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As A HERS Rater, I Get This Questions A Lot I am required to spend all this time and money making my new home as airtight as possible, and now I need to mechanically bring outside air in with an ERV, why? 👉 Answer: It will help first to understand what an ERV is and…

What is a Duct Leakage Test In Case You Did Not Know: A Duct Leakage Test is a diagnostic test that measures the air tightness of an HVAC system. The primary reason to conduct a Duct Leakage Test is to evaluate the continuity and integrity of ductwork. Any improperly sealed or attached parts will adversely…

What is a Blower Door Test? In Case You Did Not Know: A blower door test is a diagnostic test that quantifies how much air moves in and out of a building. The primary reason to conduct a blower door test is to evaluate the continuity and integrity of the air barrier.  Air barriers are…

What is Prescriptive Based Energy Code Compliance? In a nutshell, builders are given a checklist of energy-related measures to follow. Check off all the boxes in the list and you should be in compliance. Although this pathway meets code requirements and delivers a home with at least average overall energy efficiency, it leaves little room…

Getting to a HERS Rating of 42 with Solar Carports and Solar Patio Covers How the new construction market copes with the ever-tightening Massachusetts Energy Code. Is it difficult to build a home in Massachusetts?  Consider this: The state of Massachusetts is trailblazing. Going places where no state has gone before. I’m referring to the…

The following article is about the HERS Rating should-do’s and must-do’s for RNC (Residential New Construction) Program Requirements applicable in Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Connecticut. We will also cover common errors made by homeowners builders. A HERS Rater’s Perspective There is a lot of confusion as to what is actually required for HERS Ratings to…