New Homes FAQ - Home Builders

How does a HERS Rater determine if a home qualifies for the ENERGY STAR rating?

Prior to construction, HERS Raters work with their builder clients to conduct a plan analysis to determine the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures for the home. At the pre-drywall stage, a thermal bypass visual inspection is conducted to ensure that the air and thermal barriers in the home are continuous and complete. Toward the end of construction, the HERS Rater inspects the home and performs diagnostic tests (e.g., blower door and duct blaster) to assess the home’s energy performance. The HERS Rater then incorporates the results of the inspections and diagnostic tests into the plan analysis software that determines the home’s HERS Index. A home with a HERS Index of 65 or lower qualifies for the ENERGY STAR rating.

For more information about the national specifications for ENERGY STAR for New Homes, please visit  ENERGY STAR for the New Home Industry.

How do performance milestones for builders work?

Participating homebuilders are expected to meet a number of performance milestones. This milestone system is designed to provide goals and a systematic, quarterly process through which a SMECO Account Manager can ensure that homes under a given application are moving forward as projected. If a builder and the SMECO Account Manager determine that not all the builder’s homes will be completed within the 1-year deadline, the system provides the opportunity to enroll delayed homes under a new application at SMECO’s discretion.

Milestones from the date of application submittal:

  • 1 month—Must have registered homes for which permits have been pulled in the online program reporting system, identified HERS Rater(s) in the online system, and signed the EPA ENERGY STAR for Homes Partnership Agreement.
  • 3 months—At least 10% of your total committed homes should be invoiced on the program’s online system.
  • 6 months—At least 40% of your total committed homes should be invoiced on the program’s online system.
  • 9 months—At least 70% of your total committed homes should be invoiced on the program’s online system.
  • 12 months—100% of your total committed homes should be invoiced on the program's online system.