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HERS, the Home Energy Rating System energy assessment
The Home Energy Rating System, known as HERS® offers a performance-based measurement that scores a home’s relative energy use by use of the HERS Index. The HERS Index is an energy assessment recognized by the federal government, states, and the mortgage and financial industries.
Lower scores mean better efficiency. A HERS Index of 100 represents the energy use of a standard new home in the U.S., while a HERS Index of 0 indicates no net purchased energy (a “zero energy” home). Energy assessments take into account climatic conditions in different parts of the country, house size and "standardized” operating conditions.
For new construction, this performance-based approach requires third-party certification from a HERS rater which can be submitted to the local building code official as evidence of code compliance. For example, a HERS index of 60 means that the home is estimated to save 40 percent of the energy of a standard new home. A standard home built according to the 2004 International energy code (or IECC) would have a HERS index of 100.
For more information about the HERS index, see RESNET: About Home Energy Ratings and ENERGY STAR.
A useful resource in the Northeast is the NE HERS Alliance website.
