What is a HERS rater?

Your new home will need to be certified by an independent HERS Rating Company to qualify as Energy Star. HERS raters are special inspectors certified by Energy Star that perform field verification and diagnostic testing to determine energy efficiency levels among homes tested for duct efficiency, envelope leakage and building insulation for compliance with current building efficiency standards. HERS Raters work with the homebuilder throughout the building process, providing technical assistance.

Your HERS Rater will analyze your homeʼs potential energy performance using an approved simulation program and then completes both on-site inspections and diagnostic tests before issuing the homeʼs HERS Score and ENERGY STAR certificate and label. Two or more site visits during construction will be made to verify that your home is being built to maximize your energy savings and comfort. Upon completion of these steps, the house is qualified as ENERGY STAR, and any incentives available from the Sponsors of the Program are paid directly to the applicant.

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the standards of the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).

To qualify for the ENERGY STAR label, the energy performance of traditionally-built and systems-built (modular, ICF, SIP) homes must be independently verified by a home energy verification organization. This is done either through a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating or an ENERGY STAR-approved Builder Option Package (BOP).

To find an Energy Star HERS rater in your area, go to the following link and click on Home Energy Raters and then select your state:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=new_homes_partners.showHomesSearch