OCEANSIDE, Calif., Aug. 22, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last year, Massachusetts had the highest percentage of homeowners in pursuit of home energy efficiency, with 61 percent of all homes sold in the state receiving a Home Energy Rating System, or HERS Index Score. The HERS Index Score provides a homebuyer a way to compare the energy performance of a home in the same fashion as the Miles Per Gallon (MPG) sticker does for auto buyers.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c347f388-020f-48d8-85a4-187d8f22dcaa
Developed by the Residential Energy Services Network, or RESNET, a HERS Index score is available only via certified RESNET Energy Raters. There are 128 rating companies in the state of Massachusetts. Using diagnostic software, a rater analyzes several variables that affect the energy efficiency of a home, including exterior walls, attic, windows and doors, heating and cooling systems, ductwork, water heating systems, lighting and appliances. That analysis results in the HERS Index Score and tells homeowners and prospective buyers how their homes compare to other similar ones in terms of energy usage.
Outside of a mortgage loan, heating, cooling, and water heating constitute the largest cost of homeownership. The HERS Index Score can help homeowners outline those energy features of the home and the expected cost of utility bills.
The lower a home’s HERS Index Score is, the better the home’s efficiency. A typical existing home (built before 2000) scores well over 100 on the HERS Index while a standard new home, in most states, will receive a score between 75 and 90. The average HERS Index Score in Massachusetts is 55.
“As builders help homeowners and buyers compare total home cost and value, the use of the HERS Index Score continues to grow,” says RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden. “Every year, more and more new homes sold receive HERS Index Scores, because buyers want to compare and save the most on their homes’ utility bills.”
The state’s ranking was calculated by the National Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (NREL) with data from RESNET’s National Building Registry of HERS-rated homes, and the number of completed homes by state from the U.S. Census Bureau.
To find a certified RESNET Energy rater to help save money on energy costs, improve home comfort and increase a home’s resale value, visit http://www.hersindex.com/get-a-home-energy-rating/.
About the HERS Index
Developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is an easy-to-understand energy efficiency measuring tool that assigns a numerical value to homes based on energy performance. The lower the score, the more energy efficient the home. It’s like a miles-per-gallon label for houses. For more information see the short video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klGa1rUdydo.
About RESNET
The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) is the independent, national nonprofit organization that homeowners trust to improve home energy efficiency and realize substantial savings on their utility bills. RESNET’s industry-leading standards are recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others. For more information, visit www.resnet.us.