APPLIED BUILDING SCIENCE, HERS ll RATING & WHOLE HOUSE ENERGY ANALYSIS
Building Science is the study of the movement of air, moisture and vapor through building assemblies (walls, roofs & floors) and the impact it has on human comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Applied Building Science is the testing of buildings with tools and instruments that measure the actual movement of air, moisture and vapor through building assemblies. Some of these tools and instruments include, blower doors, duct blasters, manometers and thermal imaging cameras.
Home Efficiency Rating System (HERS) is a methodology for determining the overall energy efficient performance of a house, resulting in a rating / score. This analysis is also referred to as a Whole House Energy Analysis/Audit, which is similar to the miles per gallon (MPG) rating provided by car manufacturers.
The certified professional that determines the HERS II rating of a home is the HERS II Rater. Like a licensed Architect or Engineer in the State of California, a HERS ll Rater is certified by the California Energy Commission via a HERS Provider (Training Institution - CalCERTS) to practice this energy efficiency profession in the state. The HERS II Rater has the advanced education and training required to evaluate the energy efficiency of new and existing homes. It is done using Applied Building Science tools, field investigation surveys and energy performance modeling software certified by the State of California.