Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Program

The California Energy Commission is initiating pre-rulemaking activities for Phase II of the California Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Program. Please see the Pre-Rulemaking page for Phase II documents.

The California Energy Commission is required by Public Resources Code Section 25942 to establish regulations for a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Program to certify home energy rating services in California. The goal of the program is to provide reliable information to differentiate the energy efficiency levels among California homes and to guide investment in cost-effective home energy efficiency measures.

The California HERS Program includes field verification and diagnostic testing available through Commission-certified providers. The Energy Commission has a process for certifying Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters who perform third-party inspections when verification of duct sealing, thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs), refrigerant charge, airflow measurement, and building envelope sealing measures are used when complying with the 2005 Standards (effective October 1, 2005). Testing and verification protocols are summarized and located in both the Residential and Nonresidential Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Regulations Manuals.

• Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Regulations
  (Acrobat PDF, 114 pages, 2.1 megabytes).
• Acceptance Requirement and Home Energy Rating Systems (HERS) Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Regulations
  (Acrobat PDF, 113 pages, 4.1 megabytes).

Phase I regulations establishing field verifications and diagnostic testing services administered by HERS providers became effective on June 17, 1999. The California Certified Energy Rating & Testing Services (CalCERTS), California Building Performance Contractors Association (CBPCA), and the California Home Energy Efficiency Rating System (CHEERS) have been approved by the Commission as HERS providers to oversee HERS raters providing Title 24 field verification and diagnostic testing. People interested in becoming certified HERS raters should contact CalCERTS, CBPCA, or CHEERS.

Staff is currently evaluating possible rating options before initiating a Phase II rulemaking.

For More Information Contact:

The Energy Efficiency Hotline
(800) 772-3300 or (916) 654-5106

ARCHIVED DOCUMENTS