Home efficiency upgrades offer numerous benefits to Denver area homeowners, like more comfort and lower utility bills. In addition to these advantages, high-performance homes also have a higher appraised value on the real estate market. In fact, homes that have their efficiency measured and scored can sell for up to 5% more than houses without official documentation.
The Home Efficiency Rating System, also known as HERS®, is the industry gold standard for measuring the energy efficiency of a home and is the most comprehensive testing system available today. At e3 Power, we offer certified HERS rating services in Denver, Boulder, and the surrounding area. Keep reading to learn how getting rated can benefit your home.
RESNET HERS: WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR HOME
HERS ratings were developed by the Residential Energy Services Network, or RESENET. Their in-depth testing system evaluates a home’s energy consumption and scores it on what’s known as the HERS Index. Your home will be compared to a RESNET reference home constructed to meet current building standards. Here’s a breakdown of the HERS Index scoring scale:
- 150: Consumes the most energy
- 130: Typical resale home score
- 100: RESNET Reference Home
- 57: Average HERS RESNET Score in 2023
- 0: Net Zero Energy
During a rating, our team of efficiency experts will collect data throughout your home, looking into several components, like:
- Building envelope (quality of insulation & air leakage)
- Heating & cooling equipment and distribution (including vents & ductwork)
- Ventilation
- Thermostats
- Foundation (including basements & crawl spaces)
- And more
We’ll then calculate the data with a whole home approach to rate your home on the HERS Index and give you a score.
WHEN TO GET YOUR HOME RESNET HERS RATED
You can get a HERS rating for your home at any time, but we recommend getting a score if:
- You’ve just built a new home
- You’ve recently made performance retrofits (like electrification or insulation upgrades)
- You’re about to put your home on the market
- You’re interested in a Net Zero Energy home
- You want to reduce your energy consumption
- You suffer from comfort, indoor air quality, or efficiency issues (like drafty rooms, ice dams, or moisture problems)
E3 POWER: YOUR COLORADO HERS RESNET RATER
To ensure that RESNET’s quality standards are met, the process of becoming a certified HERS rater involves rigorous testing and hands-on experience. This is what makes it one of the most respected scoring systems in the industry.
The team at e3 Power uses advanced technologies and software to calculate a HERS Index score, and since we don’t offer home upgrade services, you can always trust that you’ll get an unbiased opinion on your home’s performance. We’ve completed more than 1,500 energy audits in our 10+ years of operation and even provide drone inspections to help you learn more about your home, reduce your energy consumption, and more.
