What a HERS Rating Means for Your Home Value

HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. It’s basically a report card for how efficiently your house uses energy. So let’s talk about a HERS rating and how it affects your home’s value.

What Is a HERS Rating?

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard managed by RESNET to measure homes’ energy efficiency. A brand-new home built to the 2026 code should score around 100 on the index. A lower number means better efficiency, so a home scoring 60 uses about 40% less energy than the baseline home. 

A HERS rating is the industry standard score for measuring a home’s energy efficiency. 100 is average and while a score of, say, 70 means the home is 30% more energy efficient than the baseline.

The numbers come from software modeling paired with in-person inspections to verify the data. At Scott, we model the home in the software from the floor plans as well as come on site to verify insulation levels, air leakage, duct sealing, and HVAC performance. Next, our team runs that data through certified software. The score you get reflects the expected energy efficiency for your house.

When You Need a HERS Rating in Colorado

Several municipalities in Colorado require HERS ratings to show energy code compliance. And all municipalities allow a HERS rating to be used as a performance-based alternative to simply building the home to meet the prescriptive code minimums.  

Both the City of Boulder and Boulder County) requires a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) or Energy Rating Index (ERI) score for most new residential construction, large additions, and major remodels to comply with local energy conservation codes.

The HERS rating can be used to show that your house will outperform a house built to the code minimums. With the rating, you have flexibility in what you use for insulation, windows, and mechanical equipment. 

Now, let’s say you want to improve your insulation without paying money for premium windows. You can do that with a HERS report. The HERS report serves as a cost/benefit analysis of where you can reduce energy loss throughout the home. 

The Impact on Resale and Appraisal 

Colorado’s housing market rewards homes that stand out, and a strong HERS rating is an easy way to do that. A documented HERS score gives sellers something concrete to point to. It beats a vague “we replaced the windows a few years back.”

Appraisers are paying more attention to this, too. A documented energy rating can support a home’s value the same way a recent roof or updated HVAC system does. It’s not just a nice-to-have. It’s becoming part of how a competitive listing gets priced and sold.

Get Your Home Rated the Right Way

A HERS rating only means something if the person running it knows what they’re testing. At Scott, we handle energy services in-house with a team of experts who are certified for consulting and field testing/verification. We can walk you through what the number means for your wallet, whether you’re looking to build and save on energy bills.

Check out our energy services page to see how we can get your home rated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good HERS rating for a home?

Lower is better. A home built to the 2006 standard scores around 100, so anything below that means better-than-average efficiency. Scores in the 50s and 60s are considered strong for most homes.

Does a HERS rating affect home value in Colorado? 

It can. A documented rating gives buyers and appraisers real data instead of guesswork. In a competitive market, that can translate into a faster sale or a stronger negotiating position.

How long does a HERS rating take in Colorado? 

A HERS rating takes 1 to 3 business days in Colorado. Let’s break down the timeline. 

Modeling a home in the software usually happens when you apply for a permit. The process can take a few hours for a smaller home and a full day for a larger, more complex one. Once the modeling is complete, all aspects are visually verified, and we submit the home to the RESNET registry for certification. That process takes an additional 1-2 business days. 

A confirmed or certified HERS rating is what most Colorado municipalities require to close out your permit for energy code compliance.   

Can I get a HERS rating on an older home? 

Yes. Existing-home HERS ratings are common, and they often reveal the biggest opportunities for improvement. Older homes simply weren’t built with today’s efficiency standards in mind.  We can model the home as it is currently, and then easily plug in recommended improvements to see the impact on the HERS score and your anticipated energy bills.