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Touchstone Energy Launches Existing Homes Upgrade and Labeling Program Linked to HERS® Index

Mar 27, 2014

There is a myth that the HERS’ Index value is restricted to only new homes.  Touchstone Energy Cooperatives did not fall for it.  At the Midwest Regional Energy Conference in Lexington, Kentucky it was announced that the network of electrical cooperatives will be launching the “TogetherWeSave Energy Smart Home” label for existing homes whose energy performance has been approved to at least a HERS® Index Score of 90.

The existing homes labeling feature is part of suite of the home performance program offered by Touchstone Energy’s TogetherWeSave initiative.  The electric cooperative program offers a progression of energy services including:

An online do-it-yourself audit tool, “Home Energy Savings Tour”.  If the home is found to benefit from approvals, the homeowner is led to the next level;

A clip board walk through energy audit conducted by a cooperative’s energy advisor.  If the audit finds the home a candidate for a whole house retrofit the homeowner is led to the next lever;

Whole house comprehensive energy audit including performance testing;

For homes that are retrofitted and are demonstrated to achieve at least a 90 HERS® Index Score the home is labeled as a TogetherWeSave Energy Smart Home.

The program was developed through a partnership between Touchstone Energy and RESNET.  The partnership has been formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding.  Roy Honican of Blue Grass Energy was instrumental in forging the partnership and developing the program.

For its leadership in promoting home energy performance the Touchstone Energy program has been designated as a RESNET Energy Smart Program.

Alan Shedd, Touchstone Energy; Steve Baden, RESNET & Roy Honican, Blue Grass Energy with the MOU at the Midwest Regional Residential Energy Conference

RESNET’s Steve Baden lauded Touchstone Energy Cooperative’s home performance program as being a “user friendly comprehensive retrofit program that results in the retrofitted home being rated and labeled.  The program begins at a simple level and leads the consumer to a whole house energy improvement.  The HERS® Index Score label at the end of the process allows recognition in the mortgage process when the home is sold.”

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives is a nationwide alliance made of 750 electric cooperatives in 46 states with more than 30 million members.