A HERS index score is a way to gauge the energy efficiency of your home. It’s determined through an energy audit, which measures the efficiency and performance of all of your home’s major appliances and systems, including windows and insulation.
In the case of HERS, you want a low score. The lower your score, the more energy efficient your home is. At Manchester Green Homes, our homes average a much lower HERS score than the standard home.
HERS index scores are the result of a home energy audit.
The HERS index is a measure of energy efficiency, and it’s the result of a home energy audit. The higher your HERS score, the better your house performs compared to other similar homes.
HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System; it was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1992 as part of its Green Building Initiative to help homeowners understand how their homes use energy and what they can do about it. The DOE has updated its standards since then, but they’re still based on this original framework that uses five categories:
- Heating and cooling
- Hot water
- Lighting
- Appliances and electronics
- Building envelope (the insulation and windows)
A HERS index score gauges the energy efficiency of your home.
The lower your HERS index score, the better your home is at saving you money on energy costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
While these numbers are just estimates based on tests conducted by professionals who inspect homes during construction or remodeling projects, they can give homeowners an idea of how much energy their houses use compared with similar houses built today—and help them make improvements if needed.
At Manchester Green Homes, all of our homes are built to a low HERS score standard.
High-performance materials and appliances can help boost your home’s score.
When it comes to improving your HERS index score, certain materials and appliances can help boost your home’s performance. For instance, if you’re planning on installing new windows or doors, consider using high-performance ones that are designed to minimize air leakage. Installing a programmable thermostat will also help you reduce energy costs by regulating the temperature when no one is home.
Another easy way to improve efficiency is by switching out your lightbulbs for LED bulbs as the old ones burn out. LEDs use up to 80 percent less electricity than incandescent lights and can have a noticeable impact on your electric bill. And finally, choose appliances with high energy efficiency ratings and lower water usage. These appliances are designed to perform at the same level or better than traditional ones, but with lower energy use.
Homes with a low HERS index score are better for the environment.
A home that uses less energy is not only more comfortable, but it will also reduce your carbon footprint and help minimize environmental damage.
Using less energy to power your home, especially air conditioning, means less greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, each kilowatt hour saved translates into about 3 pounds less CO2 entering Earth’s atmosphere.
In addition, using green materials for construction keeps harmful chemicals out of your indoor air, but it also keeps them out of the environment.
Improving your home’s efficiency is worth the investment because it saves you money in the long run.
Improving the energy efficiency of your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption. In fact, it can save you money in the long run and help the environment.
Not only do the appliances in an energy efficient home directly use less energy, a well-insulated home requires less heating and cooling because there’s less movement of air through windows and walls.
A HERS index score helps you find out the efficiency of your home.
If you’re thinking about making improvements to your home, a HERS index score is a great way to gauge the impact these changes will have on its efficiency. It can also help you decide what areas are worth focusing on first based on how much money they will save over time. The lower your score is, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to cut down on costs while still enjoying all the comforts of living in an energy-efficient house!
While a typical older home can have a HERS score as high as 140, and new homes usually hover around 100, at Manchester Green Homes our homes are built to an average of 60, more than 50% lower than an existing home.