The demand for HERS Index ratings in multifamily development is continuing to grow, according to the nonprofit Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).
In the first half of 2017, 106,867 total homes (single-family, duplex, and multifamily) were uploaded to the RESNET National Registry. Over the same time period in 2016, a record-breaking year, there were 99,868 homes uploaded, 6,999 fewer than this year. This growth reflects a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) industry that’s in good health, says RESNET board president Roy Honican.
Not only is there an increase in the number of HERS-rated homes, but the energy performance of rated homes is climbing as well. The average HERS Index score for the first half of 2017 was 61, compared with the average of 62 from the same period in 2016. (The lower the score, the better the performance.)
Another interesting note is the spread of homes rated by housing type. Initially, practically all HERS-rated homes were single-family. Since 2016, however, RESNET has witnessed an increase in the number (though not the percentage) of multifamily HERS ratings:
| Number Rated in First Half of 2017 | Number Rated in First Half of 2016 |
| Single-Family – 82,307 (77%) | Single-Family – 77,507 (77%) |
| Duplexes – 9,843 (9%) | Duplexes – 9,822 (8%) |
| Multifamily – 14,987 (14%) | Multifamily – 12,539 (15%) |
