ENERGY NOTICE: Beginning July 1, 2016, the HERS Index Ratings of your newly permitted homes will increase. RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) is the governing body for HERS ratings in the US. RESNET has recently adopted new standards in order to enhance the HERS rating of homes since an ERI (Energy Rating Index) is now allowed by code starting with the 2015 IRC and 2015 IECC.
The new Standards change how a home is rated by comparing it to a 2006 code-built home rather than a 2004 code-built home as in previous versions. The 2006 code-built home has less infiltration, more mechanical ventilation (which complies with ASHRAE 62.2-2013), and windows with lower SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient). Hot water distribution has been added as well which takes into account the pipe lengths, insulation and re-circulating systems if installed, and then calculates energy usage of these systems.
The new Standards go into effect on homes permitted after 06/30/2016. When they go into effect the HERS Index’s for your homes will increase 2-6 points. The HERS Index for homes with large window to floor ratios will increase the most. This change only affects the HERS Index and does not affect code compliance.
This news from RESNET is challenging for all of us in the home building community. However, our job is to help you navigate things like this when they come up and we stand ready to do so again.
If the HERS Index is a prominent part of your sales and marketing strategy, contact us soon so we can set up a game-plan to evaluate the potential change to your homes.
Roger Casey rcasey@burgess-inc.com 214-888-7272