Home Energy Advantage, LLC Home Page  ·  About Us ·  Contact Us

Home Energy Ratings

Home energy ratings provide a standard measurement of a home’s energy efficiency. Ratings are used for both new and existing homes. In new homes ratings often verify energy performance for the ENERGY STAR homes program, energy efficient mortgages, and energy code compliance. Homeowners who want to upgrade the home’s energy efficiency can use the energy rating to evaluate and pinpoint specific, cost-effective improvements. For existing homes, homeowners will receive a report listing cost-effective options for improving the home’s energy rating. There are two types of ratings:

• Projected ratings - Ratings performed prior to the construction of a home or prior to the installation of energy improvements to an existing home.
• Confirmed ratings - Ratings completed using data gathered from an on-site inspection, which could include performance testing of the home.

Confirmed ratings involve an on-site inspection of a home by a certified home energy rater. Home energy raters are trained and certified by a RESNET accredited home energy rater training provider.

The home energy rater reviews the home to identify its energy characteristics, such as insulation levels, window efficiency, wall-to-window ratios, the heating and cooling system efficiency, the solar orientation of the home, and the water heating system. Performance testing, such as a blower door test for air leakage and duct leakage, is usually part of the rating.

The data gathered by the home energy rater is entered into a RESNET accredited computer program and translated into rating score. The home receives a score between 1 and 100, depending on its relative efficiency. An estimate of the home’s energy costs is also provided in the report. The home’s energy rating can then be equated to a Star rating ranging from one star for a very inefficient home to five stars for a highly efficient home.

Unlike an energy audit or a weatherization assessment, a home energy rating is a recognized tool in the mortgage industry. Home energy ratings can be used in a variety of ways in the housing industry. The star and the rating score provide an easily understandable means to compare more efficient homes by their relative energy efficiency, since a rating quantifies the energy performance of a home.

Preparing for a Home Energy Rating

Before we visit your house:

• Make a list of any existing problems such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty rooms.
• Have copies or a summary of the home's yearly energy bills. (Your utility can get these for you.)
• If you have a woodburning stove, make sure that the fire is out and the ashes are cool.
• If you have a fireplace, we will have to place wet newspapers over the ashes to prevent their movement during blower door testing.

We will interview you regarding key features of your energy usage and comfort level. Your answers may help uncover some simple ways to reduce your household's energy consumption. Make sure that you are available to walk through your home with the auditor as he works, and ask questions.

Home Energy Advantage, LLC Home Page  ·  Contact Us