HERS Index

Alachua County

Energy Conservation Strategies Commission

November 19, 2007

Say What ?

The Gator’s had a good game.

My kid did well at school.

My home is energy efficient.

What do these statements have in common?

Real Numbers !!!

None have any meaning without being quantified – we need a clear and consistent method of communicating results

Gators won the game 59-17 My kid got a 1540 on her SAT My home has a HERS Index of 68

HERS Index/E-Scale

We consider a cars relative energy efficiency with MPG – The higher the number, the more fuel efficient.

We can consider a homes relative energy efficiency with the E-Scale ……… The lower the number, the more fuel efficient the home.

The E-scale

Each point represents a 1% difference in a homes current energy efficiency

A home with a HERS Index of 75 will be twice as efficient as a home with a HERS Index of 150

Important Benchmarks

A Home with a HERS Index of Zero produces as much energy per year as it uses. (ZEH)

To meet minimum code the HERS Index must be 100 or less

To meet minimum Energy Star the HERS Index must be 85 or less

Compare

Objective - create High Performance Homes that are:

Healthy Safe Comfortable Durable – disaster resistant Affordable – cost of ownership Energy/resource efficient

Using an integrated systems approach

International Builders’ 2008 Show Remarks by Secretary Bodman

It makes imminent sense to have full transparency and disclosure where home energy performance is concerned – they are easily the largest energy intensive investment most people will ever make.  Just as we know how appliances and cars use energy, we can now begin to see the energy use patterns of our homes over their lifecycle.

The ultimate goal is to have all new homes achieve a zero rating– making them net-zero energy homes, producing at least as much energy as they consume.  This EnergySmart Home Scale or E-Scale label, simply put, is the home buyer’s equivalent of the fuel efficiency sticker that appears in the window of every new car.

Leadership

"Our country cannot create a sustainable energy and climate future through incrementalism," said Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy.” "We

need bold action from our government”

11/18/2007

Leadership

Leadership is not defined by the promises made

But by the promises kept

Thanks