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What Is a HERS Rating?

June 7, 2019

If you’re in the market for a new home, at some point, you’re likely to hear the term HERS. No, we’re not talking about his and her bathroom sinks or bedroom closets, though we can certainly help you furnish your home with those features. We’re talking about the HERS Index, an important aspect to know about any home. New Tradition Homes prides itself on building quality homes at affordable prices. We believe a home should last for generations, which is why our homes are built with an enduring design. A top HERS rating has become a necessary feature of that design. That’s why we’re national leaders in building homes that garner top HERS ratings. Home Energy Rating System So, what exactly is a HERS rating? HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. The measurement is the national standard for assessing the energy efficiency of a home. The lower the score, the more energy efficient the home is considered to be. To calculate the score, a certified Home Energy Rater will perform diagnostic testing on the home using specialized equipment. A software program then crunches the data. The home’s energy efficiency is compared to a reference home, a model home that’s of similar shape and size to the one being tested. There are many variables that impact the HERS score, including the home’s exterior walls, its ceilings and roof, and its attics, foundations, and crawl spaces. Your certified Home Energy Rater will evaluate the insulation inside the walls and ceilings, for instance, as part of the energy audit. The vents and ductwork, windows and doors, and water heating and HVAC systems also play a role in the energy assessment. For example, your Home Energy Rater will determine if there’s any leakage in the HVAC distribution ducts. Any existing or potential combustion safety issues or air leakage problems will also be identified during the audit. The score is determined by comparing the home being tested to the reference home, which serves as the benchmark for the HERS Index. The reference home has a HERS score of 100. That means if your home is evaluated and determined to have a HERS score of 130, it is 30 percent less efficient than the reference home. On the other hand, if your home has a HERS score of 70, that would make it 30 percent more efficient than the reference home. The average resale home has a HERS score of 130, while most standard new homes have a HERS score similar to that of the reference home. What Does This Mean for You and Your Home? So how does all this impact you, the homeowner? The HERS score actually impacts you in a number of ways. The more energy efficient a home, the more money you’ll save in the long run. Generally speaking, each percentage point that you improve on the HERS Index will amount to an equivalent percentage of cost-savings. For instance, if your home has a HERS score of 100, and you’re able to improve the rating to an 85, then you’ll likely see a 15 percent reduction in your home energy bills. Making just a few small changes to improve the energy efficiency of your home will likely amount to significant savings over time for several reasons. Apart from the mortgage payment, a homeowner’s greatest expense is home energy bills. Reducing the amount of energy your home is using means you’ll also be reducing the amount you’re spending on those bills. In addition to these cost savings, homebuyers are increasingly taking a home’s energy efficiency into consideration when deciding which home to purchase. That’s why the energy efficiency of your home can help increase its market value when it’s time to sell. One of the ways your home’s resale value could increase is through the ENERGY STAR® label. Since an energy rating is required for the ENERGY STAR® label, homes that are equipped with it are seen as more valuable to homebuyers and, therefore, able to be priced at a higher market value than other comparable homes without the label. New Tradition Homes is one of the industry leaders in energy-efficient home building. All of our homes are built to meet ENERGY STAR® and Built Green WA® third-party certifications. In fact, we recently earned the 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award from the US Department of Energy. We are committed to providing our clients with only the best and most energy-efficient homes on the market today. Not only are ENERGY STAR® homes more environmentally friendly, they also produce an average savings of $250 for homeowners each year. In addition to the ENERGY STAR® label, there are other benefits to having an energy-rated home. Having an energy audit performed on a new or existing home will help identify any deficiencies in the construction and help target areas for improvement. Knowing where you are losing energy and pinpointing where to concentrate your efforts is the first step in optimizing your home’s energy efficiency. Another benefit of having the HERS score is that you may qualify for an energy efficient home mortgage. There are two types of energy mortgages—one for homebuyers looking to finance a home that’s already energy efficient and another for homeowners who are looking to make energy improvements to an existing home. These loans typically lower a borrower’s financing costs and may even allow homebuyers to borrow more than they would be able to borrow with a traditional loan. In addition to the cost savings, energy efficient homes are built to last and offer premium comfort when compared to less efficient homes. All our homes are certified by a third party to guarantee our commitment to energy efficiency. Some of the benefits you’ll experience include reduced leaks and drafts, more consistent temperatures, improved indoor air, and ultimately, peace of mind. Start experiencing everything a high-quality HERS rating can provide by stepping into one of our custom-built homes and experiencing for yourself the difference energy efficiency can make for you and your family.