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This week, the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) highlighted the top 10 states for Home Energy Ratings-scored (HERS) homes in 2021. Twenty-two percent of new construction homes are rated each year, and in 2021, HERS-rated homes totaled more than 313,000. This represents a four percent increase over the number of ratings in 2020 and marks the ninth straight year-over-year increase in HERS ratings, according to RESNET.
The Big 10
The top 10 states in terms of percentage of new one- and two-family homes that were rated in 2021 include: Massachusetts (80%); Indiana (50%); Arizona (43%); Colorado, Minnesota, and Nevada (42%); Oklahoma (41%); Ohio (40%); Delaware (38%); and Texas (36%).
The top 10 states in terms of the absolute number of HERS-rated homes in 2021 were:
- Texas – 76,708
- Arizona – 23,606
- Florida – 22,329
- North Carolina – 20,438
- Colorado – 17,588
- Indiana – 12,169
- South Carolina – 12,694
- Virginia – 10,174
- Minnesota – 9,623
- Maryland – 8,182
Why It Matters
Homes with HERS ratings, a metric like the miles-per-gallon rating for cars, are becoming more common in new construction and more recognized by consumers as an important consideration relative to home energy costs. In fact, according to a study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), state and local policies requiring landlords to disclose energy efficiency information could help tenants find lower-cost housing and spur building owners to make energy-saving improvements. Those building renovations would provide an environmental benefit and reduce overall energy costs.