HERS ll SCALE
In order to move the residential construction industry towards more energy efficient homes, the California Energy Commission has established the HERS II SCORE, which rates the performance of a home, similar to MPG for a car. In order to establish an energy efficiency HERS II SCORE for a home, energy modeling (in conjunction with applied building science testing) is done by the certified HERS II Rater. Currently the HERS II score is used to evaluate the percentage of improvements in energy consumption for existing homes seeking financial incentives from Federal, State and Utility rebate programs. In the not too distant future HERS scores may be required by the California Energy Commission prior to the sale of any home in the State, providing the potential home buyer comparative information on the different homes they are considering to purchase, similar to the information given to people in the market for a new car.
A HERS ll score ranges between 250 to 0. The scoring system is like golf, the lower the better, with zero representing a house that produces as much energy (with photovoltaic panels and other renewable energy resources) as it consumes over the period of a year. All homes with a construction permit received after 2010 (by CEC computer modeling definition) receive a HERS ll score of 100. An existing home that has a score of 250 means it consumes 2.5 times more energy than a similar house built under a 2010 building permit.