| Residential Energy Rating FAQ’s |
| Q. How does the home rating process work? |
A. There are three basic steps:
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| Q. How long does the process take? |
| A. We need to be at the house approximately half a day, depending on size, to get measurements, specs, and to run the tests. It takes another two to three days to compile the data and run the program. |
| Q. What kind of output do we get from the program? |
| A. The program will rank the various components of the house with respect to heat loss. For example, it will calculate the annual heat loss for exterior walls, ceiling, foundation walls, windows, air leakage, etc, and rank these in graphic format, making it easy to see where your heating dollars are going. |
| Q. Are other kinds of output available? |
| A. Yes, there are dozens of reports available. We can generate a Rating Certificate, Energy Star Compliance Report, Tax Credit Compliance Certificate, Compliance Verification with any current Energy Conservation Code, Improvement Verification Report, and many others. |
| Q. What services are available through the rating process? |
| A. Several: Energy Star labels for new homes Energy audits for existing homes Energy efficient mortgage documentation Energy improvement documentation Tax credit documentation for builders |
| Q. Is the rating process the same for all the different services? |
| A. Basically, yes. There are a few differences. For example, Energy Improvement documentation may require tests to be done both before and after the improvement is made. Energy Star certification requires and additional inspection during construction. |
| Q. What is used as a standard to estimate energy savings? |
| A. Every time we enter data for a house in the computer, the program constructs what is called a reference home. The reference home is of the same size and configuration as the actual home, but is built exactly to the current Energy Code minimum requirements. The program then compares the actual home to the reference home to establish efficiency and utility savings. |
| Q. Does the program estimate utility bill savings? |
| A. Yes. The program uses current utility rates in your area to estimate monthly utility bill savings. However, these savings are not guaranteed because we cannot account for variables such as the homeowner’s actual thermostat settings and lifestyle. |
| Q. What is an Energy Efficient Mortgage? |
| A. Some lending institutions give borrowers credit for building an energy efficient home. This can take the form of allowing a higher debt-to-income ratio or by allowing the monthly savings on utility bills to count as income. We can provide the documentation the bank needs. |
| Q. How does an Energy Improvement Loan work? |
| A. If you wanted to replace your furnace or your windows, for example, we would inspect and/or test the home before the proposed improvement is done and enter the existing home’s information into our program. We would then modify the input to reflect the proposed improvements and then compare the output of the two scenarios to determine the improvement in energy conservation and savings in monthly utility bills. The lending institution can then use the data on proposed savings to help qualify you for a loan to do the work. After the work is finished, we would inspect and/or test the home again to verify that the improvements have been completed as proposed. |
| Q. Can you estimate efficiency before a home is built? |
| A. Yes. This is called a projected rating. We can obtain data for a home from blueprints and specifications and input that information into our program. We have to estimate the test data, because the tests cannot be run until the house is finished, but the results are still very useful. This helps an owner or builder to determine different aspects of the home’s performance before construction begins. |
| Q. Can you run different “what if” scenarios? |
| A. We can run any number of alternatives for both new and existing homes. Together with the builder’s or remodeler’s pricing, this information can help determine the estimated payback period for any proposed change or improvement. |
| Q. How is energy efficiency quantified? |
| A. Each home that we run through the program is given a score. As mentioned earlier, the program creates a reference home for each house entered. This is done so that owners are not penalized or rewarded based on the size of their home. The reference home (built to the minimum Energy Code standards) is assigned a score of 100. The energy consumption of the actual home is then compared to the reference home. If the actual home uses 10% less energy in a year, for example, it would receive a score of 90. 30% less energy usage would give a score of 70. |
| Q. What qualifies a home as Energy Star? |
| A. Energy Star requires a score of 85 or lower (80 or lower in the northern most areas of the country). In addition, there are a few other requirements to meet Energy Star. The house must be inspected by a Certified Rater after it is insulated. At least one or more pieces of equipment or features of the home must carry an Energy Star label. Please contact us if you would like more details about the inspection or equipment requirements. |
| Q. How can I identify an Energy Star home? |
| A. In addition to the Energy Star Compliance Report (a one-page certificate listing many details of the home and verifying compliance with Energy Star requirements), homes that have earned the Energy Star receive a small blue label that is permanently attached to the main electrical panel in the house. |
| Q. Can I get an Energy Star label for my existing house? |
| A. No. The Energy Star requires an on-site inspection by a certified rater right after the insulation is installed. A label for an existing home would only be available if the home is undergoing renovation extensive enough to expose all of the insulation. We can, however, still obtain a score and issue a Rating Certificate for any house. We just cannot issue an Energy Star label without the insulation inspection. |
| Q. Can anyone obtain the computer program and evaluate or certify an energy efficient home? |
| A. No. The Energy Star program, the federal tax credit, and most lenders require a home to be inspected, tested, and certified by a trained, independent third party. |
| Q. Who certifies these independent third parties? |
| A. The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) provides training and certification for raters. RESNET is an independent, non-profit organization devoted exclusively to developing and promoting the standards of establishing and verifying energy efficiency in home construction. In conjunction with the Mortgage Industry Association, RESNET has developed rigorous standards of practice and procedures to which it’s Raters must comply. RESNET trains raters in the nationally accepted Home Energy Rating System (HERS). |
| Q. Other than savings on utility bills, what financial incentives are there for improving energy efficiency? |
| A. There are several tax credits available to homeowners for adding energy efficient features or replacing inefficient components of a home. These typically do not require a house to be tested and rated, but may require verification by a third party. Also, many utility companies offer rebates or other incentives for incorporating energy saving features in a home. These utilities often require third party verification and/or testing. |
| Q. What is the tax credit for builders? |
| A. There is a federal tax credit available to general contractors who build energy efficient homes. The energy efficiency standards required to qualify for this tax credit are based on different criteria than Energy Star and are generally more difficult to meet, but the same testing and rating process applies. Also, the credit must be claimed in the year the home is sold, not necessarily the year it is built. Unfortunately, the federal tax credits will expire at the end of 2009. Bills have been introduced in congress to extend them through 2012, but passage is not assured. |
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©2008 Progressive Engineering Inc. |