The ENERGY STAR ERI
An ERI – or an Energy Rating Index – score is essential to understanding the amount of energy that a home is predicted to use. The software used by NHCO – the Veraspace suite – utilizes the most recent ICC Standard 301-2022 along with the NREL-created OpenStudio ERI software to compare the details of a home as they are described within the software with a “reference home”, or a standard home. With this comparison, the software can determine how energy efficient the home will be and can provide a rating to allow builders and homeowners.
The ENERGY STAR ERI is the ERI rating method developed by ENERGY STAR in order to provide a more universal rating method than others in the industry – and NHCO believes that national standardization is the way forward.
For each NHCO verified home, the rating is displayed in our Energy Dial.
The Energy Dial
NHCO describes each rating with our proprietary Energy Dial.
Depending on your home rating, the Energy Dial describes the energy usage of a home in comparison to the reference home using a color-coordinated dial to make it easy and intuitive to understand. Below, you can peruse a few examples of the Energy Dial with more details on how to interpret it.
Energy Producers and Net-Zero Homes
With the advent and implementation of home-based energy production sources like solar panels, homes across the country are now able to be “energy producers”. Energy producers are able to not only power their own homes, but they can add energy production back into their grid. These homes are considered energy producers.
A Net-Zero home is a home that produces as much energy as it consumes, meaning that home is as efficient as possible before becoming an energy producer.
Highly Efficient Homes
Homes that have comprehensive energy efficiency measures and low ENERGY STAR ERI ratings are considered highly efficient. These homes use much less energy than your average home and have much less environmental impact as a result. On top of the impact on the environment, homeowners can expect lower energy costs and more comfort in their home due to the extra efficiency measures taken.
Energy Efficient Homes
When a home is rated to have lower energy usage than the reference home, that home would be classed as “energy efficient”. These homes are more efficient than the standard new home, meaning the homeowner can expect energy cost savings and the home will use less energy and have less impact on the environment.
An efficient home can fit in a range, but any home rated lower than the reference home is considered energy efficient.
High-Energy Usage Homes
Homes that rate higher than the standard new home reference is considered a high-energy usage home. These homes are projected to use more energy than an average home, and will have higher environmental impact and energy costs. A home that is rated high-energy usage can always be improved, but improvements should be guided by an industry expert to ensure that each measure taken has the most impact.