HERS Raters: Understanding HERS Home Rating for New Homes
If you’ve been in the market for a new home, one of the terms that you may have come across is a HERS score or rating. But what exactly is a HERS rating, and what does it tell you about a new home? Above and Beyond Energy has a fully trained staff of HERS Rating Professionals who can help deliver whole-home analysis for your existing home or HERS Rating for your new home.
Defining HERS
HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. The HERS Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is measured. As a nationally recognized system, a HERS rating can be one of the most effective ways to identify an energy-efficient home. HERS ratings are determined by a third-party certified home energy rater who assesses the home’s energy efficiency and assigns it a relative performance score. Many factors go into that evaluation, including a top to bottom inspection of all exterior walls both above and below grade, floors over unconditioned spaces like garages or basements, ceiling and roof, attic, foundation, crawlspace, windows and doors, vents and ductwork, HVAC systems, water heating system, performance testing, lighting and appliances.
What Is a Good HERS Rating?
The HERS rating is a relative performance score that compares each home to a reference standard based on a model of the same size and shape. The lower the number, the more energy-efficient the home. So, a standard new home that meets the 2006 IECC code requirements is assigned a HERS index score of 100. North Carolina’s 2018 energy code is 15-20% more stringent than the 2006 IECC so, a North Carolina Standard New Home would have a HERS Index of 80-85. All other scores on the scale are a relative comparison to this reference mark. For example, a typical resale home scores a 130 on the HERS Index – meaning it is 30% lessenergy efficient than the standard new home.In contrast, a home with a HERS index score of 70 is 30%moreefficient than the standard newhome. So, a lower HERS rating means a home that is more efficient, comfortable, and affordable to own and operate.
Why Above and Beyond Energy Outperforms Standard Raters
Our HERS Raters have all had their ENERGY STAR Version 3 training. A HERS Rating will provide an accurate energy use assessment for a home. It can quantify a home’s energy use both in dollars and kilowatts, but can also determine how much of an improvement over code home is. For example, a HERS Rating may indicate any particular builder’s new home is 30% more efficient than a code-minimum home and that the home will save the home-owner $500 per year. Furthermore, it can quantify how much will be spent on heating and cooling versus lighting, appliances, and water heating.
Are You Looking for Raters For Your New Home? Look No Further!
The best way to know the energy efficiency for a specific house is to ask for a specific HERS Rating Score. If you are ready to start your HERS Rating, Above and Beyond Energy is the obvious choice! We provide HERS Ratings in Wilmington, Jacksonville, Raleigh, and Fayetteville NC. We also provide a HERS Rating in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Wake and Orange Counties. Call us today today to schedule your HERS Rating!
