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Your HERS Score

What is a HERS score?

Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) provides a standardized evaluation of a home's energy efficiency and expected energy costs. The HERS Rating system provides a relative energy use index called the HERS Index. A HERS Index of 100 represents the energy use of the “American Standard Building” and an Index of 0 (zero) indicates that the proposed building uses no net purchased energy (a Zero Energy Building). Just as in golf, the lower your score, the more energy efficient your home will be. Each 1 point decrease in the HERS Index of your home corresponds to a 1% reduction in overall home energy consumption.

How does it work?

An energy Rating provides a standardized evaluation of a home's energy efficiency and expected energy use costs. The evaluation is conducted in accordance with uniform standards and includes a detailed home energy use assessment, conducted by a certified Rater, using an advanced set of nationally accredited energy and economic analysis procedures and verified software tools. At the conclusion of the process, your rater should present you with a detailed report outlining your home's expected energy use.

When building a LEED or Energy Star certified home, the HERS score is probably the most important item in determining your overall green achievment level. The HERS score will provide almost half of your points in the LEED for Homes rating process. The maximum attainable points allowed for LEED in this category is 34, which is roughly half of the points necessary for a Gold rating. In practice, a HERS rating of 50 is considered very good. A rating of 30 is considered excellent. Ratings below 30 will usually require a significant investment in renewable energy production systems (solar PV and wind).

More on the HERS Rating System -->

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