DOE HQ F 413.12 Zero Energy Ready Home Consolidated Renewable Energy Rea

DOE HQ F 413.12
(03/2015)

OMB Control #: 1910-NEW
Exp. Date XX/XX/XXXX

DOE Zero Energy Ready
Home Consolidated
Renewable Energy Ready
Checklist
DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements Mandatory Requirement 7
(Renewable Ready) shall be met by any home certified under the DOE Zero Energy Ready
Home program, only where all three conditions of the following conditions are met:
1. Location, based on zip code has at least 5 kWh/m2/day average daily solar radiation based
on annual solar insolation using PVWatts online tool:
http://gisatnrel.nrel.gov/PVWatts_Viewer/index.html AND;
2. Location does not have significant natural shading (e.g., trees, tall buildings on the southfacing roof, AND;
3. Home as designed has adequate free roof area within +/-45° of true south as noted in the
table below. Note that in some cases a house may have insufficient roof area for the Solar
Electric RERH checklist, but it may still have the minimum roof area for the solar thermal
RERH Checklist and would therefore have to comply with the Solar Thermal RERH
checklist. In other cases, the home may only have adequate south facing roof for the Solar
Electric or Solar Thermal RERH Checklist, but not both. In that case the builder can decide
which one of those two checklists to apply.
Photovoltaic
Solar Water Heating
House Size (sq. ft.)
Free South Roof Area
House Size (sq. ft.)
Free South Roof Area
< 2000
110
< 2000
40
< 4000
220
< 4000
60
< 6000
330
< 6000
80
> 6000
440
> 6000
100
If any of the above conditions are not met, the home is exempt from requirements contained in
the Consolidated RERH checklist.
Note:



If a solar photovoltaic system is included with the home, then compliance with the PV portions of the
Consolidated RERH checklist is not required.
If a solar hot water system is included with the home, then compliance with the SHW portions of the
Consolidated RERH checklist is not required.

These requirements were adapted from the EPA’s Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Photovoltaic Specification
Guide (RERHPV Guide) and EPA’s Renewable Energy Ready Home Solar Water Heating Specification Guide
(RERHSWH Guide). For further guidance on any of the above items, this checklist notes the section of the
appropriate guide. These guides can be accessed on the DOE Zero Energy Home program website at
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/pdfs/rerh_pv_guide.pdf and
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/pdfs/rerh_swh_guide.pdf.

PV

SWH

Designate a proposed array location and square footage on architectural diagram:
PV _________________ sq.ft. SWH _________________ sq.ft.
(RERHPV Guide 1.1)

(RERHSWH Guide 1.1)

Identify orientation (Azimuth) of proposed array location:
PV _____________ degrees. SWH ____________ degrees.
(RERHPV Guide 1.2)

(RERHSWH Guide 1.2)

Identify Inclination of proposed array location:
PV_______________ degrees. SWH_______________ degrees.
(RERHPV Guide 1.3)

(RERHSWH Guide 1.3)

Provide code-compliant documentation of the maximum allowable dead load and
live load ratings of the existing roof; recommended allowable dead load rating can
support an additional 6 lbs/sq. ft. for future solar system. (RERHPV Guide 2.1)
(RERHSWH Guide 2.1)

Provide architectural drawing and riser diagram of RERH solar PV system
components and solar hot water components. (RERHPV Guide 3.5) (RERHSWH Guide 3.6)
Alternative: Provide home buyer with the following information:
 List of renewable-ready features
 Available free roof area within +/- 45° of true south
 Location of panel or blocking for future mounting of PV and SWH components
 Location of Riser
 Location of Breaker or slot for future breaker in electrical service panel
 Copy of the Consolidated RERH Checklist
 A copy of the RERH Solar PV Specification Guide
 A copy of the RERH Hot Water Specification Guide
Install a 1” metal conduit for the DC wire run from the designated array location to
the designated inverter location (cap and label both ends). (RERHPV Guide 3.2)
Install a 1” metal conduit from designated inverter location to electrical service panel
(cap and label both ends). (RERHPV Guide 3.3)
Install a single 4” chase or two 2” chases from utility room to the attic space below
designated array location (cap and label both ends). (RERHSWH Guide 3.5)
Provide code-compliant documentation of the maximum allowable floor load rating
for storage tanks installed on non-concrete floors. (RERHSWH Guide 2.2)
Install and label a 4’ x 4’ plywood panel area for mounting an inverter and balance
of system components. (RERHPV Guide 3.1)
Alternative: Blocking is permitted to be used as an alternative to the 4’ x 4’ panel.
The area designated for the future panel to mount PV components shall be clearly
noted in the system documentation.
Install a 70-amp dual pole circuit breaker in the electrical service panel for use by
the PV system (label the service panel) (RERHPV Guide 3.4)
Alternative: Provide a labeled slot for a double-pole breaker in the electrical
service.
Note: Homes equipped with an ENERGY STAR qualified whole home gas tankless water heater or an ENERGY
STAR qualified heat pump water heater are exempt from the remaining provisions of the checklist.

Install and label a 3’ x 3’ x 7’ area in the utility room adjacent to the existing water
heater for solar hot water tank. (RERHSWH Guide 3.1)
Install and label a 3’ x 2’ plywood panel area adjacent to the solar hot water tank for
the balance of system components/pumping package. (RERHSWH Guide 3.2)
Alternative: Blocking is permitted to be used as an alternative to the 3’ x 2’ wood
panel area designated for the future panel to mount solar HW components shall be
clearly noted in the system documentation.
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