Dear RESNET® Community, Many members of the RESNET community are aware that RESNET is currently involved in litigation concerning the use of its trademarks. While we generally do not comment on ongoing legal matters, we believe it is important to explain why RESNET takes the protection of its trademarks seriously. For more than 25 years, RESNET, HERS®, and the HERS Index® have come to represent a trusted, nationally recognized system for measuring and verifying home energy performance. That trust was not built by RESNET alone. It was built by thousands of independent RESNET Raters and Providers, many of them small businesses, family-owned companies, and local professionals serving their communities, along with builders and industry partners who have invested their time, expertise, and commitment to quality. Trademark protection is not simply about protecting a name or logo. It is about protecting the people and businesses that have built the credibility and value associated with the RESNET®, HERS®, and HERS Index® brands. Every HERS Rating issued under these marks benefits from the trust, recognition, and market acceptance that generations of industry professionals have worked to establish. When a trademark owner becomes aware of unauthorized use of its marks and fails to act, it risks weakening its ability to protect those marks in the future. If RESNET were to allow that to happen, it would not simply diminish the value of a trademark—it could diminish the value of the work performed by every Rater and Provider who has helped build the reputation those marks represent. Protecting the trademarks is ultimately about protecting the integrity of the system and safeguarding the credibility, recognition, and market value that RESNET professionals have spent decades creating. Litigation is never RESNET’s preferred path. Whenever possible, RESNET seeks to resolve trademark concerns through communication, cooperation, and voluntary compliance. However, there are times when formal legal action becomes necessary to fulfill our responsibility as stewards of the RESNET, HERS, and HERS Index brands. RESNET does not limit competition, innovation, or participation in the marketplace. The RESNET network itself is built upon a diverse community of independent businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals working in markets across the country. Our goal is to ensure that homeowners, builders, lenders, code officials, and policymakers can continue to rely on the HERS Index and RESNET programs with confidence. Most importantly, protecting these trademarks protects the value of the work performed every day by RESNET Raters and Providers across the country. The credibility you have helped build is worth defending. Thank you for your continued professionalism and commitment to maintaining the integrity of the RESNET system. Sincerely, RESNET Leadership
