HERS Energy Modeling & Analysis 2

Question 1

In REM/Rate or equivalent HERS software, what does the 'reference home' represent?

Accepted Answer

A code-minimum home built to the same specifications as the rated home

Answer

The highest-performing home in the neighborhood

Answer

The national average energy consumption for similar homes

Answer

The rated home with all improvements applied

Question 2

Which parameter has the greatest impact on heating load calculations in cold climates when entering data into HERS software?

Accepted Answer

Wall assembly U-factor

Answer

Window SHGC value

Answer

Water heater efficiency rating

Answer

Duct leakage to outside

Question 3

When modeling a home with a sealed crawlspace in HERS software, how should the crawlspace be categorized?

Accepted Answer

Conditioned space with insulated walls

Answer

Unconditioned space with vented floor assembly

Answer

Exterior exposure equivalent to a slab

Answer

Semi-conditioned with 50% heat loss factor

Question 4

A rater enters a furnace with AFUE of 0.96 into HERS software. What does the remaining 4% represent?

Accepted Answer

Energy lost to flue gases and jacket losses

Answer

Energy used by the blower motor

Answer

Standby pilot light consumption

Answer

Duct distribution losses

Question 5

Which of the following correctly describes how HERS software handles mechanical ventilation in the energy model?

Accepted Answer

Ventilation fan watts and airflow are modeled as an energy load

Answer

Ventilation energy use is excluded from the HERS Index calculation

Answer

Only exhaust-only systems are recognized by the software

Answer

Ventilation is approximated using natural infiltration values only

Question 6

What is the purpose of entering an 'as-built' natural gas water heater's Energy Factor (EF) or Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) into HERS software?

Accepted Answer

To calculate annual domestic hot water energy consumption

Answer

To determine the correct pipe insulation R-value

Answer

To set the water heater's recovery time in the model

Answer

To verify the unit meets combustion safety standards

Question 7

When modeling a home with photovoltaic (PV) panels in HERS software for a HERS Index calculation, what is the standard treatment of PV output?

Accepted Answer

PV generation offsets rated home energy use and can reduce the HERS Index below zero

Answer

PV output is ignored entirely in standard HERS ratings

Answer

PV is entered only for the reference home calculation

Answer

PV output replaces the need to model mechanical systems