INTERGRATED CONSERVATION SYSTEMS
HERS Ratings- PowerHouse now offers complete HERs ratings by a certified HERS rater for existing and new homes.
What is a HERS Rating and Why Get One? HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) provide a standardized evaluation of a home's energy efficiency and expected energy costs. An energy rating can maximize the value of the largest single investment most home owners are likely to make in their entire lifetime.
HERS Ratings provide a relative energy use index called the HERS Index – a HERS Index of 100 represents the energy use of the “American Standard Building” and an Index of 0 (zero) indicates that the proposed building uses no net purchased energy (a Zero Energy Building).
New homes are analyzed with a simple 3 step process. The first is an evaluation based on the blueprints. During this step, the home owner and builder can make adjustments to the plans in order to achieve lower energy consumption and an Energy Star rating. The second step is the rating of a home after the mechanical equipment, windows, doors, and insulation is installed prior to the installation of the interior wall board. During this step, PowerHouse will perform a pre-wall board blower door test to seal any air infiltrations when they are still accessible. The final step is to perform the final blower door test to evaluate the air tightness of the building and installed appliances. Upon completion of these 3 easy steps, the home receives a rating.
Existing homes are rated based on the information gathered through a comprehensive audit. This includes all appliances, windows, heating systems, and a blower door test to evaluate the air leakage of the building. PowerHouse will then suggest and implement approved improvements to lower the home’s HERs score.