ENERGY STAR® NextGen Certified Homes: Setting a New Standard for Residential Efficiency

By HRCNN – Hampton Roads Construction News Network Staff Writer

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled the ENERGY STAR® NextGen Certified Homes Program, an advanced designation aimed at reshaping the future of energy-efficient residential construction. Building upon the proven success of the original ENERGY STAR for Homes certification, the NextGen label introduces more stringent performance criteria, modernized technical requirements, and integrated pathways to achieve net zero-ready status. This initiative reflects a broader national strategy to reduce carbon emissions, enhance grid resilience, and provide lasting energy savings for homeowners.

ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes are designed to meet a new tier of environmental performance by incorporating high-efficiency HVAC systems, smart home technologies, electric-ready infrastructure, and enhanced thermal enclosures. The program mandates independent third-party verification and performance testing to ensure rigorous quality control across all construction phases. By aligning design and construction standards with evolving federal climate goals, the NextGen program positions builders and contractors at the forefront of compliance and consumer trust in the clean energy era.

For builders and contractors operating within the Hampton Roads region, the NextGen certification framework offers a distinct market differentiator. As municipalities across the Commonwealth of Virginia increasingly prioritize climate-resilient growth, ENERGY STAR NextGen homes provide a compliant and future-ready housing typology. Furthermore, this designation may help contractors meet or exceed local and regional energy codes, secure utility incentives, and qualify for potential federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The implications for permitting, zoning, and long-term site performance are substantial. ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes are not merely efficient—they are forward-thinking infrastructure investments that reduce community strain on electrical grids and water systems. By designing for electrification-readiness, builders and contractors help future-proof housing stock against grid instability and prepare communities for an anticipated expansion of renewable energy sources. Additionally, improved indoor air quality and envelope tightness align with public health standards and tenant protections now emphasized in many Virginia jurisdictions.

From a consumer perspective, ENERGY STAR NextGen homes deliver verified energy savings, improved comfort, and lower utility bills—all underpinned by the EPA’s trusted certification mark. As awareness grows among homebuyers and policymakers alike, certified builders and contractors gain a reputational advantage for delivering homes that prioritize both performance and sustainability. In a housing market increasingly driven by transparency and accountability, ENERGY STAR NextGen represents a legally defensible and environmentally responsible certification for residential construction professionals.

Earthly Infrastructure® Building and Infrastructure Development Inc., a proud ENERGY STAR® Partner, actively supports the deployment of certified homebuilding standards across Virginia. This formal partnership was established under the leadership of company founder Eric S. Cavallo, who remains committed to aligning Earthly Infrastructure’s mission with nationally recognized energy performance goals. As a regional advocate for high-efficiency and climate-resilient construction, Earthly Infrastructure® continues to promote ENERGY STAR initiatives through its projects, educational outreach, and the Hampton Roads Construction News Network.

Redesigning the Footprint: How Environmental Site Design Is Shaping Smarter, Safer Development Across Virginia

By Eric S. Cavallo
Founder, Earthly Infrastructure® | Advisor, Virginia DHCD | Board Member, VB BZA

Chesapeake, VA – July 2025
As the Commonwealth faces rising development pressure alongside increasing environmental risk, Virginia builders and planners are being asked to do more than just meet minimum code. They’re being called to design with nature, not against it.

Enter Environmental Site Design (ESD)—an integrated planning strategy that places stormwater site design and open space development at the center of project success. As Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations tighten and public expectations rise, ESD is no longer a niche innovation—it’s the foundation of responsible land use.

“In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, how we plan a site is just as important as what we build on it,” said Eric S. Cavallo, founder of Earthly Infrastructure® and advisor to Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development. “Stormwater can’t be treated as an afterthought. It’s the design driver.”

What Is Environmental Site Design?

Environmental Site Design (ESD), also referred to as low-impact development (LID), emphasizes natural systems and minimal disturbance from the outset of a project. The goal is to manage stormwater at the source, reduce runoff volume, and maintain pre-development hydrology.

Core ESD principles include:

• Stormwater Site Design:
  Techniques such as bioswales, rain gardens, infiltration basins, and permeable pavements slow, filter, and absorb runoff close to where it falls. This helps meet VSMP and SWPPP requirements under Virginia’s Stormwater Management Regulations.

• Open Space Development:
  By clustering buildings, reducing roadway footprints, and preserving vegetated buffers, developers can maintain large portions of undisturbed open space. This not only reduces impervious surface coverage, but provides community access to trails, parks, and natural viewsheds.

• Minimizing Land Disturbance:
  Grading only where necessary and preserving native soil and tree cover helps prevent erosion and sedimentation downstream—benefiting both project budgets and the Bay.

“These are not add-ons. They are fundamental planning decisions that influence everything from stormwater credits to market appeal,” Cavallo said.

Why ESD Matters in Virginia

Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Stormwater Management Program make clear that controlling pollution at the lot level is non-negotiable. Any land-disturbing activity over one acre—or within a Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area (RPA)—must include a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that demonstrates runoff reduction and sediment control.

ESD practices are often the most cost-effective path to compliance. For example:

• Reducing impervious surfaces can lower the cost of underground detention systems.

• Maintaining open space may help meet local overlay or zoning bonus requirements.

• On-site stormwater features can reduce the burden on municipal infrastructure and avoid offsite nutrient credits.

More Than Compliance—A Competitive Edge

Developers and builders who adopt ESD are increasingly gaining faster approvals, community goodwill, and long-term operational savings. In places like Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk, where drainage and flooding are constant concerns, projects that incorporate ESD principles are viewed as forward-thinking—not risky.

“Good stormwater design is good business,” Cavallo emphasized. “It reduces liability, enhances site resilience, and aligns with what local governments are actively prioritizing.”

From the Bay to the Boardroom: Leading by Example

At Earthly Infrastructure®, every project begins with three questions:

1. How will this site absorb or deflect stormwater?

2. How much open space can be preserved without compromising density?

3. How can this design align with both regulatory standards and long-term ecological function?

These are the same questions underpinning Virginia’s statewide efforts to modernize zoning, encourage green infrastructure, and meet its Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) targets.

Through the Built Safe, Built VA™ campaign, Earthly Infrastructure® is highlighting how environmentally intelligent site design can coexist with economic growth—setting a new standard for what it means to build responsibly in the Commonwealth.

About the Author
Eric S. Cavallo is a Virginia Class B Commercial Building Contractor, ICC Member, and Founder of Earthly Infrastructure®. He serves on the Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals and advises the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on regulatory reform, including building code modernization and environmental planning.

WaterSense® Labeled Homes and the Future of Virginia Housing

By Eric S. Cavallo, Founder/President, Earthly Infrastructure® Building and Infrastructure Development Inc. | Virginia Licensed Contractor (Commercial Building) | Member, International Code Council (ICC) | Alternate Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals | Stakeholder Advisor, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), SB195 Stakeholder Advisory Committee

As the Commonwealth of Virginia prepares for the next generation of housing development, water resource management has emerged as a central concern for local governments, regulatory agencies, and the building industry alike. Against this backdrop, WaterSense® labeled homes represent a critical advancement in sustainable residential construction—one that aligns environmental performance with code compliance, affordability, and long-term infrastructure planning.

Developed and administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the WaterSense® program establishes rigorous standards for residential water efficiency. To earn the WaterSense® label, a home must be verified by a licensed certification provider to use at least 30 percent less water than comparable new construction, without sacrificing performance or occupant comfort. This includes the installation of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, pressure-regulated irrigation systems, and conservation-oriented site design strategies—all subject to field verification and performance testing.

At Earthly Infrastructure®, we view WaterSense® compliance not as a marketing distinction, but as a baseline requirement for ethical and forward-looking development. In a coastal state like Virginia—where groundwater depletion, saltwater intrusion, and stormwater system overload are persistent concerns—integrating water-efficient housing into the broader regulatory framework is no longer optional. It is essential.

To that end, Virginia’s housing future must reflect a coordinated policy shift. This includes potential updates to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) to more explicitly support EPA-recognized standards, enhanced guidance to local plan review officials, and the development of municipal incentives that reward certified water-efficient developments. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts by encouraging localities to integrate WaterSense® adoption into comprehensive planning, utility coordination, and affordable housing strategies.

As a licensed commercial contractor and a sitting member of the Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals, I have witnessed firsthand how zoning decisions, infrastructure burdens, and permit review processes can either facilitate or hinder sustainable progress. WaterSense® labeled homes offer municipalities a practical, performance-based pathway to reduce utility demand, mitigate environmental risk, and meet housing targets without compromising public health or safety.

Virginia has the opportunity to set a national precedent—one that links regulatory excellence with environmental responsibility. By prioritizing WaterSense® standards within housing policy, zoning reform, and builder education, we can deliver measurable gains in sustainability, public trust, and long-term cost savings.

The future of housing in Virginia must be built not just to shelter—but to sustain.

Built safe. Built in compliance. Built for Virginia.