Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET, and John Godden, President of the Canadian counterpart CRESNET announced the 2015 RESNET Cross Border Home Builder Challenge. “The 2014 RESNET Cross Border Home Builder Challenge was such a huge success in promoting the utilization of the HERS® Index (Home Energy Rating System) and energy efficient home building in the US and Canada that we decided to make the program an annual RESNET-CRESNET event”, noted Baden. “Once again, the RESNET Cross Border Challenge will be a friendly competition between American and Canadian Home Builders to determine just how energy efficient builders can build,” noted John Godden. In 2015 there will be a total of seven builder awards; five are based on having the lowest HERS® score for their specific category, which will be sponsored by Power-Pipe®, and two will be special President’s awards based on a fleet of HERS® new home ratings, and once again sponsored by Icynene. The specific awards will be: Lowest HERS® score American Production Builder (>50 homes HERS® rated per year) Lowest HERS® score American Custom Builder (< 50 homes HERS® rated per year) Lowest HERS® score Canadian Production Builder (> 50 homes HERS® rated per year) Lowest HERS® score Canadian Custom Builder (< 50 homes HERS® rated per year) Lowest Hers score (Open to all builders and includes PV) *The US Production Builder with the highest percentage of homes HERS® rated < 55 *The Canadian Production Builder with the highest percentage of homes HERS® rated < 55 *The US RESNET award includes HERS® scores with PV. The CRESENT Project Future Proof Canadian award does not include HERS® scores with PV. Awards will be presented at the 2015 RESNET Conference in San Diego California. “With well over 1 million homes rated in the US, the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard by which a home’s energy efficiency is now being measured in the US and Canada. It’s also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance” noted Steve Baden. “The Index is based on an assessment by a certified Home Energy Rater who evaluates the energy efficiency of a home and assigning it a relative performance score. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the home. The energy efficiency score is based on variables such as exterior walls (both above and below grade), floors over unconditioned spaces, ceilings and roofs, windows and doors, vents and ductwork, HVAC systems, water heating system, and your thermostat, among other elements, commented” Steve Baden. “As in 2014, we are expecting some of the largest, and most respected, US and Canadian builders” to participate in the 2015 competition, continued John Godden.
