What is RESNET?

What is The Residential Energy Services Network?

The Residential Energy Services Network or RESNET is a not-for-profit, membership corporation that is governed by a board of 17 (who are elected by membership).

RESNET is a recognized national standards-making body for building energy efficiency rating and certification systems in the United States involving:

• A consensus based standard development and amendment process
• Transparent review and adoption process
• Formal public review and comment process

Who Recognizes RESNET's Standards?

RESNET's standards are recognized by a number of industry organizations and government bodies including:

• Builders for marketing the energy performance of their homes
• Contractors to tap the emerging retrofit market
• Federal government agencies:
• IRS for tax credit qualification
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for ENERGY STAR labeled homes
• U.S. Department of Energy for Building America and National Builders Challenge programs

How are RESNET Standards developed?

Any interested party can submit proposals for new or revised standards provisions. These will be reviewed by the appropriate RESNET Standing Committee, which will then forward a recommendation to the RESNET Board of Directors to:

• Accept the proposals as is
• Accept with modification
• Deny

Proposed standards provisions are posted on the RESNET website for public comment for a minimum of 30 days, where public comments will be reconciled by the appropriate RESNET Standing Committee, with a recommendation to the RESNET Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors votes on the Standing Committee's recommendation and the proposed standards provisions are then put before the RESNET Standards revision committee for approval or denial.

How are Home Energy Raters Certified?

The knowledge base and skill sets for Home Energy Raters are defined by RESNET standards and the training providers are all accredited by RESNET, including:

• Curricula approval
• Instructors that are certified by RESNET (must pass examination)

All Home Energy Rater candidates must pass a national online test and perform 5 ratings under the supervision of certified RESNET Home Energy Rater. Only then can the Home Energy Rater candidate be certified by a RESNET accredited Rating Provider.

How does RESNET Provide for Quality Assurance Within the Rating Industry?

RESNET has certain procedures in place that ensure quality standards are being maintained, such as:

• Each Rating Provider must employ a certified Quality Assurance Designee
• The Quality Assurance Designee must independently verify internal consistency of a minimum 10% of all building input files
• The Quality Assurance Designee must independently field verify the accuracy of a minimum of 1% of each certified Raters' homes
• RESNET monitors the Rating Providers compliance with quality assurance requirements