What are the primary roles of a HERS Rater?

The primary roles of a HERS Rater center around evaluating a home's energy efficiency and performing audits. This involves a detailed assessment of the home's energy performance using standardized testing methods and tools, such as blower door tests, duct leakage tests, and thermal imaging. HERS Raters use these evaluations to provide a Home Energy Rating score, which indicates how energy-efficient the home is compared to a reference home built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

Additionally, HERS Raters offer recommendations for improving energy performance, which may include enhancing insulation, upgrading HVAC systems, or implementing better energy management practices. Their expertise is critical in helping homeowners, builders, and developers understand the energy efficiency of a residential property and in guiding them toward making informed decisions to reduce energy consumption and costs.

In contrast, the roles mentioned in the other options involve responsibilities that fall outside the specific realm of a HERS Rater. While designing energy-efficient homes and creating home energy policies are essential aspects of the broader energy efficiency landscape, they do not directly pertain to the assessment and auditing functions that define a HERS rater's primary responsibilities. Installing solar panels, while an important service for homeowners looking to incorporate renewable energy, also does not align with the core duties