HERS RESNET Standards and Policies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RESNET Standards, which entity has ultimate authority to suspend or revoke a HERS rater's certification?
- The builder for whom the rater works
- The state energy office
- The HERS provider who certified the rater (Correct answer)
- The U.S. Department of Energy
Correct answer: The HERS provider who certified the rater
The HERS provider that certified a rater has the authority and responsibility to suspend or revoke that rater's certification under RESNET Standards.
Question 2: Which RESNET policy requires that rating software used for HERS ratings be tested against a standard set of reference cases?
- RESNET Publication 002
- RESNET Mortgage Industry National Standards
- RESNET Software Approval Process (Correct answer)
- RESNET Home Energy Audit Standard
Correct answer: RESNET Software Approval Process
The RESNET Software Approval Process requires rating software to be validated against standardized reference test cases before it can be used for official HERS ratings.
Question 3: A HERS rater working in a state without a state-specific rating standard defaults to which set of rules?
- International Energy Conservation Code requirements
- RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards (Correct answer)
- ASHRAE 90.2 residential energy standard
- EPA ENERGY STAR program requirements
Correct answer: RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards
In the absence of state-specific requirements, HERS raters default to the RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards.
Question 4: According to RESNET policy, what is required when a HERS rater transitions from one HERS provider to another?
- The rater must retake and pass the HERS rater exam
- The rater's rating history must be transferred to the new provider (Correct answer)
- The rater must complete a 40-hour refresher training
- The rater automatically loses certification and must start over
Correct answer: The rater's rating history must be transferred to the new provider
RESNET policy requires that a rater's rating history and files be transferred to the new provider when a rater changes providers.
Question 5: What is the RESNET-defined purpose of the HERS Index?
- To rank homes by square footage and lot size
- To provide a relative energy efficiency score compared to a reference home (Correct answer)
- To calculate monthly utility bill estimates for home buyers
- To determine property tax assessments for energy-efficient homes
Correct answer: To provide a relative energy efficiency score compared to a reference home
The HERS Index provides a relative energy efficiency score where a score of 100 represents a home built to the HERS reference home standard.
Question 6: Under RESNET Standards, which of the following is NOT an approved pathway for conducting a HERS rating on new construction?
- Confirmed rating with field inspections
- Sampled rating using the sampling protocol
- Desktop rating using plans only with no inspections (Correct answer)
- Energy Performance Score pathway
Correct answer: Desktop rating using plans only with no inspections
RESNET does not allow a fully desktop-only rating with no field inspections for new construction; some level of field verification is always required.
Question 7: How does RESNET define a 'rating file' for quality assurance purposes?
- Only the final HERS certificate issued to the homeowner
- The software model inputs and outputs plus field inspection records (Correct answer)
- The builder's construction drawings submitted to the local building department
- The utility bills for the first year after the home is occupied
Correct answer: The software model inputs and outputs plus field inspection records
A RESNET rating file includes the complete software model with inputs and outputs, along with all field inspection records and supporting documentation.
HERS RESNET Standards and Policies 3
Under RESNET Standards, which entity has ultimate authority to suspend or revoke a HERS rater's certification?