What is a HERS Score?

When shopping for a new construction home, a chart you may come across is a homes HERS Score. HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. Our simplest definition is it being the nationally recognized, industry standard for rating a home’s energy efficiency. The lower the home’s score, the more energy efficient the home is.

All of our signature BeWell Houses undergo a HERS test and rating by an independent third party


How is a homes HERS Score measured?

Similar to getting an in-depth look at your vitals at a doctor’s office (then followed by an intensive physical fitness test), a home will go through a series of measurements and analysis of its construction plans, inspections and testing by an independent energy rater in order to understand the “health” of a home’s energy efficiency. According to ENERGY STAR, these home energy score steps include:

1. Specially designed software to analyze the expected energy use of the home based on the home’s construction plans. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction rating score for this home (called a HERS Index).
2. When the rating is being conducted for the purposes of ENERGY STAR certification, the Rater then works with the builder to identify the energy efficiency features needed to ensure the house will meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines.
3. The Rater then conducts onsite inspections, typically including a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts).
4. Results of these tests, along with data from the software analysis, are used to generate a final HERS Index score for the home.

(Further reading on understanding your HERS score here).

Homes are inspected inside and out through a series of measurements and tests to determine its’ final HERS score

HERS Scores: McStain’s BeWell House, HERS Averages and Home Value

You’re now probably wondering how well our homes score against industry averages, the re-sell market and what the value of owning a high-performing home can mean. According to EnergyLogic, a local, third-party energy inspection company, “typical resale home scores 130 on the HERS Index while a standard new home is awarded a rating of 100”.

We’re proud to share that an average McStain BeWell House can score as low as 23! Below is an example of one our HERS scored homes at Painted Prairie:

Having such a highly performing energy-efficient home brings so much value to both your wallet, the planet, and the value of home your home.

1. Your wallet – Using this McStain BeWell House example above, this home can provide an average annual savings of $2,698. When thinking of monthly mortgage payments, this means $224 extra cash every month. If you multiply it by an average of 30 mortgage payments, you now have $80,940 in total savings!
2. Our planet – Owning a BeWell House with below industry average scores, your home is much more environmentally friendly, given how little the home pollutes. In addition to greatly off-setting your home’s carbon footprint, you are also reaping health benefits as these low-scoring homes will have progressive and advanced technologies like filtered air capture systems, solar panels, and above industry average sealing for heating/cooling to name a few.
3. Your home value – According to hersindex.com, “a low HERS Index Score can command a higher resale price.” A low-scoring home, equipped with modern energy efficiency features future proofs you for highly desirable home in a re-sell market. In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the research organization group, Shelton Group, “91% of new homebuyers want energy efficient products if they provide savings” and “97% of new homebuyers want lower operating costs”.

Our BeWell House provides energy efficiency, monthly savings, low maintenance, hassle-free living, and offers a plethora of benefits for your health, your wallet and our planet!

What would you do with $224 extra each month, or an extra $2,698 each year from such a high-performing home?