Home Energy Rating And Why is it Important?

A home energy rating or better known as a HERS is an analysis of your home’s energy efficiency. The home energy rating is the nationally recognized scoring system for measuring your home’s energy performance. The home energy rating gives homeowners or prospective buyers an insight as to how efficient the home they are considering purchasing is. The home energy rating also provides the homeowner with a detailed report regarding energy problems that they may have in their house and need to improve on.

How Does A Home Energy Rating Work?

A comprehensive HERS home energy rating is the most in-depth energy performance assessment of a home that you can possibly get. The HERS home energy rating consists of diagnostic testing that uses specialized equipment such as a blower door test, duct leakage tester, combustion analyzer, and infrared cameras.

You are probably thinking what in the world could they possible need all of that equipment for. The equipment is used to determine the amount and location of air leaks in your building or home. It determines the effectiveness of insulation inside the walls and ceilings, and it also determines any existing or potential combustion safety issues. The HERS also checks every area of your home or office such as floors, attics, foundations, crawlspaces, windows, doors, vents, duct-work, water-heating systems, and duct-work.

How Does The HERS Index Work?

The HERS index can be quite difficult to understand. In order to calculate a home’s energy rating, your local HVAC contractor performing the HERS will do a home energy rating and compare the data they collect with a reference home, which is similar to the size of yours. So the HERS system always goes by the size, shape, and type of house you live in. The lower the rating you get the more energy efficient your home is.

Why The Home Energy Rating Is Important

The home energy rating is not something that you have to have done but it is recommended. Today’s prices are steadily rising so it is important for most families or businesses to save as much money as possible and one easy way is by cutting down on your electricity costs. By having a home energy-rating test performed on your home you will be able to see exactly where energy is being wasted in your home and some areas that you can improve the amount of energy that is being used.

Who Performs The Home Energy Ratings?

The home energy rating system was first developed by the Residential Energy Services Network or better known as RESNET. Since this network was the first to develop it they will be the ones you will more than likely want to call.

If you, however, don’t know of the nearest RESNET service near you should call your local heating and cooling company. Some heating and cooling companies can also perform a home energy rating.

Heating and cooling companies today are expanding their range of services so that they can better serve the customers needs. If they don’t offer home energy ratings they will usually point you in the right direction concerning who you should call next.

Believe it or not if you have a home energy rating performed some heating and cooling companies will review the results for you. If you are unsure of what the report is talking about they should be able to clarify it for you. Most companies will even take the time to tell you some ways that you can improve your home’s energy efficiency. So in the end you can never go wrong with a home energy rating so have yours done today!

Advantages of Home Energy Ratings

As a homeowner, you will be wondering why you should take all this effort. In reality there are multiple benefits.

1. Understanding how energy efficient your home is. Many homeowners suffer from high utility bills and low comfort levels. These issues are not necessarily because of usage of electricity, but more because of low performance of HVAC units. Again, the HERS index also helps in pinpointing the exact reason for low performance. It might be surprising, but an average American family spends nearly 21% of post IT income on utility and energy costs.

2. Cost of Home. When you are buying a house, one usually looks at cost of the house and it’s mortgage value and options. Very few people look at the cost of running and maintaining the house. A home with high HERS index will mean higher utility bills, more maintenance costs, and repair costs of improve the energy efficiency.

3. Higher Resale Value. When you are selling your home, if you have low HERS index score, you can actually demand a higher price for it. You can explain to potential buyers the advantages he will enjoy with all the effort you have taken to keep you home energy efficient.

4. Improved Comfort. One of the simplest and most obvious advantages of keeping you home energy efficient is the enhanced comfort you will have every day. Your home will be warmer in winter, and colder in summer. The indoor air quality will be better saving you and your family from health issues.

 

 

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