HERS HERS HVAC Systems and Equipment Evaluation

Question 1

What AFUE rating is the minimum threshold for a gas furnace to be considered high-efficiency under current U.S. energy standards?

Accepted Answer

90%

Answer

A gas furnace must have an AFUE of 90% or higher to be classified as high-efficiency under U.S. standards.

Question 2

Which metric is used to rate the cooling efficiency of central air conditioning systems on the HERS rating?

Accepted Answer

SEER

Answer

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the primary metric used to evaluate central air conditioner efficiency in HERS ratings.

Question 3

When a HERS rater verifies equipment sizing, which method is the industry-accepted standard for performing residential load calculations?

Accepted Answer

ACCA Manual J

Answer

ACCA Manual J is the industry-accepted protocol for calculating residential heating and cooling loads.

Question 4

What is the minimum HSPF rating required for an air-source heat pump to qualify as high-efficiency?

Accepted Answer

8.2

Answer

An HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) of 8.2 or higher qualifies an air-source heat pump as high-efficiency.

Question 5

In REM/Rate energy modeling, how is a heat pump water heater typically entered to reflect its efficiency correctly?

Accepted Answer

Using the Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) from the EnergyGuide label

Answer

Heat pump water heaters are entered using their Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) as listed on the EnergyGuide label.

(HERS) Certified Home Energy Rating System Rater Practice Test