Welcome to Red E3
Red E3 is San Diego HERS Rater service providing third party verifications of all HERS measures.
HERS stands for Home Energy Rating Service. The original purpose was primarily Energy Efficient Mortgages. It has grown over the years and HERS training has as well to reflect that A HERS Rater gets training in a number of areas in energy efficiency. As companies are different HERS Raters are different as well. Some will concentrate on the testing of HVAC systems and new home construction. Others will concentrate on the existing homes market. In either case the Rater must have proper training, equipment and certification for the tests.
Training
Here in California Raters must go through training with a qualified trainer. A written and practical exam must be passed to become a qualified HERS Rater. HERS Raters are also required to sign a code of ethics and adhere to those standards. Failure to follow these rules and ethics can result in loss of designation as a HERS Rater and or fines.
Third Party Verification
HERS Raters are third party verifiers. The working contractor cannot qualify his or hers own work. This third‐party verification is very important. The working contractor should not be the one testing and certifying a home. This would be not unlike the fox guarding the henhouse. After the work is completed third‐party their verification gives the customer and the State of California the assurance of quality test. It should also be noted that a HERS Rater cannot do repairs of the systems. A HERS test is not unlike a smog test only station. A HERS Rater is there to provide a pass or fail test. That being said a good HERS Rater will work with a contractor. The idea is to give customers a more efficient home.
HERS Testing
New Construction
HERS testing is an industry standard third party testing system designed to qualify Energy Efficient Standards. In California all new home construction must have a testing plan for new construction HVAC systems. New construction can be either in a sampling program whereby one in seven similar model homes require a ductblaster test. It is also possible for the builder to choose 100% testing. Testing must be done by a qualified HERS Rater.
Energy Star Homes
Energy Star homes are subject to more rigorous standards and testing from a HERS Rater. Duct Testing is required as well as a building envelope test with a Blower Door and pass within specifications. Insulation must be 15% better than code and HVAC systems must not be oversized by more than 15%. A HERS Rater with proper certification will verify these systems and perform the necessary tests.
HVAC Change Outs
In California commercial HVAC system change outs are subject to HERS third party verification and testing in all climate zones.
In California residential HVAC requires HERS third party verification in zones 2, 8,9,10,11,12,13 and 14. Costal Zones are not subject or required to have systems tested due to the mild and temperate climate.
Note: It would be a good idea to have systems tested in all climates. If you pay for heating or air conditioning a leaky duct system will cost you money in any climate.
New Solar Homes Partnership
The HERS Rater is responsible for multiple verifications for the California New Solar Homes Partnership or NSHP.
All energy features specified on the CF-R1 must be verified these include but are not limited to
Building Envelope
This requires a blower door test to verify the tightness of the envelope
Windows solar heat gain coefficient and U factors Size and Orientation All products must have NFRC labels and be verified
HVAC systems and their efficiencies
This requires a Ductblaster test to verify the tightness of the ducts, a TXV verification and make and model matching equipment verification in regards to the CF-R1 and the CF R1 PV.
Verify exhaust fans have back draft or automatic damper controls
Domestic Hot Water make model and energy factor minimum requirement Energy Factor 0.58 insulated hot water lines
Energy Star appliances
Residential lighting verification of Title 24 requirements.
At least 50% of Kitchen permanently installed luminaries shall be high efficacy.
Bathrooms Laundry rooms Utility rooms shall be high efficacy luminaries or controlled by occupant sensor with no auto on or always on feature
All other rooms shall be high efficacy luminaries or controlled by occupant sensor with no auto on or always on feature
Insulation R factors in ceiling and walls and raised floors
Radiant barriers on roof.
Closeable metal or glass doors covering fireplace. Outside air intake with damper control. Flue damper control. No continuous gas pilot light
Shading of windows with overhang or side fins attached to building
HERS Existing Homes Rater
EEM or Energy Efficient Mortgages
The energy efficient mortgage is an FHA program. The program is intended to have the client who qualifies for an FHA loan can add money to perform energy efficient measures to the home without adding down payment. This is great program for older homes in need of energy efficient measure and new homeowners that cannot afford these upfront costs. The EEM provide a vehicle to do just that.
Here is how the program works. The new homeowner qualifies for an FHA loan. They decide to take advantage of the EEM program. They hire a HERS Rater to perform a rating on the house. That is where a HERS Existing Homes Rater comes in.
The report will consist of the following:
Site visit where we meet with the agent or homeowner and interview them and find out what measures the client is interested in. At this time we set expectations of what the program can and cannot deliver.
We measure the building to determine to compile data for the report. First we start with the physical orientation of the house i.e. north east south and west walls. The report uses the front door for a reference for the report. Each wall is measured and if applicable what doors and windows are present. It should be noted that conditioned space only is measured. In other words if there is an attic it is not counted as square footage.
After compiling this data a drawing is produced to reflect the information. This is not an architectural drawing and is not intended for any purpose other than the EEM report. The window sizes and type are noted and there orientation as well as doors. Large glass French doors are considered window for the report but noted as doors on the drawing the same is true of sliding glass doors or any other door that is mostly glass.
Then the mechanical features of the house is noted. HVAC model number and age. Dishwasher, Domestic Hot Water and refrigerator model number and age unit type model and age. The house is inspected for insulation type and R rating of installed insulation
Blower Door and Ductblaster testing is optional. Red E3 performs these tests under most conditions.
The data is then entered into a database and a draft report is produced. It will show recommend energy efficiency upgrades and their estimated costs and projected savings. The report is finalized with approval of the customer and or agent. There are some minor things that can be altered such as what systems they would prefer, however there is very little wiggle room it is more a matter of definition.
It should also be noted that an HERS Existing Homes Rater can perform minor repairs to the HVAC ducting systems and Building Envelope at this time. This will be an extra charge for these extra services.
Red E3 is home to http://sandiegohersrater.com