Across the nation the RESNET HERS® Index Score is fast becoming a mainstream in the housing market. Homebuilders are having their homes energy rated and marketing the HERS® Index Score of their homes, Multiple Listing Services (MLS) are incorporating the HERS® Index Scores in their listings and code jurisdictions are recognizing a HERS® Index Score as a building energy code compliance option. With the increased visibility of the HERS® Index Score RESNET is obligated to ensure that HERS® Index Scores are as consistent as possible. This need has been made more important with the International Code Council adopting an Energy Rating Index option to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. To achieve this goal the RESNET Board of Directors adopted a set of policies which are: RESNET certified Quality Assurance Designees must in the future: Serve as agents of RESNET Have neither a financial interest nor an employee/employer relationship with the entity performing the rating That the RENSET quality assurance standards maintain the current requirement of annual quality assurance review of raters consisting of 1% field reviews and 10% building file reviews with provisions through modification to the standard to add additional oversight of HERS® Raters when errors are found in these reviews. RESNET incorporate changes to rating software standards that would include: Establish limits on input variables for whole-house ventilations systems and other in the RESNET Standards Determine bounds checks that can be incorporated into software to limit or warn users when input values are beyond reasonable limits Enhance rating software tools to enable Quality Assurance Designee flags to be set for internal inconsistencies that should be checked prior to entering a building file into RESNET registry Modify RESNET registry XML schema to include reporting of the Quality Assurance Designee flags to RESNET staff The RESNET Board voted to create a RESNET Quality Improvement Task Force composed of representatives of Rating Providers, Quality Assurance Designees, Rating Companies and homebuilders that would develop recommendations to the RESNET Board to implement the policies. RESNET has formed two working groups to develop options of implementing the RESNET Board’s policies on enhancing the consistency of HERS® Index Scores nationally. The working groups will send the options of the RESNET Quality Improvement Task Force who will send its recommendations to the RESNET Board. In working with the co-chairmen of the working groups the following individuals have been recruited: RESNET Quality Improvement Working Group – Quality Assurance Co-Chairmen Randy Melvin – Winchester Homes Daran Wastchak – DR Wastchak Members Robert Broad – Pulte Homes Steve Byers – EnergyLogic Michael Hodgson – Consol/CHEERS Jennifer Owens – US Green Building Council Jonathan Passe – US Environmental Protection Agency D’Wayne Pryor – Lennar Homes Steve Saunders – TexEnergy RESNET Quality Improvement Working Group – Software Fixes Co-Chairmen Philip Fairey, Florida Solar Energy Center Dave Roberts, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Members Brett Dillon, IBS Advisors Joel Gilbert, Apogee Mark Jansen, Energy Efficient Homes Midwest Cy Kilbourn, Ekotrope Rob Salcido, Architectural Energy Corporation Now that the task force and working groups have been recruited work now can begin of developing the recommendations to the board. The first task will be to solicit input on options to be considered from members of the rating industry. This will go out shortly after the 2014 RESNET Building Performance Conference.
