The award winners of the 2023 RESNET Cross Border Home Builder Challenge, which helps promote the utilization of the HERS® (Home Energy Rating System) Index have been announced by Steve Baden, Executive Director of RESNET, and Paul Lowes, President of the Canadian counterpart CRESNET. “With almost 3.7 million homes rated in the US, the 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, calculating, and labeling a home’s energy performance” noted Steve Baden. “The HERS Index is based on an assessment by a certified RESNET Home Energy Rater who evaluates a home’s energy efficiency and assigns 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. “The RESNET Cross Border Challenge is a friendly competition between American and Canadian home builders to determine just how energy efficient builders can build,” noted Paul Lowes. This was the 10th year for the awards. There were a total of 13 builder awards presented for this year’s competition; four were based on having the lowest HERS score for their specific category, three special President’s awards based on a fleet of HERS new home ratings, and two Net Zero awards including PV Solar applications. These awards were sponsored by Power-Pipe® drain water heat recovery system, Better Builder Magazine, Beacon Building Products, BP Canada, and Panasonic. In addition, the Enbridge Innovation Award sponsored by Enbridge Gas Distribution was presented to a US and Canadian builder. This award went to the builders in the US and Canada that HERS rated a home demonstrating energy/resource innovation in new home construction. Also, there were two HERSH2O® awards for builders in the US and Canada sponsored by Greyter Water Systems. These awards went to builders in both countries with the lowest RESNET HERSH2O score. The HERSH2O score measures the builder’s demonstration of water efficiency within the home. The lower the score, the less water consumption. The awards available were as follows: • Net Zero US Builder (including PV). • Net Zero Canadian Builder (including PV). • Lowest HERS score US Low Volume Builder (< 100 homes HERS rated per year) • Lowest HERS score US Production Builder (> 100 homes HERS rated per year) • Lowest HERS score Canadian Production Builder (> 100 homes HERS rated per year) • Lowest HERS score Canadian Low Volume Builder (< 100 homes HERS rated per year) • RESNET South President’s Award for the US Production Builder with the lowest fleet score <HERS 52 • RESNET North President’s Award for the US Production Builder with the lowest fleet score < HERS 52 • CRESNET President’s Award for the Canadian Production Builder with the lowest HERS fleet score <HERS 52 • US Enbridge Innovation Award • Canadian Enbridge Innovation Award • US HERSH2O® Award • Canadian HERSH2O Award The winners for 2023 are: • US Net Zero Builder is Zero Net Now, New York with a HERS -13. • Lowest HERS score US Low Volume Builder is Zero Net Now, New York with a HERS 26. • Lowest HERS score US Production Builder is Lennar, Mn with a HERS 42. • Canadian Net Zero Builder is Barbini Design Build, Ontario with a HERS 35. • Lowest HERS score Canadian Production Builder is Heathwood Homes Huron Ltd, Ontario with a HERS 41. • Lowest HERS score Canadian Low Volume Builder is Dietrich Homes, Ontario with a HERS 42. • RESNET South President’s Award is Mandalay Homes, Arizona with an average fleet HERS score of 24. • RESNET North President’s Award is Thrive Home Builders, Colorado with an average fleet HERS score of 22. • CRESNET President’s Award is Lindvest, Ontario, with an average fleet HERS score of 45. • US Enbridge Innovation Award is Zero Net Now, New York. • Canadian Enbridge Innovation Award is Minto, Ottawa Ontario. • US HERSH2O Award is KB Home, California with a HERSH2O score of 44. • Canadian HERSH2O Award is Minto Ottawa Ontario with a HERSH2O score of 69. About RESNET The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) was founded in 1995 as an independent, non-profit organization committed to helping homeowners reduce the cost of their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient. RESNET is responsible for creating the national training and certification standards for HERS Raters and Home Energy Survey Professionals, both of which are recognized by federal government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. mortgage industry. For more information contact Steve Baden at sbaden@natresnet.org or visit www.resnet.us. About CRESNET CRESNET is a Canadian national, non-profit corporation which was formed in March of 2007. An annual general meeting is held where members may nominate and vote for board members and help set the direction of the organization. CRESNET was given the exclusive right in Canada to use and adapt all the standards of RESNET. CRESNET undertook to adapt the technical specifications of HERS to calibrate the 100 point to better suit Canadian Codes and practices. That work is now complete and the Canadianized version is termed the E- Scale. For more information contact John Godden at info@cresnet.ca or visit www.cresnet.ca.
