Home Energy Rating Services
Desk Reviews, Evaluations, Surveys,
Walk-Thru's, Audits & Assessments
First, a disclaimer, this discussion is for information use only. Maine has a long history of avoiding, ignoring, or even flaunting national standards, including building codes, so there are few standard definitions in the marketplace today.
Practioners will call their services whatever they wish to further their business needs. You will have to look at the Practioners credentials, ask questions and read the service contract.
Desk Reviews are typically the simplest analysis. Consisting of an investigation into past energy usage and only limited inquiry of the building occupants, a software comparison is performed to see if there is "A Little", "Some", or "A Lot", of opportunity for energy efficiency improvements using national standards.
Evaluations and Surveys are more involved. Typically they will involve a Desk Review and Site Visit. The Site Visit is usually just the Evaluator "Walking-Thru" the structure and pointing out areas for improvement. Some Practioners may use diagnostic instruments like an infrared camera to point out hidden issues.
Audits (or Weatherization Assessments) are the most misunderstood terms in this industry because they have been in use for a longer time.
Today, an Audit is generally accepted to mean a scientific assessment & analysis of the building envelope, the building energy use, comfort issues, and visible moisture, health & safety issues. A variety of instruments will be used for diagnostic testing including specialized equipment such as a blower door, duct leakage tester, combustion analyzer and infrared cameras, all in an effort to measure outside air infiltration, insulation effectiveness, duct leakage and any existing or potential combustion safety issues. A written report will be produced with suggested energy efficiency improvements.
Some do not do all of these tests so it is important to look for a Practitioner that is nationally certified as either a Building Performance Institue (BPI) Building Analyst or as a MABEP HERS Rater.
A BPI Building Analyst will conduct a whole-house as a system evaluation using all of the activities discussed above and an analysis to identify and prioritize proposed improvements. The detailed Building Performance Audit will provide suitable retrofit recommendations and specifications for decision making.
In many cases the BPI professional is a contractor that can make the suggested improvements.
To learn more please contact MABEP HERS.
Practioners will call their services whatever they wish to further their business needs. You will have to look at the Practioners credentials, ask questions and read the service contract.
Desk Reviews are typically the simplest analysis. Consisting of an investigation into past energy usage and only limited inquiry of the building occupants, a software comparison is performed to see if there is "A Little", "Some", or "A Lot", of opportunity for energy efficiency improvements using national standards.
Evaluations and Surveys are more involved. Typically they will involve a Desk Review and Site Visit. The Site Visit is usually just the Evaluator "Walking-Thru" the structure and pointing out areas for improvement. Some Practioners may use diagnostic instruments like an infrared camera to point out hidden issues.
Audits (or Weatherization Assessments) are the most misunderstood terms in this industry because they have been in use for a longer time.
Today, an Audit is generally accepted to mean a scientific assessment & analysis of the building envelope, the building energy use, comfort issues, and visible moisture, health & safety issues. A variety of instruments will be used for diagnostic testing including specialized equipment such as a blower door, duct leakage tester, combustion analyzer and infrared cameras, all in an effort to measure outside air infiltration, insulation effectiveness, duct leakage and any existing or potential combustion safety issues. A written report will be produced with suggested energy efficiency improvements.
Some do not do all of these tests so it is important to look for a Practitioner that is nationally certified as either a Building Performance Institue (BPI) Building Analyst or as a MABEP HERS Rater.
A BPI Building Analyst will conduct a whole-house as a system evaluation using all of the activities discussed above and an analysis to identify and prioritize proposed improvements. The detailed Building Performance Audit will provide suitable retrofit recommendations and specifications for decision making.
In many cases the BPI professional is a contractor that can make the suggested improvements.
To learn more please contact MABEP HERS.
MABEP HERS Ratings &
Energy Efficient Buildings and Retrofits
MABEP HERS Raters work in new construction and existing homes. They also work on LEED for Homes projects, Energy Star homes, EEMs and IECC compliance to name just a few more areas.
In new construction, the MABEP HERS Rater will work with the Builder/Contractor to analyze a home's construction plans and then through onsite inspections and testing, during construction, ensure the work is done correctly. The Rater will study the plans and use nationally approved Rating Software to perform an energy analysis of the design to compute a projected, pre-construction HERS Index.
The MABEP HERS Rater will work with the Builder/Contractor to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet the designated performance target (often ENERGY STAR). The Rater will conduct periodic onsite inspections, including (but not limited to) blower door tests to test the air infiltration of the house and a duct test to test the leakiness of any ducts. Results of these tests and inspections during construction and final inspection, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index for the home when complete.
For preexisting homes the MABEP HERS Rater will perform a Comprehensive HERS Rating, the most in-depth performance Audit of an existing home. Consisting of the same evaluation and diagnostic testing contained in a (BPI) Building Analyst whole-house evaluation, the MABEP HERS Rating includes additional procedures and data gathering for later analysis on rating software.
The Rater will prepare the same cost-effective recommendations and work specs contained in a Building Performance Audit AND a simulation analysis utilizing the RESNET Rating Software to calculate a projected rating score on the HERS Index. The final report will contain a cost/benefit analysis for the recommended improvements and expected return on investment. When the project is complete a Rater will retest the house and compute a final HERS Index.
A critical difference between the BPI Building Analyst and the MABEP HERS Rater is the Rater cannot have a financial interest in your decisions. They cannot sell, install, do, make, or even "partner" on, any suggested improvement AND still issue the final HERS Rating. They must be independent.
Our Raters cannot "Rate their own work".
In new construction, the MABEP HERS Rater will work with the Builder/Contractor to analyze a home's construction plans and then through onsite inspections and testing, during construction, ensure the work is done correctly. The Rater will study the plans and use nationally approved Rating Software to perform an energy analysis of the design to compute a projected, pre-construction HERS Index.
The MABEP HERS Rater will work with the Builder/Contractor to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet the designated performance target (often ENERGY STAR). The Rater will conduct periodic onsite inspections, including (but not limited to) blower door tests to test the air infiltration of the house and a duct test to test the leakiness of any ducts. Results of these tests and inspections during construction and final inspection, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index for the home when complete.
For preexisting homes the MABEP HERS Rater will perform a Comprehensive HERS Rating, the most in-depth performance Audit of an existing home. Consisting of the same evaluation and diagnostic testing contained in a (BPI) Building Analyst whole-house evaluation, the MABEP HERS Rating includes additional procedures and data gathering for later analysis on rating software.
The Rater will prepare the same cost-effective recommendations and work specs contained in a Building Performance Audit AND a simulation analysis utilizing the RESNET Rating Software to calculate a projected rating score on the HERS Index. The final report will contain a cost/benefit analysis for the recommended improvements and expected return on investment. When the project is complete a Rater will retest the house and compute a final HERS Index.
A critical difference between the BPI Building Analyst and the MABEP HERS Rater is the Rater cannot have a financial interest in your decisions. They cannot sell, install, do, make, or even "partner" on, any suggested improvement AND still issue the final HERS Rating. They must be independent.
Our Raters cannot "Rate their own work".
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