The Thermal Enclosure Checklist is a mandatory verification tool within the LEED for Homes rating system, specifically under the Energy and Atmosphere (EA) prerequisite. Its primary purpose is to serve as a quality assurance mechanism through visual inspection before building components are concealed. The checklist guides the builder and Green Rater to verify that the home's air barrier is continuous and that insulation is installed correctly, without gaps, voids, or compression. This ensures the integrity of the building's thermal envelope, which is fundamental to achieving the designed energy performance, durability, and occupant comfort.

A. Ductwork inspection is a separate verification process, typically covered under the HVAC system checklists, not the thermal enclosure checklist.

C. A ground-source heat pump evaluation is a site and system-specific assessment, entirely separate from the construction quality of the building envelope.

D. The checklist is for visual inspection of installation quality, while air infiltration testing is a quantitative performance test performed later to measure the result.

1. U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). LEED v4.1 Residential Single Family Homes Rating System. Page 43. The EA Prerequisite: Minimum Energy Performance explicitly requires the project team to "Complete the Thermal Enclosure Rater Checklist." The checklist's content is focused on the building envelope.

2. U.S. Green Building Council. (2016). LEED v4 Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction. Pages 218-219. The guide details the "Thermal Enclosure Rater Checklist" under EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance, stating its purpose is to verify "a complete thermal envelope and air barrier" through visual inspection of insulation and air sealing details.

3. U.S. Green Building Council. (2015). LEED v4 Homes and Multifamily Rater Checklist - Thermal Enclosure. This official checklist document is structured into two main sections: "Air Sealing Details (Air Barrier)" and "Insulation Details," confirming its primary focus.