What Is a HERS Rating and Why Should We Care?

If we are asking what is a HERS rating, the simplest answer is that it is a way to measure how energy efficient a home is. The lower the score, the more energy efficient the home is expected to be. That matters because energy efficiency is not just a technical detail hiding in the background. It affects how comfortable our homes feel, how hard our systems have to work and what we may end up paying month after month in utility bills.

For us, this is an important part of the conversation because we build with energy performance in mind from the start. As a family-owned local home builder, we believe a home should not only look good on move-in day. It should also feel comfortable, work efficiently and hold its value over time. A HERS rating helps put a clearer number behind that part of the story.

Key Takeaways

• A HERS rating measures a home’s energy efficiency.
• Lower scores are better.
• The score is based on analysis and on-site testing.
• A stronger score can point to better comfort and lower monthly utility costs.
• Energy-efficient features throughout the home all play a role.

1. A HERS Rating Is Basically a Home Energy Scorecard

The easiest way to think about a HERS rating is as a scorecard for how efficiently new homes are expected to run.

Just as we might compare fuel economy when shopping for a car, a HERS rating gives us a simpler way to compare how one home may perform against another. Instead of guessing based on marketing language or hoping a newer home is automatically more efficient, we get a more objective way to look at energy use.

That is what makes the rating useful. It turns something that can feel vague into something a little more concrete.

2. Lower Scores Are Better, Even If That Feels Backward at First

This is usually the part that catches people off guard.

With a HERS rating, a lower number is better. Once we understand that, the whole system gets much easier to follow. We like to think about it the same way people think about golf. Lower wins.

That simple idea matters because it lets us compare homes more clearly. If one home has a lower score than another, it is generally expected to use less energy to deliver the same level of comfort.

3. The Score Comes From More Than a Guess

A HERS rating is not based on somebody taking a quick look around and making an educated guess.

It comes from a process that includes analysis, inspection and performance testing. A certified HERS Rater looks at the home’s design and then verifies how it performs through on-site testing. That is part of why the score is helpful. It is not just a label. It reflects real evaluation.

4. Why This Matters in Real Life Is Pretty Simple

Most of us are not shopping for a HERS rating just for the sake of having one. We care because of what it can mean once we actually live in the home.

A more energy-efficient home can mean lower utility bills, better indoor comfort and a house that does a better job holding temperature from room to room. It can also mean the home feels better year-round, not just during the easiest weeks of the season.

That is the part worth paying attention to. Energy efficiency stops being abstract pretty quickly when it starts affecting everyday comfort.

5. Better Scores Usually Reflect Better Building Choices

A good HERS score is usually the result of a lot of smart decisions working together.

That can include stronger insulation, better air sealing, efficient windows, efficient heating and cooling equipment, smart thermostat controls and lighting or appliances that use less energy. In our homes, energy-efficient features are not treated like an afterthought. They are part of building a home that feels better to live in.

And that is really the point. A stronger score usually reflects a stronger overall approach to performance.

6. Comparing Scores Can Tell Us More Than Marketing Claims

A lot of builders can say a home is energy efficient. A HERS rating gives us a better way to compare that claim.

Instead of relying only on broad language, we get a standardized score that helps us understand relative performance. That makes it easier to compare homes in a more meaningful way and easier to ask better questions during the buying process.

7. A HERS Rating Matters, but It Is Not the Whole Story

A strong HERS score is a very good thing, but it is still one part of the bigger picture.

We still care about layout, craftsmanship, storage, location, design and whether the home fits how we actually live. The rating gives us helpful information, but it works best when we look at it alongside everything else that makes a home worth buying.

That is how we think about it. Energy performance matters because real-life performance matters.

A Better HERS Score Usually Starts With Better Building Choices

A good HERS score usually comes from a lot of thoughtful decisions happening behind the scenes. It is not the kind of thing that shows up by luck. It usually means the home was built with real attention to how it will perform once people are actually living in it. And that is a big reason this score matters. It helps us look beyond a pretty kitchen or a nice front elevation and get a better sense of how the home may really feel day to day.

For us, that starts with the way the home is built from the ground up. Our homes include features like radiant barrier roof sheathing, high-performance thermal boundary air sealing, Energy Star-rated appliances, tankless hot water heaters, LED lighting, programmable thermostats and Low-E argon vinyl windows. None of those things are the flashy part of the tour, but they can make a real difference once we are living there. They can help the home feel more comfortable, keep temperatures more consistent and cut down on how hard the house has to work to stay that way.

That is why a HERS score feels useful in real life. It is not just a technical number sitting on a report. It gives us another way to understand how smart building choices can turn into lower utility bills, better comfort and a home that simply works better over time. Our homes are currently averaging HERS scores in the mid-50s to 60’s, and lower scores can mean meaningful energy savings compared with an older existing home.

FAQ

What is a HERS rating?

A HERS rating is a measurement of a home’s energy efficiency. It gives the home a score, and lower scores mean better energy performance.

Is a lower HERS score better?

Yes. Lower is better. A lower score means the home is expected to use less energy.

Who gives a home a HERS rating?

A certified HERS Rater performs the analysis, inspection and testing needed to create the score.

Why does a HERS rating matter to buyers?

It helps us understand how a home may perform in terms of comfort, energy use and monthly utility costs.

What home features improve a HERS score?

Insulation, air sealing, efficient windows, HVAC performance, water heating, lighting and other energy-conscious building choices can all help improve the score.

Is a HERS rating the same as a Home Energy Score?

Not exactly. They are related, but they are not the same system.

What the Score Means Once We Actually Live There

The best way to think about what is a HERS rating is that it gives us another practical way to understand how a home may perform after move-in. For us, that matters because we want the homes we build to be comfortable, efficient and easier to live in over time. A good HERS score isn’t the only thing worth looking at, but it is absolutely one of the things that can help us make a smarter decision. When we are choosing a home, it helps to know not just how it looks, but how it is likely to be lived in.