HOME ENERGY RATINGS (HERS Ratings)
Our energy professionals are trained and experienced RESNET™-certified HERS raters. RESNET is the Residential Energy Services Network; HERS is Home Energy Rating System, the standard of the U.S. Mortgage Industry for energy ratings of new and existing homes.
What is a HERS Rating?
The HERS Index is a system for ranking a home's energy performance. A reference home built to the minimum requirements of the 2006 IECC Energy Code is assigned an index score of 100. Depending on how the house was actually built, the index may be higher or lower. A house built with better-than-code heating, cooling, and insulation might have a HERS Index of 70 — meaning it uses about 30% less energy than the reference house. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates the average HERS Index of all existing homes is 130.
A HERS Rating Has Three Phases
Pre-Construction / Energy Modeling
Data from plans are entered into accredited energy modeling software — insulation values, window and door specs, physical dimensions, construction type, heating and cooling equipment, appliances, lighting, and more. A projected rating and HERS Index are generated.
Pre-Drywall / Rough Inspection
A crucial inspection in which we verify the type, quality, and grade of insulation installation; completeness of the air barrier; as-built window and door locations, sizes, and specifications; and dimensions to confirm as-built matches plans. The projected rating is updated if needed.
Final Inspection / Testing
When the house is completed, we perform a blower door test to check building envelope air infiltration and heating and cooling duct leakage. Data is collected on appliances, lighting, and HVAC equipment. The energy model is updated and a final confirmed HERS Rating and certificates are issued.
HERS Index — A Market Standard
The HERS Index is essentially a "miles-per-gallon" sticker for a home. Homebuyers like it because it provides greater transparency. A standard "Pass/Fail" building inspection only indicates meeting minimum standards — it gives no credit for how much better than minimum the home may be. Builders like the HERS Index because it allows them to differentiate their product in the marketplace. Realtors are getting on board by including the HERS Index as a searchable data field on the MLS.
What is RESNET?
RESNET's mission is to ensure the success of the building energy performance certification industry, set the standards of quality, and increase the opportunity for ownership of high performance buildings. RESNET is a membership 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose standards are officially recognized by the U.S. mortgage industry and by the federal government for programs such as ENERGY STAR and the DOE's Building America Program.
Pricing
HERS ratings for individual homes are priced based on square footage and start at $695. For production builders doing multiple builds of the same plan, or for multi-family applications, the price per unit drops significantly. Contact us for specific price quotes.