Implementing Home Energy Rating Systems

We evaluate the implementation of home energy rating and labelling programs (HERS) that are being conducted around the country. We examine the nature of different implementation problems and the kinds of strategies that have been used to deal with them to ensure the effective penetration of HERS to all HERS users. Based on our evaluation of 34 home energy rating and labelling programs, HERS that were actively marketed, had a comprehensive appreciation of the market, were adaptive to the needs of particular users, and included user participation in the operation and revision of the program were more successful in terms of penetration rates and in improving the energy efficiency of the older housing stock. Where successful, HERS have penetrated an estimated 40% of the new construction market and 20% of existing construction, and energy savings have ranged from 10 to 50%.