Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) has released data on the number of Home Energy Ratings Score (HERS)-rated homes in 2023. More than 360,000 homes were HERS rated last year, an increase of more than 22,000 homes compared to 2022. This accounts for 28 percent of all new homes built last year. The cumulative number of HERS-rated homes in the U.S. now tops 3.9 million, a stunning figure when you consider that just two years ago, the number of HERS homes reached 3 million.
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America has more than 100 million leaky homes that are prime for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades, including air sealing and insulation. Without serious engagement by utilities and contractors to address the issue of thermal leakage, the lofty goals the Biden Administration has set for carbon reduction and electrification will not be achieved, says Rick Barnett, a green builder and remodeling contractor. Barnett has been an advocate for thermal envelope efficiency and green building for more than 30 years.
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Despite the pandemic, demand for HERS-rated homes increased 24 percent in 2020 versus 2019, according to Residential Energy Services (RESNET). In 2020, 299,755 homes received a HERS Index Score, breaking the record for the number of rated homes in a year. The previous record from 2019 was 241,664 rated homes.
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RESNET announced this week that its analysis of the top 200 U.S. home builders in 2019 shows more builders are constructing HERS homes, and of all homes built by the top 200 builders, 39 percent received a HERS rating last year. Other impressive numbers from the analysis show:
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A new study from the National Association of Home Builders reveals that one-quarter of the features home builders are most likely to include in new construction homes relate to energy efficiency. Despite the popularity of energy efficiency features, some builders are conflicted about them in part because they believe they cannot recoup the investment. Insulation Institute spoke with Sandra Admomatis of Adomatis Appraisal Service for some insight into how builders can shift their focus to leverage energy efficiency in marketing fully.
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DOE’s Housing Innovation Awards recognize the best in home building innovation on the path toward Net Zero. Among this year’s winners in the production home category is Insight Homes, a Delaware builder and previous innovation award winner. Insight’s ability to evolve its construction practices to take advantage of the latest in building science developments and energy-efficient construction techniques are among the characteristics that set this exceptional builder apart from the competition.
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With nearly one-quarter of new homes carrying a HERS rating, consumers in the energy-efficient home market need to understand why this metric, similar to the miles-per-gallon rating of new cars, is key to evaluating a home’s energy efficiency. To help consumers better understand HERS ratings and the benefits of a HERS-rated home, Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®) has launched a new consumer website and will conduct a consumer campaign this year to increase awareness.
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With 27 years’ experience as an insulation contractor in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area, Cardice Howard’s knowledge base about energy-efficient home construction is extensive. She’s seen that builders who work collaboratively with all trades achieve the best results, a better HERS score, and the desired home energy efficiency or air tightness targets. Leveraging her experience as an insulation contractor will be vital as she steps into her role as the Acting Deputy Director of Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®), where she will work with raters to help builders construct more high-performance, energy-efficient homes.
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What impact will energy data for 110 million homes have on the energy efficiency industry?
By: Ryan Meres, RESNET Programs Director
For more than a decade studies have consistently shown that home buyers want energy-efficient features, but few are aware of the impact those features have on energy cost. The average U.S. homeowner spends more on energy than property taxes and insurance, but energy is the only one of those three common expenses not considered in the mortgage process. The announcement and report released by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) that real estate platforms have begun including energy information in their listings is a significant step toward reducing the barrier to the transparency of energy use in the home-buying process.
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Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) recently reached a significant milestone: 2 million Home Energy Rating System (HERS)-scored homes. This miles-per-gallon equivalent score assigned to estimate the energy efficiency of a home has rapidly gained market acceptance since its inception in 2006, and as energy efficient building becomes mainstream, the popularity of HERS ratings continues to expand rapidly. Today, 22 percent of new homes are HERS-rated[1], and that number will continue to grow, particularly as states adopt the energy ratings index (ERI) as an energy code compliance option.
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