CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. What do HERS Providers provide?
Answer:
They provide software, oversight, marketing assistance, and quality assurance for the Rater.
Question:
2. What role does a HERS Trainer play?
Answer:
The Trainer trains Raters on how to perform HERS ratings.
Question:
3. 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.
Question:
4. 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.
Question:
5. 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.
Question:
6. Can any energy analysis software be used to produce a HERS rating?
Answer:
No -- The software must be a RESNET accredited software tool.
Question:
7. 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.
Question:
8. 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.
Question:
9. 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.
Question:
10. 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.
Question:
11. 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
Question:
12. How many therms?
Answer:
1 CCF of natural gas = 1 therm 17 CCF of natural gas = 17 therms
Question:
13. 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
Question:
14. 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
Question:
15. What is the building envelope?
Answer:
The building envelope is an air barrier and thermal boundary that are continuous and touching and separate
conditioned space from unconditioned space or the outside.