RESNET NATIONAL STANDARD:

The provisions of this Standard are intended to define a framework for a home energy audit process as it qualifies homeowners for Keystone HELP Program and Energy Star Rebate Programs.  This partnership of organizations provides a network for  qualifying, tracking and verifying Energy Performance Improvements, Energy Use Reduction, High Quality Building Standards and a network of Home Energy Contractors across Pa. 

Standards to improve the energy performance of existing homes through uniform, comprehensive home energy audits for existing residential buildings is done by RESNET certified energy raters many of whom were certified by funded certification programs of PA Home Energy .

These Standards are intended to assist and result in investments by building owners and produce the following outcomes:

• Increase the energy efficiency of homes

• Increase healthiness and comfort of homes

• Increase the durability of homes

• Ensure that energy improvement and recom- mendations are portrayed with reasonable and consistent projections of energy savings;

• Reduce the risk that energy improvement recommendations will contribute to health,
safety, or building durability problems; and

• Reduce waste and pollution, protecting the environment. 701.2. National Standard for Home Energy Assessment Levels There are two categories of assessment defined in this standard:

1. Home Energy Survey
  a. On-Line Home Energy Survey
  b. In-Home Home Energy Survey
  c. Diagnostic Home Energy Survey

2. Comprehensive Home Energy Audit  701.3 Relationship to Other Standards This Chapter is a companion Chapter to the “National Accreditation Procedures for Home Energy Rating Systems”

3. PA Home Energy - PA Home Energy is focused on helping Pennsylvania consumers reduce their home energy use and conducts RESNET training and certification courses. The program integrates the general principles of whole house performance with green home design. At the heart of PA Home Energy is ENERGY STAR – a joint program of the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),  U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Keystone HELP Program.

“National Rater Training and Certifying Standard”
and “National Energy Rating Technical Standards”  as promulgated and maintained by the Residential Energy Services Network(RESNET) and recognized by the mortgage industry and programs promoting the improved energy
performance of buildings.

Relationship to State Law This Standard specifically recognizes that some state laws
or regulations have additional requirements. To the extent that such state laws or regulations differ from these Standards, state law or regulation shall govern.

Application of Standards
This Standard applies to existing site-constructed or manufactured, single- and multi-family
residential buildings three stories or less in height, with the exception of hotels and motels.

 DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS
BPI - Building Performance Institute
Certified Building Analyst (BA) - An individual who successfully passes the BPI written and
field examination requirements for certification in order to evaluate the performance of a
home, taking into account systems, physical conditions and other energy and non-energy
characteristics of the home.

Certified Contractor - A contractor accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) or
an equivalent certification organization recognized by the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program to complete specific home performance improvement work.

Certified Home Energy Rater - An individual who is certified by an accredited home energy
Rating Provider to inspect and test a home in order to evaluate the minimum rated features
established by RESNET and prepare a home energy rating according to Chapters One and
Three of the RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards.

Comprehensive Home Energy Audit - A level of the RESNET Home Energy Audit process
defined by this standard to include the evaluation, diagnosis and proposed treatment of an
existing home. The Comprehensive Home Energy Audit may be based on a Home Performance Assessment (“Comprehensive Home Performance Energy Audit”) or Home

Energy Rating (“Comprehensive HERS Audit”), in accordance with the criteria established
by this Standard. A homeowner may elect to go through this process with or without a prior
Home Energy Survey or Diagnostic Home Energy Survey.

Auditor - An individual who is certified by a

RESNET accredited Comprehensive Home
Energy Audit Provider to conduct comprehensive home energy audits.

Data Collection - The gathering of information on building energy features, energy use
history and other relevant building and building operation information.

Diagnostic Home Energy Survey - A level of the RESNET Home Energy Survey in accordance with this standard, consisting of an In-Home Home Energy Survey and additional diagnostic testing.

Diagnostic Testing - The use of building performance-testing equipment (e.g. blower door,
duct blaster, flow hood, infrared camera, CO monitor, etc.) to measure, assess and document
specific performance characteristics of the building system.

Energy Efficiency Rating or Energy Rating - See Home Energy Rating

Energy Saving Measure or Feature - Any material, component, device, system, construction
method, process or combination thereof that will result in a reduction of energy use.

Evaluation - An analysis of the data collected from any survey or audit, on-site data
collection and performance testing, available energy usage records to determine energy use
and potential savings from improvements.

HERS - Home Energy Rating System

HERS Index - A numerical integer value produced by a Home Energy Rating that represents
the relative energy use of a Rated Home as compared to the energy use of the HERS

Reference Home, and where an Index value of 100 represents the energy use of the HERS
Reference Home and an Index value of 0 (zero) represents a home that uses zero net
purchased energy.

HERS Provider - An organization accredited by

RESNET in accordance with section 102 of
the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Systems Standards to develop, manage,
and operate a home energy rating system.

Home - A building with one or more dwelling units that has three or fewer stories above
grade, or a single dwelling unit within a building of three or fewer stories above grade.

Home Energy Assessment - Defined by this standard as one of two levels of energy
assessment of a home, including Home Energy Survey and Comprehensive Home Energy Audit.

Home Energy Rating - An unbiased indication of a home’s relative energy performance
based on consistent inspection procedures, operating assumptions, climate data and
calculation methods in accordance with the “National Energy Rating Technical Standards”

Home Energy Rating System or HERS® - The materials and procedures needed to operate a
home energy rating program including, but not limited to: marketing materials, training
materials, publications, rating software, quality control system, data collection and
maintenance systems, agreements, data collection sheets, home owner reports, and other
related materials and services.

Home Performance Assessment - A detailed evaluation of the condition of a home as a
building system, including evaluation of all materials, components, features, systems and
subsystems that affect energy use of the home.

Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) - A national program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), that offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort of homes, while maintaining or improving safety.

• Keystone HELP® loans are fast and simple. Most loan applications are approved within hours, with your Approved Keystone HELP Contractor paid immediately upon satisfactory completion of the job.
• Keystone HELP® loans offers:- Special, low interest rates locked in for the life of loan
• Longer terms and lower rates than typically available
  
• No penalty for pre-payment

• Eligible improvements must be installed by a Keystone HELP® Approved Contractor. There are currently over 1,600 Approved Keystone HELP Contractors in Pennsylvania.
• Qualifying homeowners can get the lowest cost financing and a $325 cash energy audit credit for energy-saving "whole house" improvements performed by a Keystone HELP® Trained or Certified Contractor implementing the recommendations of a Certified Auditor who has conducted a comprehensive energy audit of your home.

Home Energy Survey Provider - An organization accredited by RESNET in accordance with
Section 703 of the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Systems Standards to
certify individuals to perform Home Energy Surveys in accordance with this standard, and to
maintain quality assurance of the Home Energy Survey process.

Home Energy Survey Professional - An individual certified by an accredited Home Energy Survey Provider to conduct Home Energy Surveys.

In-Home Home Energy Survey - A level of the RESNET Home Energy Assessment process
defined by this standard intended to assess both the general energy performance of the home
and the level of the commitment to action on the part of the homeowner. The intent of the energy survey is to refer homeowners to the next level if it is determined that the home needs further analysis, and the homeowner is motivated to invest in improvements.

The On-Line or In-Home Home Energy Survey is not required if the homeowner wishes to directly pursue a Diagnostic Home Energy Survey or Comprehensive Home Energy Audit.

On-Line Home Energy Survey - A basic energy review of a home using an internet-based
tool or software.

Performance Testing - Testing conducted to evaluate the performance of a system or
component using specified performance metrics.

Rating Software - A computerized procedure that is accredited by RESNET for the purpose of conducting home energy ratings and calculating the annual energy consumption, annual energy costs and a HERS Index for a home.

RESNET - Residential Energy Services Network