In good news for the HERS industry, despite concerns over the effects of inflation at the beginning of the year, the number of homes that were RESNET® HERS rated and received a HERS Index Score in 2023 continued to break historical records. In 2023, there were 362,265 homes HERS Rated in the country. This pushed the total number of homes HERS Rated in the U.S. to date to over 3.9 million. The previous record from 2022 was 339,927 homes HERS rated. The average HERS Index Score in 2023 was 57. This is 43% more efficient than a home built as recently as 2006. The ten leading states in terms of homes receiving a HERS Index Score were: The top 5 states with the lowest average HERS Index Scores were: For a breakdown of the number of homes HERS rated in 2023 and the average HERS Index Score by state go to 2023 HERS Activity by State. For a breakdown of the number of homes HERS rated in 2023 and the average HERS Index Score by IECC Climate Zone go to 2023 HERS Activity by Climate Zone. Of greater significance is the energy bill savings that the families who purchased these HERS-rated homes are receiving. It is calculated that the 2023 HERS-rated homes will net over $296 million in annual energy bill savings, as compared to the HERS reference home. In addition, it is calculated that the homes that were HERS-rated in 2023 will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1.6 million tons annually. These savings will, according to the EPA calculator, equate to over 325,000 passenger vehicles being taken off the road for one year. RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden commented on the 362,265 homes HERS rated in 2023, “Homebuilders are increasingly seeing energy efficiency as a major selling point for buying a new home. To take advantage of this opportunity, builders across the nation are presenting their homes’ energy performance in a way that every home buyer can understand, the home’s HERS Index Score. I expect that this trend will continue. It is particularly encouraging that the average HERS Index Score of homes HERS rated was 57. This is 43% more efficient than homes built as recently as 2006 and 73% more efficient than a typical home built in the 1970s. I congratulate the builders, HERS Raters, and RESNET strategic allies that are leading the trend to mainstream high-performance homes in the marketplace.” Baden stated that “RESNET, however, is not content with the current market share of homes that are HERS rated. In 2023, the RESNET Board of Directors adopted the goal of RESNET having a million ratings a year by the end of 2028.” RESNET is launching its initiatives that will include increasing the demand for HERS Raters services through new opportunities in energy code compliance, water efficiency rating, rating the installation of HVAC systems, the new RESNET Carbon Index®, and the emergence of ESG reporting and green bond mortgages based on HERS Ratings.” For a listing of RESNET 2024 initiatives adopted by the RESNET Board of Directors go to 2024 RESNET Mission, Goals, and Initiatives.
