Home Energy Ratings
Home energy ratings provide a standard measurement of a home's energy efficiency. Developed by
RESNET, the Residential Energy Services Network, these ratings are used for new and existing homes
alike. For new construction, ratings are commonly used to verify energy performance for the ENERGY
STAR homes program, energy efficient mortgages, and energy code compliance. For existing homes,
homeowners who want to improve their home's energy efficiency use the energy rating to evaluate and
identify specific, cost-effective improvements. These homeowners can receive a report that lists
cost-effective options for improving the home's energy rating. An energy rating allows a homebuyer to
easily compare the energy performance of the homes being considered.
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We will enter the data we collect from the home in
a RESNET accredited computer program and
translate it into a rating score. The home will
receive a HERS (Home Energy Rating System)
Index, a score between 1 and 100 that represents
its relative energy efficiency.
The HERS Index was developed and established
by the Residential Energy Services Network
(RESNET). Using that system a home built to the
specifications of the HERS Reference Home
(based on the 2009 International Energy
Conservation Code) would score a HERS Index of
100, while a home that used net zero energy
would score a 0. The lower a home’s HERS
Index, the more energy efficient it is compared to
the HERS Reference Home, which represents
typical new construction. Typical existing homes
score about 130.
Since each 1-point in the HERS Index
corresponds to a 1% change in energy
consumption compared to the HERS Reference
Home, a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15%
more energy efficient than the HERS Reference
Home, or typical new home, and a home with a
HERS Index of 110 is 10% less energy efficient.
Unlike an energy audit or a weatherization assessment, a home energy rating is a recognized tool in the
the foundation for most energy efficient and 'green building' programs. The HERS Index provides an
easy-to-understand way of comparing more energy efficient homes by their relative efficiency,
Like the posted fuel efficiency of an automobile, a rating quantifies the energy performance of a home.
Getting ready to buy or sell? – get that home rated! Contact us for a free estimate.
How to prepare and what to expect
We are proud to provide rating services to qualify new
homes for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR
qualified new homes are substantially more energy
efficient than homes built to the minimum code We are
proud to provide rating services to qualify new
requirements. Even in states with more rigorous energy
codes, the U.S. EPA ensures that ENERGY STAR remains
the symbol for truly energy-efficient performance. These
homes are good for businesses, consumers, and the
environment.
Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at
http://www.energystar.gov/.
Projected ratings - Ratings performed prior to the construction of a home or prior to the installation of
energy improvements to an existing home.
Confirmed ratings - Ratings completed using data gathered from an on-site inspection, which include
performance testing of the home.
Confirmed ratings involve an on-site inspection of the home by a residential energy efficiency
professional, a home energy rater. Home energy raters must be trained and certified by a RESNET
accredited home energy rater training provider.
The home will be reviewed to identify its energy characteristics, such as window efficiency, insulation
levels, the heating and cooling system efficiency, the water heating system, and the home's solar
orientation. Performance testing, such as a blower door test for air leakage, is part of the rating.
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