Everything Homeowners Need to Know About Home Energy Ratings

Home energy rating system (HERS) represents the standardized way builders, home contractors and the real estate community report the overall energy efficiency of a home. The HERS score is indexed to 100, which means that a home with that score matches the home efficiency performance baseline established by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Homes with HERS scores below 100 have higher efficiency and those that exceed 100 have less efficiency. 

What Factors Into a HERS Score?

Many home factors contribute to a HERS score, including:

• Overall insulation levels in the attic and walls
• Roofing material
• Number of windows and their energy efficiency, measured by their U-factor (rate of heat loss)
• Degree of air infiltration in the home’s envelope
• Efficiency of home appliances, including the HVAC system, ductwork performance, home lighting and water heater

Although the scoring for the home energy ratings don’t take into account any sources of alternative energy, like solar or wind, the final score does.

Why Do You Need a HERS Score?

If you’re buying or selling a home, it’s useful to know what the HERS score is. An energy efficient home is one of the most desired criteria home buyers want, and studies have shown they’ll pay more for it. Having your home rated also tells you how and where to improve it to cut ongoing energy costs.

When you’re buying a home, it’s good to know the HERS score so you can anticipate what it will cost to cool and heat it. A home with a low HERS score may also help you qualify for an energy efficient mortgage (EEM) that offers significant financial benefits.

For more information about home energy ratings, contact CCAC, Inc. We’ve provided top notch HVAC services to Coastal Bend homeowners since 1979.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy ratings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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