RESNET HERS® Index

Energy Performance Guarantee

Each LifeStyle SunSmart and solar-powered home has been tested and certified by an independent inspector accredited by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).

RESNET developed the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), which is the nationally recognized standard for inspecting and calculating a home’s energy performance. The lower the HERS Index rating, the more energy efficient the home is, and therefore, the more electricity cost savings the homeowner receives.

Much like a car’s MPG sticker, the HERS Index gives you an idea of how much your home is costing you. Energy-efficient homes have lower scores and cost a lot less to run. Homes that are energy guzzlers have higher scores that you’ll feel each time you open your energy bill.

Nationally, a typical new home (HERS Reference Home) is assigned a rating of 100 on the HERS Index, while a typical resale home (HERS Existing Home) is assigned a rating of 130. Comparatively, all LifeStyle SunSmart homes are guaranteed to have a HERS Index rating of 60 or lower. Meanwhile, all LifeStyle solar-powered homes that achieve a zero-energy performance will have a HERS Index rating of 0 or lower.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
A score of 60 on the HERS Index means that you should expect your annual energy bill to be 40% less than it would be if you bought a similar-sized new home, and 70% less than it would be if you bought a similar-sized used home.

SIDE-BY-SIDE SAVINGS COMPARISON
Consider this side-by-side savings of a LifeStyle SunSmart home compared to a typical used home and typical new home. (Estimates based on a four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,400 square-foot home. Actual electricity costs may vary depending on family size and lifestyle.)

typical resale home costs
typical new home costs
LifeStyle Sunsmart home costs

This means that this LifeStyle SunSmart home’s electricity cost savings are an estimated $768 per year when compared to a typical new home, and an estimated $1,296 per year when compared to a typical resale home.