{"id":4813,"date":"2020-11-26T12:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-11-26T17:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sahomebuilder.com\/\/blog\/?p=4813"},"modified":"2024-07-30T00:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T04:17:22","slug":"sa-homes-explains-understanding-hers-index","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sahomebuilder.com\/blog\/sa-homes-explains-understanding-hers-index\/","title":{"rendered":"S&A Homes Explains the HERS Index"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"S&A<\/a>A home\u2019s energy efficiency isn\u2019t always the first thing on a homebuyer\u2019s mind, but according to a recent HomeLight article, it should be among the top considerations. Luckily, the HERS Index makes it easy for homebuyers to see how energy efficient an entire home is. <\/p>\n

If you have never heard of this rating system, it’s important to know what it is, and how it works.  Knowing the HERS score of a new home is an important step to ensure you are selecting a home that is efficient in both energy and home savings.<\/p>\n

According to HomeLight<\/a><\/strong>, here\u2019s what every homebuyer should know about the HERS Index:<\/p>\n

What is the HERS Index and why is it important?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Created by the Resident Energy Services Network (RESNET), the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is a set industry standard used by home builders to measure a home\u2019s energy efficiency. A HERS Index score tells a lot about a home and its energy performance, such as how well the home is operating as well as suggestions for areas of improvement. A home\u2019s HERS Index score helps homebuyers understand where a home stands in terms of energy efficiency and how the costs will affect their monthly home budget. As an added bonus, a home with a decent HERS Index score can also command a higher resale price should the homebuyer decide to sell in the future.<\/p>\n

How does the HERS Index work? <\/strong><\/p>\n

For a home to receive a HERS Index score, a certified RESNET HERS rater must assess its efficiency performance in comparison to a reference model. The rater will pay attention to two elements of a home: how much energy the home needs to operate efficiently and how much clean energy the home creates through other energy sources. The HERS Index rating will fall anywhere between 0 and 150, and unlike other rating systems, higher HERS scores indicate a less energy-efficient home while lower HERS scores indicate a more energy-efficient home.<\/p>\n

Homebuyers mistakenly think all new homes are built to the same standard, but this is simply not the case. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical resale home scores around 130 on the HERS Index while standard new homes have an average rating of 100. At S&A Homes, the average home has an impressive HERS score of 65, which is 35% more efficient than the standard code-built new home.<\/p>\n

What is included in the energy rating?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When indexing a home, the RESNET HERS raters pays attention to several home features that ultimately affect utility bills. According to RESNET<\/a><\/strong>, these include:<\/p>\n