Indoor airPLUS

Indoor airPLUS General Partnership Terms and Commitments

Updated: August 1, 2016

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EPA Commitments to Indoor airPLUS Partners

  • Increase awareness of the Indoor airPLUS label by distributing key messages on the benefits of Indoor airPLUS qualified homes.
  • Provide Indoor airPLUS partners with public recognition for their involvement in Indoor airPLUS and role in protecting human health and the environment through the online ENERGY STAR New Homes Partner Locator tool, the Indoor airPLUS web site, special awards, and/or other media.
  • Provide current Indoor airPLUS news, information, and reference documents (via the Indoor airPLUS website, email or other means).
  • Promptly assist any partner with requests for information or clarification on Indoor airPLUS policies.
  • EPA will maintain the integrity of the Indoor airPLUS marks and take all possible steps to deter their misuse.

Indoor airPLUS Homebuilder Partner Commitments

  1. Use the partnership and the Indoor airPLUS label to promote indoor air quality as an easy and desirable option for new homebuyers to help protect their health and the environment.
  2. Adhere to the Indoor airPLUS Promotional Guidelines and ensure that authorized representatives, such as advertising agencies, distributors, and subcontractors, also comply.
  3. Maintain current ENERGY STAR Certified Homes partnership and complete required ENERGY STAR trainings.
  4. To maintain an active partnership, partner must have at least one home built and qualified to earn the Indoor airPLUS label, and reported to EPA by an accredited Home Energy Rating Provider partner, in the preceding 12-month period (24 months for small volume builders).
    1. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the partner will be deemed ’inactive,’ will no longer have access to program benefits, and must promptly cease its use of the Indoor airPLUS name and Marks in all applications.
    2. To re-activate the partnership, the organization must review the most recent program requirements and Terms and Commitments of this AGREEMENT found at http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/join-indoor-airplus-program and have at least one home qualified to earn the Indoor airPLUS label reported to EPA by an accredited Home Energy Rating Provider partner.
  5. Clearly inform homebuyers when their new homes have qualified for the Indoor airPLUS label and be able to describe the features and benefits of these Indoor airPLUS qualified homes. For each qualified home, provide the homeowner with an Indoor airPLUS label affixed to the home’s electrical panel (or other suitable location) as well as an Indoor airPLUS certificate.
  6. Partner understands that EPA periodically updates the Indoor airPLUS program requirements and will provide notice to partners before the effective date of the amendment.
  7. Partner is responsible for monitoring EPA’s communications about the program and the ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS websites and will incorporate any program changes into its activities.
  8. Upon request, partner must provide EPA with relevant documentation regarding any home or homes qualified as Indoor airPLUS (or potentially represented to homebuyers as such), including, but not limited to, Home Energy Rating (HERS) reports, ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS inspection checklists, and promotional materials.
    1. If EPA determines that a home has been improperly qualified as Indoor airPLUS, partner will take necessary actions to resolve the deficiencies documented by EPA in a timely manner.
    2. If the partner is unable to document that a home has been properly built and verified to meet program requirements, the Indoor airPLUS label must be removed from the home, as well as any other promotional materials that imply that the home is qualified.
  9. If the partner fails to comply with any of the Terms and Commitments of this AGREEMENT, uses the Indoor airPLUS marks improperly, or is found to have other documented infractions pertaining to the rating and verification of homes, their partnership may be terminated.

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Home Energy Rater/Rating Provider Partner Commitments

  1. Use the partnership and the Indoor airPLUS label to promote indoor air quality as an easy and desirable option for new homebuyers to help protect their health and the environment.
  2. Adhere to the Indoor airPLUS Promotional Guidelines and ensure that authorized representatives, such as advertising agencies, distributors, and subcontractors, also comply.
  3. Maintain current ENERGY STAR Certified Homes partnership and complete any required ENERGY STAR trainings if applicable.
  4. Submit quarterly reports to EPA through Homes Online Submission Tool (HOST), specifying the number of homes verified as meeting Indoor airPLUS construction specifications (Rating Providers only).
  5. Home Energy Rater partners must ensure that homes are reported to EPA in a timely fashion in coordination with a Rating Provider, that a completed Indoor airPLUS certificate is provided to the builder, and that an Indoor airPLUS qualification label is provided to the builder to be affixed to the circuit breaker box (or other suitable location) of all homes that meet the Indoor airPLUS program requirements.
  6. To maintain an active partnership, partner must qualify at least one home to earn the Indoor airPLUS label and home must be reported to EPA by an accredited Home Energy Rating Provider partner, in the preceding 12-month period.
    1. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the partner will be deemed ’inactive,’ will no longer have access to program benefits, and must promptly cease its use of the Indoor airPLUS name and Marks in all applications.
    2. To re-activate the partnership, the organization must review the most recent program requirements and Terms and Commitments of this AGREEMENT found at http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/join-indoor-airplus-program and have at least one home qualified to earn the Indoor airPLUS label reported to EPA by an accredited Home Energy Rating Provider partner.
  7. Partner understands that EPA periodically updates the Indoor airPLUS program requirements and will provide notice to partners before the effective date of the amendment.
  8. Partner is responsible for monitoring EPA’s communications about the program and the ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS websites and will incorporate any program changes into its activities.
  9. Upon request, partner must provide EPA with relevant documentation regarding any home or homes qualified as Indoor airPLUS (or potentially represented to homebuyers as such), including, but not limited to, Home Energy Rating (HERS) reports, ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS inspection checklists, and promotional materials.
    1. If EPA determines that a home has been improperly qualified as Indoor airPLUS, partner will take necessary actions to resolve the deficiencies documented by EPA in a timely manner.
    2. If the partner is unable to document that a home has been properly built and verified to meet program requirements, the Indoor airPLUS label must be removed from the home, as well as any other promotional materials that imply that the home is qualified.
  10. If the partner fails to comply with any of the Terms and Commitments of this AGREEMENT, uses the Indoor airPLUS marks improperly, or is found to have other documented infractions pertaining to the rating of homes (e.g. suspension by VOO), their partnership may be terminated.

Indoor airPLUS Partnership Agreement - General Terms and Disclaimers

  1. The partner will not construe, claim, or imply that its participation in Indoor airPLUS constitutes federal government approval, acceptance, or endorsement of anything other than the partner’s commitment to Indoor airPLUS. Partnership does not constitute federal government endorsement of the partner or its homes or services.
  2. The partner understands that the activities it undertakes in connection with Indoor airPLUS 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.
  3. The partner will not imply that homes built to Indoor airPLUS program requirements will necessarily improve the health of the occupants or that specific health outcomes will be guaranteed as a result of purchasing an Indoor airPLUS labeled home.
  4. The partner and EPA 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 Indoor airPLUS.
  5. This agreement is voluntary and can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason, with no penalty.
  6. Failure to comply with any of the terms of this Partnership Agreement can result in its termination and suspension of access to the benefits of Indoor airPLUS, including use of the marks.
  7. EPA will actively pursue resolution of noncompliance related to the use of the Indoor airPLUS marks.

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