A HERS® Rating has value because people trust it. Every year, millions of homeowners, builders, lenders, utilities, and government programs rely on HERS Ratings to verify that homes perform as expected. That confidence is built on more than trained professionals and technical standards—it depends on independent oversight, accountability, and transparency. That’s why RESNET® has adopted Builder Notification Policies for quality assurance complaints and investigations. When a quality assurance review or complaint identifies an issue that warrants a formal investigation, builders whose projects may be affected are notified promptly. The objective is straightforward: provide timely information so builders can assess potential impacts, communicate with customers when appropriate, and work with their HERS Rating Company toward resolution. Most HERS Ratings are completed accurately and professionally. Formal investigations involve only a small fraction of the ratings completed each year. Even so, maintaining confidence in the HERS Rating system requires that significant concerns be reviewed consistently and transparently. A notification is not a determination of wrongdoing. It simply means that the facts are being evaluated through RESNET’s independent quality assurance process. Once an investigation is complete, builders receive follow-up communication explaining the outcome, any corrective actions that may be required, and, when appropriate, a reasonable opportunity to cure identified deficiencies. RESNET’s Builder Notification Policies reflect a fundamental principle of HERS IQ: quality assurance should not happen behind the scenes. Transparency strengthens confidence in every HERS Rating. For homeowners, it provides greater confidence that the HERS Rating on their home is supported by meaningful oversight. For builders, it ensures timely communication when projects may be affected. For lenders, utilities, and incentive programs, it reinforces that HERS Ratings are backed by an independent quality assurance system—not simply generated by software. Trust is earned through consistent verification, independent oversight, and open communication. Those principles are what make the HERS Rating system credible—and why transparency continues to build confidence throughout the marketplace. That is the purpose of HERS IQ! For more information or to review the policies, visit: https://www.resnet.us/about/hers-iq/
