Home >Articles >Omaha Public Power District Requires HERS® Index Score on All Homes Labeled in the Certified High Performance Homes Program – Designated as RESNET Energy Smart Program

Omaha Public Power District Requires HERS® Index Score on All Homes Labeled in the Certified High Performance Homes Program – Designated as RESNET Energy Smart Program

Jun 6, 2013

The Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has committed to having all of the homes participating in its Certified High Performance Homes Program to be energy rated and the builder marketing the HERS® Index Score of their homes.

OPPD is a customer-owned utility serving over 352,000 customers in all or parts of 13 counties in east and southeast Nebraska.

Since 2012, OPPD has been a partner of Certified High Performance Homes (CHPH).  CHPH administered by the Home Building Professionals of Greater Omaha.  A CHPH home must have a HERS® score of 65 or lower.  OPPD estimates that more than 1,000 CHPH homes are expected to be built and energy rated in OPPD’s service territory by the end of 2013.

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.

RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden lauded OPPD’s leadership, “ this action will serve to raise consumers’ knowledge of new home energy performance using the HERS® Index and educate Omaha consumers on the value of high energy performance homes.  I applaud OPPD working with the Omaha home builders association’s program.”

By making the HERS® Index Score commitment OPPD has been designated as a RESNET Energy Smart Program.  RESNET Energy Smart Programs requires their participating builders to commit to having all of their homes energy rated, market the homes’ HERS® Index Score and become RESNET Energy Smart Builders.  Other utility programs that have been designated to date include the Blue Grass Energy Touchstone Energy Home Program, Hoosier Energy Touchstone Energy Home Program and the Louisville Gas & Electric Kentucky Utilities Energy Efficiency Homes Program.  For more information go to RESNET Energy Smart Program