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Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index.

Upon completion of the plan review, the rater will work with the builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines.

The rater then conducts onsite inspections, typically including a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts).

Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home.

RESOURCES for the Home Energy System "HERS" Index

RESNET's standards are officially recognized by the U.S. mortgage industry for capitalizing a building's energy performance in the mortgage loan, certification of White Tags for private financial investors, and by the federal government for verification of building energy performance for such programs as federal tax incentives, the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program and the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Program.

A set of rater recommendations for cost-effective improvements that can be achieved by the Rated Building is also produced.

RESNET standards encompass three areas:

• Software accreditation achieved by passing a battery of software verification tests developed by U.S. National Laboratories and RESNET
• Definition of knowledge base and skill sets that a rater must demonstrate through passing an online RESNET National Rater Test
• A quality assurance evaluation that features each Rating Provider employing a certified Quality Assurance Designee. The Quality Assurance Designee must annually independently verify internal consistency of a minimum 10% of all building input files and independently field verify the accuracy of a minimum of 1% of each certified Rater�s homes

Site-Built Home Builders: Getting Started as a Partner

Energy Star HERS Index