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HERS Rater 2025 — Home Energy Rating System
Certification, Training, and Exam Preparation Guide
Become a certified HERS Rater 2025 with the complete training, study guide, and exam
preparation materials. Learn essential home energy efficiency standards, building science
principles, HVAC and insulation testing, blower door and duct testing, and energy code
compliance to pass your HERS Rater certification exam and excel in energy auditing and
building performance careers.
• HERS Rater certification 2025
• Home Energy Rating System training
• HERS rater exam prep
• HERS certification study guide
Heat pumps have an efficiency rating greater than 100% why? - ANSWER-They MOVE heat ("heat
pump") instead of converting fuel to heat
A "ton" of cooling capacity is... - ANSWER-A unit of capacity. Equal to 12,000 Btu's/hr
The average surface temp surrounding people is called... - ANSWER-Mean radiant temperature
Energy Factor (EF) is the efficiency rating for what type of appliance? - ANSWER-Water Heaters
What are Heating Degree Days used for? - ANSWER-To estimate the amount of energy required to heat a
house over the heating season
,2|Page
An attic knee wall is... - ANSWER-Any wall that separates conditioned space form unconditioned attic
space
A city has 5,000 heating degree days and receives 20.4 inches of rain per year. Which climate zone is this
city in? - ANSWER-Mixed-humid Climate Zone
When measuring window overhangs, you should... - ANSWER-Measure each individually
What do HERS Providers ~provide~ for the Rater? (4 things) - ANSWER-1) Software
2) Oversight
3) Marketing assistance
4) Quality assurance
Memory tool:
"S O MA QA"
(Sony Only MAkes Quality)
Why was RESNET created? (3 main functions) - ANSWER-1 ) "To oversee the HERS industry"
2) "Provide standards for accreditation" of Raters, Providers and Trainers
3) "Provide standards for...
-ethics
-inspection
-testing and
-software analysis"
Memory tool:
Oversee, accredit, standard
, 3|Page
OAS
Overly Acrid Screwdriver (like O.J.+vodka)....
What type of mortgage does not apply to an EEM? - ANSWER-home equity loan ("HEL-no") (makes sense
bc home equity would presumably shift based on green improvements; shifting goal posts(?))
What is the best way to keep mold under control? - ANSWER-Keeping relative humidity between 30% &
50% (RH 30-50)
"Effective" R-value is a marketing term that means... - ANSWER-Additional R-value has been claimed for
characteristics other than resistance to heat flow
Reference Home insulation levels are determined by... - ANSWER-The RATED HOME'S climate zone
Physical comfort and discomfort is primarily affected by... - ANSWER-Air temperature, relative humidity,
(mean) radiant temperature, airflow
Most ppl will be comfortable with a relative humidity of... - ANSWER-43%
What doesn't generally have an effect on R-value? - ANSWER-Delta T
Taking a baseline measurement adjusts for which two types of pressure impacts? - ANSWER-Stack and
wind effects
how do you calculate the area of windows in an older home - ANSWER-not just the area of the window,
but include sash and frame
Efficiency Rating of a Geothermal Heat Pump in cooling mode - ANSWER-EER
If a house is positive W.R.T. outside, what's the dominant duct leakage? - ANSWER-Return ducts leak
more than supply ducts
HERS Rater 2025 — Home Energy Rating System
Certification, Training, and Exam Preparation Guide
Become a certified HERS Rater 2025 with the complete training, study guide, and exam
preparation materials. Learn essential home energy efficiency standards, building science
principles, HVAC and insulation testing, blower door and duct testing, and energy code
compliance to pass your HERS Rater certification exam and excel in energy auditing and
building performance careers.
• HERS Rater certification 2025
• Home Energy Rating System training
• HERS rater exam prep
• HERS certification study guide
Heat pumps have an efficiency rating greater than 100% why? - ANSWER-They MOVE heat ("heat
pump") instead of converting fuel to heat
A "ton" of cooling capacity is... - ANSWER-A unit of capacity. Equal to 12,000 Btu's/hr
The average surface temp surrounding people is called... - ANSWER-Mean radiant temperature
Energy Factor (EF) is the efficiency rating for what type of appliance? - ANSWER-Water Heaters
What are Heating Degree Days used for? - ANSWER-To estimate the amount of energy required to heat a
house over the heating season
,2|Page
An attic knee wall is... - ANSWER-Any wall that separates conditioned space form unconditioned attic
space
A city has 5,000 heating degree days and receives 20.4 inches of rain per year. Which climate zone is this
city in? - ANSWER-Mixed-humid Climate Zone
When measuring window overhangs, you should... - ANSWER-Measure each individually
What do HERS Providers ~provide~ for the Rater? (4 things) - ANSWER-1) Software
2) Oversight
3) Marketing assistance
4) Quality assurance
Memory tool:
"S O MA QA"
(Sony Only MAkes Quality)
Why was RESNET created? (3 main functions) - ANSWER-1 ) "To oversee the HERS industry"
2) "Provide standards for accreditation" of Raters, Providers and Trainers
3) "Provide standards for...
-ethics
-inspection
-testing and
-software analysis"
Memory tool:
Oversee, accredit, standard
, 3|Page
OAS
Overly Acrid Screwdriver (like O.J.+vodka)....
What type of mortgage does not apply to an EEM? - ANSWER-home equity loan ("HEL-no") (makes sense
bc home equity would presumably shift based on green improvements; shifting goal posts(?))
What is the best way to keep mold under control? - ANSWER-Keeping relative humidity between 30% &
50% (RH 30-50)
"Effective" R-value is a marketing term that means... - ANSWER-Additional R-value has been claimed for
characteristics other than resistance to heat flow
Reference Home insulation levels are determined by... - ANSWER-The RATED HOME'S climate zone
Physical comfort and discomfort is primarily affected by... - ANSWER-Air temperature, relative humidity,
(mean) radiant temperature, airflow
Most ppl will be comfortable with a relative humidity of... - ANSWER-43%
What doesn't generally have an effect on R-value? - ANSWER-Delta T
Taking a baseline measurement adjusts for which two types of pressure impacts? - ANSWER-Stack and
wind effects
how do you calculate the area of windows in an older home - ANSWER-not just the area of the window,
but include sash and frame
Efficiency Rating of a Geothermal Heat Pump in cooling mode - ANSWER-EER
If a house is positive W.R.T. outside, what's the dominant duct leakage? - ANSWER-Return ducts leak
more than supply ducts
