Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) Program

DOE HQ F 413.4
(07/2023)

OMB Control #:1910-5184
Exp. Date: 07/31/2023

U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready
Home™

LENDER PARTNER AGREEMENT

This agreement is administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in support of DOE Zero Energy
Ready Home™ program. It is being coordinated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ENERGY STAR™ Certified Home and Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) high-performance home labeling
programs. This is only an agreement between DOE and the Lending Partner, and therefore does not entitle
Lender Partners to use the logos of any programs except DOE Zero Energy Ready Home.

U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home ........................................................................ 3

Terms of the Agreement........................................................................................................................ 3

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Program Definitions and Eligible Organizations ................................................................................ 3

General terms and commitments made between DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program and
Lender Partners..................................................................................................................................... 4

DOE’s Commitments to DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Lender Partners....................................... 4

Lender Partner Commitments............................................................................................................ 4

General Terms and Conditions.......................................................................................................... 5

Dispute Resolution............................................................................................................................. 6

Entry into Force and Duration of Agreement ..................................................................................... 6

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Instructions for Partnering with U.S. Department of Energy
Organizations interested in partnering with DOE Zero Energy Ready Home™ as a Lender Partner should take
the following steps:
1. Review the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements,
 this Partnership
Agreement, and the Guidelines for Correctly Using the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Name and
Logo.
2. Register at http://www4.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/register by entering your contact
information online. There must be an authorized signature to accept the terms of the agreement.
Additional contacts may be added.
•

Select “Lender” as organization type. Then select lender type from the following: Local lender, local
branch of regional or national lender, regional or national lender with multiple branches.

•

IMPORTANT: You must read and agree to the terms and conditions stated in the Lender Partner
Agreement. Click on the toggle next to “I have read and agree to the terms and conditions stated in
the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Lender Partner Agreement.” This serves as your electronic
signature. You may access the Partnership Agreement online at any time by logging into your
account.

•

Upload your logo for display in the partner locator tool.

•

Choose all states in which you conduct business and are offering these services for locator tool
searches. Do not choose a state if you are a national lender, but not offering these services in that
specific state. Do not choose a state if you are a local branch of a larger lender, but only making a
commitment for the local branch.

•

Click register. You will receive an email with a login password asking you to confirm your
participation.

•

Your registration will be reviewed by DOE Zero Energy Ready Home staff. Once approved, you are
entered into the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home database and are considered a Partner. Your
contact information will go live on the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home locator. You may use your
password to login anytime to change contact information or remove yourself from the program.

3. Start facilitating Green Mortgage Appraisal services with loans for homes certified under the DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home, EPA ENERGY STAR Certified Home, and PHIUS programs.
Note: the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home was formerly known as the DOE Challenge Home. Any
certification under the DOE Challenge Home should be deemed equivalent with certification under the
DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program.

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U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home
Terms of the Agreement
LENDER PARTNER AGREEMENT
Introduction

Through this agreement, the registered organization (“Partner") joins in partnership with the Department of
Energy (DOE). Partners recognize that by accepting this agreement, they are expected to facilitate green
mortgage appraisals to certified homes under the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, EPA ENERGY STAR
Certified Home, and PHIUS programs (Certified Homes). Certified Homes offer leading builders a timely
solution for differentiating their product from existing homes as well as minimum code new homes. The DOE
Zero Energy Ready Home label recognizes high-performance homes that are so energy efficient most or all
annual energy consumption can be offset with renewable energy. The ENERGY STAR Certified Home label
recognizes homes that are significantly more efficient than code and include comprehensive building science
measures. The PHIUS label recognizes homes that are super-efficient and highly resilient. Lenders who
become Partners will make it easier to finance homes with lower risk because these homes are built to much
more rigorous standards than minimum code and afford occupants significantly lower operation costs.

Program
 Definitions
 and
 Eligible
 Organizations

1. Eligible organizations: Lender partners may be any person or entity that offers mortgage services for
residential properties.
2. Definitions:
a. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home is a home that meets all of the criteria found in the DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements set forth in Exhibit A. DOE Zero Energy
Ready Homes are verified by a qualified third-party and are at least 40%-50% more energy
efficient than a typical new home. This generally corresponds to a Home Energy Rating System
(HERS) Index Score in the low to mid-50s, depending on the size of the home and region in
which it is built.
b. Green Mortgage Appraisal Services are services that ensure a green appraiser and hand-off
of the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum to the green appraiser for
consideration in the valuation of a home as described in this Partner agreement.
c. Green Appraiser is an appraiser who is listed by the Appraisal Institute under the Valuation of
Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program1 (see
http://www.myappraisalinstitute.org/findappraiser/green_sustainability_residential.aspx)
d. Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum – form developed by the Appraisal Institute
intended to help value features of a green or energy efficient home.2
e. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Logo distinguishes certified homes as being among the top
performing homes in the nation.
f. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certificate is automatically generated from compliance
software. It includes energy savings information as well as a HERS Index Score.

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DOE will consider other equivalent green appraiser programs or certifications as presented by other organizations
DOE will consider alternate equivalent green appraisal forms as presented by other organizations. The Addendum can
be found at http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/education-resources/green-building-resources/.

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General terms and commitments made between DOE Zero Energy
Ready Home Program and Lender Partners
DOE’s
 Commitments
 to
 DOE
 Zero
 Energy
 Ready
 Home
 Lender
 Partners

1. DOE will work to increase awareness of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home program as the trusted
government-backed symbol for zero net-energy ready homes.
2. DOE will provide Partners with timely program updates, information, and resources via the DOE web
sites, webinars, newsletters, e-mail, and presentations.
3. DOE will provide Partners with recognition for their participation in the program through vehicles such
as the DOE website, outreach, and other media.
4. DOE will provide participants with access to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Partner logos. The US
Department of Energy retains rights to the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home names, logos and labels.
Use and reproduction of the logo and graphic without specific authorization and full compliance with
Guidelines for Correctly Using the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Name and Logo for the DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home are prohibited.
5. DOE will respond swiftly to any requests for information or clarification on program policies.
6. DOE does not provide warrantee and cannot be held liable for deficiencies resulting from the proper or
improper application of program guidelines.

Lender
 Partner
 Commitments

1. For Certified Homes (see National Program Requirements), the Partner will facilitate the following
green mortgage appraisal services:
• Select an appraiser for the appraisal of the home who is listed by the Appraisal Institute under the
Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program3 (see
http://www.myappraisalinstitute.org/findappraiser/green_sustainability_residential.aspx).
• Hand-off of the completed Appraisal Institute’s Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum4
from the Certified Home partner to the appraiser to assist the appraiser in taking account of the
energy efficient features in the valuation of the home.
• Provide DOE an Annual report documenting the number of transactions where green mortgage
appraisal services were provided in total and individually for homes certified under the DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home, ENERGY STAR Certified Home, and PHIUS programs.
2. The lender will facilitate the above green mortgage appraisal services whenever presented with the
following documentation:
• A DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Certificate (DOE Challenge Home Certificate allowed as a
substitute), ENERGY STAR Certified Home Certificate, or PHIUS certificate AND
• A Completed Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum (see
http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/education-resources/green-building-resources/).

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DOE will consider other equivalent green appraiser programs or certifications as presented by other organizations.
DOE will consider alternate equivalent green appraisal forms as presented by other organizations.

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3. Partner shall continue to facilitate green mortgage appraisal services to remain an active Lender
Partner and be eligible to use the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Lender Partner logo and name.
Partner will be removed from the Partner list and discontinue use Lender Partner logo and name when
facilitation of green mortgage appraisal services is discontinued as verified by a DOE spot-checking
process. Partner will maintain an updated Partner Profile listing locations where green mortgage
services are available.
4. Partner shall follow Guidelines for Correctly Using the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Name and Logo
when using DOE Zero Energy Ready Home name, logo and/or any other associated marketing
materials in conjunction with any products or services. They are not entitled to use the logos for
ENERGY STAR Certified Home or PHIUS.

5. Partner will publicize link to green mortgage appraisal services available for DOE Zero Energy Ready
Homes, EPA ENERGY STAR Certified Home, and PHIUS certified homes and will make staff available
who can facilitate these services.

General
 Terms
 and
 Conditions

1. This agreement is voluntary and may be amended by written agreement between the parties. This
agreement may be terminated by either party upon reasonable written notice to the other party.
2. Partners will assume good faith as a general principle for resolving conflicts that may arise in relation to
their program partnership and will seek to resolve all matters to preserve maximum public confidence in
DOE and the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program.
3. Partners shall not construe, claim, or imply that participation in the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home
program constitute DOE approval, acceptance, or endorsement of anything other than Partners’
participation in the DOE ZERO Energy Ready Home program. Partnership does not constitute federal
government endorsement of the Partner, its products, or services.
4. Partners understand that the activities undertaken in connection with the DOE Zero Energy Ready
Home are voluntary and not intended to provide services to the federal government. As such, Partners
may not submit claims for compensation to any federal agency in regards to activities related to the
Agreement.
5. Partners must adhere to the Guidelines for Correctly Using the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Name
and Logo and ensure that authorized representatives, such as advertising agencies, distributors, and
subcontractors, also comply.
6. Qualification of a home to earn the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home label shall not be used by Partners
to guarantee that it is structurally sound or safe, constructed in accordance with applicable laws,
regulations or codes, free of mold or mildew, free of volatile organic compounds or allergens, or free of
soil gases, including radon.
7. This Agreement is strictly for internal purposes for each of the parties. It is not legally enforceable and
shall not be construed to create any legal obligation on the part of either party. This agreement shall
not be construed to provide a private right or cause of action for or by any person or entity.

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Dispute
 Resolution

Partner and DOE will assume good faith as a general principle for resolving conflicts under the DOE Zero
Ready Energy Home programs. Both parties will endeavor to resolve all matters informally, so as to preserve
maximum public confidence in the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home. Parties agree to seek to mutually resolve
any matter in dispute. The agreement may be terminated by reasonable advance written notice of intent by
either party.

Entry
 into
 Force
 and
 Duration
 of
 Agreement

Both parties concur that this agreement and the terms outlined in the supporting documents, including DOE
Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements and Guidelines for Correctly Using the DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home Name and Logo, will be effective when signed electronically by both parties. By
completing the registration, you are electronically signing this agreement, and, as an official representative of
your organization, you agree to these terms. By electronically approving your registration, DOE agrees to the
terms of this partnership.
The duration of this agreement is one year from DOE’s approval of your online registration. The agreement
must be maintained with activity and must be renewed annually. Activity is defined as facilitating green
mortgage appraisal services in compliance with the terms in this agreement.

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