BACKGROUND
The HERS or Home Energy Rating System was developed by RESNET and is the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance. Certified RESNET Home Energy Raters conduct inspections to verify a home’s energy performance and determine what improvements can be made to increase it.
HOW IT WORKS
A home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, preconstruction HERS Index. Upon completion of the plan review, the rater will work with the builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements. The rater then conducts onsite inspections, typically including a blower door test to test the leakiness of the house as well as a duct test to test the leakiness of the ducts. The results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home.
HOW WE HELP ALABAMA TAXPAYERS
For many jurisdictions, energy code testing is required for single and multi-family construction. Our team of certified HERS Raters can perform all the necessary inspections and testing to meet state and local energy rating guidelines.