Practice Test Geeks(HERS) Certified Home Energy Rating System Rater Practice Test
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Energy Modeling & Analysis Flashcards

7 cards from real HERS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Energy Modeling & Analysis flashcards as text

  1. A HERS rater enters window U-factors into the software. What does a lower U-factor indicate about the window assembly?

    Answer: Better resistance to conductive heat flow

    U-factor is the rate of heat transfer; a lower U-factor means less conductive heat loss through the window, indicating better thermal performance.

  2. When verifying energy model inputs against field conditions, a rater finds the installed wall insulation is R-13 instead of the R-21 shown on plans. What must the rater do?

    Answer: Update the model to reflect the as-built R-13 condition

    HERS ratings must reflect actual as-built conditions; the rater must update the model to match the field-verified R-13 insulation.

  3. How does HERS software handle a home with multiple heating zones controlled by separate thermostats?

    Answer: Each zone is modeled with its own set points and equipment inputs

    Multi-zone systems require separate zone inputs for each thermostat area, including its own equipment, set points, and served floor area.

  4. Which of the following best describes the role of TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) data in HERS energy modeling?

    Answer: It supplies hourly weather data representing average annual climate conditions for simulation

    TMY data provides an 8,760-hour dataset of typical weather conditions used by simulation engines to model annual energy consumption realistically.

  5. A rater models a home with a tankless gas water heater. Which efficiency metric is entered for this equipment type?

    Answer: Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) or Energy Factor (EF) depending on the rating standard used

    Tankless water heaters are rated using UEF (for newer units) or EF (for older units), and the applicable metric is entered based on which standard the equipment was tested under.

  6. A home's blower door result is 3.2 ACH50. The rater converts this to natural infiltration for the energy model. Which conversion method does RESNET prescribe?

    Answer: Use the LBL infiltration model with site-specific factors

    RESNET and most HERS software use the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) infiltration model, which converts pressurized leakage to natural infiltration using house height, shielding, and climate factors.

  7. When a HERS rater compares the rated home energy use to the reference home, a HERS Index of 85 means what?

    Answer: The home uses 15% less energy than the reference home

    A HERS Index of 85 means the rated home uses 85% as much energy as the reference home, representing a 15% improvement over code baseline.