shall be included in gravity and lateral design calculations for the solar-ready zone. Structural design loads for roof dead and live load are indicated on construction documents.
- 6. Construction documents indicate pathways for routing of conduit or piping from the solar-ready zone(s) to the main electrical service panel.
- 7. The main electrical service panel has a reserved space to allow installation of a dual-pole circuit breaker for future solar electric system.
- This space is labeled “For Future Solar Electric.” The reserved space is positioned at the end of the panel that is opposite from the panel supply conductor connection.
- 8. A permanent certificate indicating the solar-ready zone and all other requirements of this checklist is posted near the electrical distribution panel or other conspicuous location by the builder or registered design professional.
-
-
- 1. Allocated parking for dwelling units in multifamily or mixed-use buildings shall be provided with an EV Capable space, EV Ready space, or EVSE space for 20% of units or automobile parking spaces, whichever is less.
- For parking that is shared by multiple buildings, see endnote. To meet this 20% threshold, the following minimum types of spaces are provided:
- • 10% of the total (based on units or automobile parking spaces) must be EVSE spaces
- • The remaining 10% of the total may be any combination of EVSE, EV Capable, or EV Ready spaces
- The number of required compliant spaces shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
- Townhouses certifying under the ZERH Multifamily V2 program must meet alternative EV Ready requirements. Advisory: DOE intends to raise the percentages of EVSE, EV Ready, and EV Capable spaces in a future program update.
-
-
2. All EV Capable spaces comply with the following:
- 2a. A continuous raceway or cable assembly is installed between an enclosure or outlet located within 3 feet of the EV Capable space and electrical distribution equipment. The following exceptions to the 3 feet requirement apply:
- • Parking spots in a covered garage are deemed EV-Capable if the conduit terminates anywhere within the garage on that parking level.
- • Projects with a common area electrical room may have the conduit terminate anywhere within the electrical room.
- 2b. Installed raceway or cable assembly is sized and rated to supply a minimum circuit capacity as described Item 5 below.
- 2c. The electrical distribution equipment to which the raceway or cable assembly connects has dedicated overcurrent protection device space and electrical capacity to supply a calculated load as described in Item 5 below.
- 2d. The enclosure or outlet and the electrical distribution equipment directory is marked: "For electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)."
-
2. All EV Capable spaces comply with the following:
-
-
3. All EV Ready spaces comply with the following:
- 3a. Branch circuits serving EV Ready spaces terminate at an outlet or enclosure, located within 3 feet of each EV Ready space it serves.
- 3b. Branch circuits serving EV Ready spaces have a system and circuit capacity as described in Item 5, below.
- 3c. The electrical distribution equipment directory designates the branch circuit as "For electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)"
-
3. All EV Ready spaces comply with the following:
-
-
4. Each EVSE installed to meet the minimum required quantity of EVSE spaces shall comply with the following. An installed EVSE with multiple output connections is permitted to serve multiple EVSE spaces and shall comply with the following:
- 4a. Have a minimum system and circuit capacity as described in Item 5, below.
- 4b. Have a nameplate rating not less than 6.2 kilowatts per EVSE space served.
- 4c. Be located within 3 feet of each EVSE space it serves.
- 4d. Installed EVSE equipment is listed and labeled in accordance with UL 2202 or UL 2594.
-
4. Each EVSE installed to meet the minimum required quantity of EVSE spaces shall comply with the following. An installed EVSE with multiple output connections is permitted to serve multiple EVSE spaces and shall comply with the following:
-
-
5. The system and circuit capacity of electrical infrastructure serving each EV Capable space, EV Ready space, and EVSE space shall comply with the following:
-
5a. The electrical distribution equipment supplying the branch circuit(s) serving each EV capable space, EV ready space, and EVSE space shall comply with one of the following:
- 5a.1 For spaces not controlled by an energy management system: Have a calculated load of 7.2 kVA or the nameplate rating of the equipment, whichever is larger.
- 5a.2 For spaces controlled by an energy management system:
- The max equipment load on the electrical distribution equipment supplying the branch circuit(s) serving spaces controlled by an energy management system shall be the max load permitted by the energy management system, but not less than 3.3 kVA per space.
-
5b. The branch circuit serving each EV capable space, EV ready space, and EVSE space shall comply with 5b.1 or 5b.2:
- 5b.1 Have a rated capacity not less than 50 amperes or the nameplate rating of the equipment, whichever is greater.
-
5b.2 Each branch circuit serving multiple EVSE spaces, EV ready spaces, or EV capable spaces controlled by an energy management system shall comply with 5b.2.1 or 5b.2.2:
- 5b.2.1 Have a minimum capacity of 25 amperes per space.
- 5b.2.2 Have a minimum capacity of 20 amperes per space for residential occupancies when all automobile parking spaces are EV ready spaces or EVSE spaces.
-
5a. The electrical distribution equipment supplying the branch circuit(s) serving each EV capable space, EV ready space, and EVSE space shall comply with one of the following:
-
5. The system and circuit capacity of electrical infrastructure serving each EV Capable space, EV Ready space, and EVSE space shall comply with the following:
-