Grantee Question:
A grantee from South Carolina asks: Our county building inspectors are preparing for the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Examination. We would like more information on Training Resources and other best practices for passing the test.

TAP team responds:
Many cities and counties are using their EECBG grant funds to support professional development and training for their city energy managers and building inspectors. Energy training and certification programs help establish in-house energy efficiency professionals who will serve their municipality and community beyond the life of the grant funds. Residential energy efficiency is one area where certifications are important and one way to become a certified home energy rater is through the Residential Energy Services Network’s (RESNET) accredited rater training program.

Overview of HERS
A Certified Home Energy Rater or Rater is a person trained and certified by an accredited Home Energy Rating Provider to inspect and evaluate a home’s energy features, prepare a home energy rating, and make recommendations for improvements. Also referred to as HERS raters, these individuals are vital team members for projects that wish to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR label for residential buildings.

Preparation for the HERS Examination:
Like many other tests you’ve studied for before, the HERS examination will require time and dedication as part of your preparation. The following tips will guide you on how to better prepare for the test.

In addition to the study guide outline, RESNET suggests that raters review the following documents prior to taking the test:
• Your rating provider's program's policy and procedures manual;
• Your training provider's rater training manual;
• Chapters Two and Three of the Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards.
If you do not have a copy of your rating provider's training manual, you should contact one of RESNET's accredited rater training providers to secure a copy. It is a good idea to begin preparing early for rater training by studying the materials recommended by the training organization you have selected. You may want to consider attending an on‐line test preparation class and you should be prepared for an intensive week of learning building science principles and incorporating that knowledge into the actual practice of conducting onsite home energy inspections and preparing home energy ratings. As a general rule, don’t plan to have other work or play activities during the training week.

Training and the Exam:
You can find a training course and exam at the National Registry of Accredited Energy Rater Training Providers. Some training providers offer their training online. You can view a map of Rater Training Sessions to search for one in your area.

Online Resources:
 Visit the RESNET website at www.resnet.us/rater/certified. Here you will find:
• A breakdown of categories of the test questions, and the percentage of questions in each category that are contained in the test;
• A list of source documents for the national rater test;
• A RESNET Rater Test Study Guide Outline;

Has your state, city, county or tribe supported training and certification testing for your staff? What worked well to prepare your staff to take the HERS examination?  What didn't?  Share your lessons learned or best practices in the comments section below, or email us at solutioncenter@ee.doe.gov.

Visit the ENERGY STAR website at www.energystar.gov/homes to read about the HERS Index and how HERS Raters label ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes.

Content for this blog post courtesy of Mitch Brown, Southeast 2 Regional Coordinator, ICF International