The Home Building Professionals of Greater Omaha has launched a high energy performance home program, the Certified High Performance Home Program. The program requires that homes certified must achieve a HERS® Index Score of 65 or lower through a home energy rating conducted by a certified RESNET Home Energy Rater. Homes that meet this criteria are issued the below High Performance Home Certificate that includes the home’s HERS® Index Score: There are 36 Omaha builders participating in the program and it is estimated that between 400 and 500 homes will be labeled by the program in 2013. For more information go to Certified High Performance Home Program Working with the local board of REALTORS the Home Building Professionals of Greater Omaha was able to incorporate a home’s HERS® Index Score into the Omaha Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This action is important since the MLS is relied upon by Realtors and appraisers to access information about homes for sale. Steve Baden, the Executive Director for the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) commented that, “Including the HERS® Index Score in the MLS is a significant push to the mainstreaming of the HERS® Index Score in the housing market in Omaha. REALTORS® rely on the MLS to guide potential homebuyers and appraisers use the service to locate comparable properties. Having this information will make it easier for builders to market their HERS® Index Scores and appraisers to calculate the market value of rated homes.”
