In this episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn welcomes back Ryan Meres, Programs Director at RESNET®, to explore the key insights from the 2025 HERS® Rated Homes Data Trends Report. This sixth annual edition reveals both expected and surprising patterns in how homebuilders, energy raters, and policymakers are driving efficiency across the U.S. housing market. With over 436,000 homes HERS rated in the past year, the report reflects RESNET’s growing impact, now touching a third of all new single-family homes and a rising share of multifamily projects. Ryan breaks down regional standouts: Massachusetts leads with 88% of new homes HERS rated due to its Green Communities program, while Texas tops the volume charts with 113,000 ratings. Notably, California showed the most improvement in HERS scores since 2013, driven in part by its solar mandate. Meanwhile, the report tracks construction practices, including the dominance of slab-on-grade foundations and the increasing prevalence of ductwork in conditioned spaces. Other notable topics include the growing adoption of heat pumps (especially in the Southeast), a dramatic increase in homes achieving <2 ACH50 air leakage, and the spread of HERSH2O®, RESNET’s water efficiency rating, now up over 50% from last year. Ryan also hints at future enhancements, such as tracking product-level data, and introduces RESNET’s move to expand its analytics capabilities with a new data analyst. Whether you’re a builder, HERS rater, manufacturer, or policymaker, this episode offers a comprehensive view of the measurable progress and persistent challenges in residential energy efficiency, backed by robust data and thoughtful analysis. Quotes from the Episode: • “RESNET members are now touching about a third of all new single-family homes. That’s a big number — and it’s only growing.” • “Even in states with outdated energy codes, utility incentives, and voluntary ratings are pushing builders to exceed code-level efficiency.” • “HERSH2O is up 50% from last year — and with multifamily eligibility and greywater tracking, it’s poised for major expansion.” Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-meres-58977110/ RESNET® Suppliers Advisory Board (SAB): https://www.resnet.us/about/sab/ Newsletter sign-up: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1878040/1889360/ Listen to full episode here.
