Despite the slowdown in the U.S. housing market the demand for home energy ratings remained constant in 2011. In 2011 121,000 homes in the U.S. were energy rated and issued a HERS® Index Score. This represented 40% of new homes sold in the U.S. In 2010 the number of homes rated in the U.S. was also 120,000. This is remarkable in that the number of new homes sold in the U.S. dropped dramatically between 2010 and 2011. The following has been the trend in the number of new homes energy rated in the U.S, since 2008: Year Number of Homes Rated % of New Homes Sold 2008 100,000 21% 2009 116,000 31% 2010 120,000 38% 2011 120,000 40% RESNET executive director Steve Baden commented, “These numbers reflect that home energy ratings are fast becoming a mainstream in the U.S. housing market. Home builders are increasingly seeing energy efficiency as a major selling point for buying a new home. To take advantage of this opportunity builders are presenting a home’s energy performance in a way every buyer can understand, the home’s HERS® Index Score. I expect this trend to continue as more national local builders commit to having all of their homes energy rated and marketing their homes HERS® Index Score.”
