The Home Energy Rating System: See How Your Home Measures Up

As a homeowner, when it comes to energy efficiency, you deserve to know how your home stacks up against the rest. That’s why the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) created the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index.

The HERS® Index was created in order to give homeowners and homebuyers a standard for measuring the energy efficiency of houses they own or are planning to buy. It is the industry standard for measuring a home’s energy efficiency. And it’s also the nationally recognized system for the inspection, testing, calculating and labeling of a home’s energy performance.

So how does it work? 

A certified Home Energy Rater assesses the energy efficiency of a home, assigning it a relative performance score. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the home.

The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that a typical resale home scores 130 on the HERS® Index while a standard new home is awarded a rating of 100. So, a home with a HERS® Index Score of 70 is 30% more energy efficient than a standard new home 

Some of the variables included in an energy rating: 

Shea Homes has adopted top of the line technology to increase energy efficiency in our homes. Below are just some of the variables included in the energy rating that Shea Homes uses:

1. Effective Insulation Systems — High performance insulation helps maintain the desired temperature of the inside of the home. At Shea Homes, many of our plans are built using blown cellulose insulation which offers superior performance and has the added bonus of being made from recycled materials.
2. High–Performance Windows and Doors — In order for our windows and doors to be effective in the Arizona heat, not only does Shea seal them tightly, we also use dual pane, low-e windows with vinyl frames. To learn more about how windows earn their Energy Star approval, check out our blog post about Paramount Windows.
3. Tight Construction and Ducts — Tight construction and ductwork means taking great care to seal every corner and build every room and every wall exactly how it was designed to be. Starting with our framing trade partner, Loftco, all the way to high quality finishing touches, we’re committed to building homes that keep the inside in and the outside out. In many of our homes, we also use a structural technique called cathedralized insulation which even keeps the attic free from the Arizona heat.
4.  Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment — Many of our homes are also equipped with heat pumps. Rather than a traditional heat and air conditioning unit, heat pumps pull the hot air out during the summer and the cool air out during the winter, making your home the environment you want it to be.
5. ENERGY STAR Qualified Lighting and Appliances — Lastly, Energy Star Homes are furnished with lighting and appliances that meet their own individual Energy Star qualifications.

To see how a lower HERS® Index score could mean savings for you, check out the Interactive HERS® Index model!

At Shea Homes we are committed to building homes that always meet or exceed energy efficiency industry standards at every point because that’s what we believe our world needs and it’s what you, the homeowner, deserve. From energy efficient appliances to advanced insulation and superior windows, homes built by Shea are sure to save on your energy bill.

To see how Shea Homes measures up, come visit any of our communities where the HERS® Index scores are posted on every model home. You can take a look at our communities in the Valley of the Sun on our website or you can call toll free at 1-866-696-7432 for more information.

To watch our informational videos, please visit our YouTube channel.  For more information on Shea Homes and what we’re up to in Arizona, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and join us for some inspiration on Pinterest.