Home Energy Raters - Green Raters

Home Energy Raters, Green Raters and Green Verifiers

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What is the Difference between a Home Energy Rater, a Green Rater and a Green Verifier?

There are actually distinct differences between a home energy rater, green rater and green verifier. Many people are becoming confused by these titles and what they actually mean. So, please look at the sections below for brief descriptions of a home energy rater, green rater and green verifier.

If you have questions or still feel confused, please contact us at: kenr@hathmore.com

Thank you.

Home Energy Rater

A home energy rater or HERS* rater is a certified energy professional who qualified to conduct HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) ratings on residential and certain small commercial buildings. What is involved in a HERS rating? Click Here!

HERS ratings are used to determine the energy efficiency of a residential or small commercial building through the use of specialized testing equipment, energy industry accepted procedures and energy rating software. Once a HERS rating is completed, the building is assigned a HERS index number. If the building achieves a score of 100, it means that the building meets the most recent energy code. A number lower than 100 is actually a more efficient building, just as a lower number is better in golf. As a home approaches net-zero energy use, it's index number gets closer to 0 (zero). In the midwestern area where Kansas City is located, an index number of 85 can indicate that the building being tested could qualify as an ENERGY STAR building.

In other words, the lower the number, the better. A building that is assigned a number of 0 (zero) is the equivalent of a zero-energy home or small business building. This means that the building produces enough energy to offset the annual amount of energy it requires to operate. Nearly all buildings require some energy usage, so a 0 (zero) number typically means that the building has some form of renewable energy system installed, such as a solar electric (Photovolaic or PV) system, a solar thermal system, a passive solar design, wind system or a combination of a number of available alternative/renewable energy systems. The home energy rater can input the energy produced by the alternative, renewable energy system(s) into the energy rating software to determine the HERS index number. Buildings that use less energy or that have renewable energy systems produce less pollution. A HERS rater can give you information regarding the amount of pollution produced by your building, which is part of your total carbon footprint.

Many energy efficiency and green programs require a home energy rating as part of their programs. For example, a HERS rating is required if you want to have your home or small business building certified as an ENERGY STAR building. If you are interested in obtaining an energy efficient mortgage or EEM, a HERS rating is required. The same is true if you are interested in building a green residential building under the LEED for Homes program, the NAHB Build Green program and certain other green programs.

Let's jump to the next category called "Green Rater" to help clarify some of this for you. Additional information regarding home energy raters can be found by using the link below for the Residential Services Network or RESNET. (See Links Below)

Green Rater

A green rater is actually a certified home energy rater who has undertaken additional training and completed certain tests and tasks to become qualified to work with the LEED for Homes program through the US Green Building Council. The LEED for Homes program was officially launched at the 2007 Green Build conference in Chicago and information can be found on the USGBC website. (See Links Below)

The USGBC LEED for Homes program has several green levels that a building can qualify for: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each increase in green level requires additional green components. So, it is important for anyone wishing to build a USGBC LEED home to meet during the design stage with a green rater to make sure that the building will qualify for the green level desired.

Please Note: All levels of USGBC LEED homes must achieve the US EPA ENERGY STAR certification; no exceptions. This is why the green rater must also be a certified home energy rater so that the building's owner will only have to hire one testing agent, the green rater, to conduct all the tests and to file all the required paperwork. In short, the green rater is the one entity that the entire LEED for Homes program revolves around. Without the green rater, a home cannot become a LEED home.

IMPORTANT: a home or other residential building CANNOT become LEED certified AFTER construction begins. An existing home or other residence cannot be LEED certified after the fact. So, if you want to build a LEED certified home be sure to engage the services of a certified green rater PRIOR to construction, preferably during the design stage.

Green Verifier

A green verifier is an individual who has undertaken training and has passed the certification testing provided by the National Association of Home Builders or NAHB. (See Links Below)

A green verifier does not have to be a certified HERS rater, although it is possible that a HERS rater can also be a green verifier. A green verifier can also be a LEED certified Accredited Professional (LEED AP), a certified Green Rater or have other energy or environmental credentials. The NAHB and/or the local Home Builders Association (HBA) can provide additional information regarding the requirements involved in becoming a green verifier.

As of August, 2008, the green verifier works with the Green Building Guidelines, available through the NAHB and/or local HBA. These Guidelines are available as a free download. (See Links Below)

In the near future, the NAHB will formally introduce the National Green Building Standard, which will be a national building standard for the entire USA. The Standard will replace the Guidelines as the main NAHB program once the Standard becomes finalized and formally launched.

IMPORTANT: a home or other residential building CANNOT become a NAHB verified green home AFTER construction begins. An existing home or other residence cannot be verified after the fact. So, if you want to build a NAHB verified home under the Guidelines, be sure to engage the services of a green verifier PRIOR to construction, preferably during the design stage.

LINKS

Residential Energy Services Network Homepage: Http://www.natresnet.org

The national Residential Energy Network has become the "go to" organization for information on energy raters, energy efficient mortgage providers, local, regional and national energy & environmental programs, and a great deal more. RESNET has an annual conference that offers seminars and workshops focused on the energy professional. Most of the national energy legislation filtering through congress has input from RESNET.

National Registry of Accredited Home Energy Rating Systems: http://www.natresnet.org/accred/registry.htm

The list of HERS providers or other accredited programs expands continuously. After you click on the link above you can scroll down the list and find the programs offered in various neighboring states. The entire field of energy services is growing at an exponential rate.

US Green Building Council Homepage: Http://www.usgbc.org

The USGBC now offers the LEED* for Homes program across the entire USA. *LEED stands for: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design

Information about the LEED for Homes Program can be found here: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147

Also, information about residential green building and remodeling can be found at another USGBC website: http://www.greenhomeguide.org/

You can download information about the LEED for Homes program via these links:

http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3638 or http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3658

Kansas City Chapter of the USGBC: http://www.usgbckansascity.org/

National Association of Home Builders Homepage: Http://www.nahb.org

National Association of Home Builders Research Center: http://www.nahbrc.org/

National Association of Home Builders Green Guidelines: http://www.nahbgreen.org/Guidelines/nahbguidelines.aspx

National Association of Home Builders Green Standard: http://www.nahbrc.org/technical/standards/greenbuilding.aspx

Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City: Http://www.kchba.org

The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, or KC HBA, has advocated for the home building professional for many years. KC HBA offers two successful annual shows: the Home Show, offered in the spring months and the Fall Home Show, normally offered in late October or early November. These shows are extremely well attended and have a variety of products related to the home construction industry.