HERS RATER COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
●● What role does a HERS Trainer play?
Answer: The Trainer trains Raters on how to perform HERS ratings.
●● What are some of the responsibilities of a HERS Rater?
Answer: The Rater's responsibilities include inspecting and testing the
minimum rated features of the home, entering the data into a RESNET
accredited software tool, and providing the client with reports generated
by the software.
●● Why was RESNET created and by whom?
Answer: RESNET was created to use a scoring system that could
compare the energy use of different houses with each other on a level
playing field. It was created to oversee the HERS industry, provide
standards for accreditation of Raters, Providers and Trainers, ethics and
protocols for inspection, testing and software analysis. It was created by
the National Association of State Energy Officers (NASEO) and Energy
Rated Homes of America.
●● What are the minimum rated features of a home?
,Answer: The minimum rated features of a home include but are not
limited to the foundation, walls, roof-ceiling, rim joist, doors, windows,
skylights, air infiltration, heating and cooling equipment, heating and
cooling distribution system, duct leakage, domestic water heating,
passive solar design, and solar water heating.
●● Can any energy analysis software be used to produce a HERS rating?
Answer: No -- The software must be a RESNET accredited software
tool.
●● Is a Home Energy Rater required to verify compliance with the local
energy code?
Answer: No - The rater is not required to determine compliance with
regulatory requirements such as construction codes.
●● If a Rater enters an existing home to perform inspections and testing
and the owner's 9 foot Burmese python is loose, does the Rater have to
complete the inspection and testing?
Answer: No - The Rater is not required to enter any area or perform any
procedure that is likely to be dangerous to the Rater.
●● Is a Rater required to perform Manual J load calculations?
Answer: No - The Rater is not required to offer or perform HVAC
system design or sizing consultation.
, ●● What is a British thermal unit?
Answer: A British thermal unit (Btu) is the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of one pound of water on degree Fahrenheit at sea
level when the water is 39.2°F.
●● A homeowner has paid for 17 CCF of natural gas on their monthly
bill. How many Btu's did they use?
Answer: 1 CCF = 102,000 Btu's
17 CCF = 17 x 102,000 = 1,734,000
●● How many therms?
Answer: 1 CCF of natural gas = 1 therm
17 CCF of natural gas = 17 therms
●● How many kWh are in 14,000 Btu's?
Answer: 1 kWh = 3,413 Btu's
14,000 Btu's / 3,413 Btu's = 4.1 kWh
●● How many therms are in 18 CCF of natural gas?
Answer: 1 CCF of natural gas = 1 therm
18 CCF of natural gas = 18 therms
●● What is the building envelope?
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
●● What role does a HERS Trainer play?
Answer: The Trainer trains Raters on how to perform HERS ratings.
●● What are some of the responsibilities of a HERS Rater?
Answer: The Rater's responsibilities include inspecting and testing the
minimum rated features of the home, entering the data into a RESNET
accredited software tool, and providing the client with reports generated
by the software.
●● Why was RESNET created and by whom?
Answer: RESNET was created to use a scoring system that could
compare the energy use of different houses with each other on a level
playing field. It was created to oversee the HERS industry, provide
standards for accreditation of Raters, Providers and Trainers, ethics and
protocols for inspection, testing and software analysis. It was created by
the National Association of State Energy Officers (NASEO) and Energy
Rated Homes of America.
●● What are the minimum rated features of a home?
,Answer: The minimum rated features of a home include but are not
limited to the foundation, walls, roof-ceiling, rim joist, doors, windows,
skylights, air infiltration, heating and cooling equipment, heating and
cooling distribution system, duct leakage, domestic water heating,
passive solar design, and solar water heating.
●● Can any energy analysis software be used to produce a HERS rating?
Answer: No -- The software must be a RESNET accredited software
tool.
●● Is a Home Energy Rater required to verify compliance with the local
energy code?
Answer: No - The rater is not required to determine compliance with
regulatory requirements such as construction codes.
●● If a Rater enters an existing home to perform inspections and testing
and the owner's 9 foot Burmese python is loose, does the Rater have to
complete the inspection and testing?
Answer: No - The Rater is not required to enter any area or perform any
procedure that is likely to be dangerous to the Rater.
●● Is a Rater required to perform Manual J load calculations?
Answer: No - The Rater is not required to offer or perform HVAC
system design or sizing consultation.
, ●● What is a British thermal unit?
Answer: A British thermal unit (Btu) is the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of one pound of water on degree Fahrenheit at sea
level when the water is 39.2°F.
●● A homeowner has paid for 17 CCF of natural gas on their monthly
bill. How many Btu's did they use?
Answer: 1 CCF = 102,000 Btu's
17 CCF = 17 x 102,000 = 1,734,000
●● How many therms?
Answer: 1 CCF of natural gas = 1 therm
17 CCF of natural gas = 17 therms
●● How many kWh are in 14,000 Btu's?
Answer: 1 kWh = 3,413 Btu's
14,000 Btu's / 3,413 Btu's = 4.1 kWh
●● How many therms are in 18 CCF of natural gas?
Answer: 1 CCF of natural gas = 1 therm
18 CCF of natural gas = 18 therms
●● What is the building envelope?
