Despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a faltering economy, the demand for HERS® grew steadily in the first half of 2020. In the first six months of the year there were 146,345 homes rated and entered into the RESNET registry. This compares with the 116,663 homes that were rated during the same period in 2019. In the first half of the year, there were 29,682 more homes rated than in the same period in 2019. 2019 broke the record for the number of homes that were HERS® rated in the U.S. The following is a comparison of homes that were rated by month in 2020 and 2019. The increase in HERS® Rating activity can in part be explained by: • Home building has been designated an essential activity by most states during the pandemic. • The relative health of the housing market due to low mortgage interest rates. • Emergency procedures adopted by RESNET to allow HERS® Raters and Rating Field Inspectors (RFIs) to remain safe while at the same time getting business done. RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden commented, “The growth of the demand for HERS® ratings in the first half reflects the resiliency of the HERS® industry as well as the innovations displayed by the industry and RESNET is meeting the demand for ratings during this time of disruption of everyday life.”
