Home Energy Rater (HER) is a relatively new profession. A HER is someone you can hire to rate your home’s “greenness.” They also offer tips and tricks for making your existing home more energy-efficient and sustainable. The advice they give can lead to a lifetime of cost savings and a healthier environment for you and your family.
A comprehensive resource for HER professionals, including certification information, is found at www.natresnet.org. It also has a directory that will point consumers in the right direction to find a HER in their vicinity. HER services typically cost between $200 and $400. Resources report about a two-year recoup time on the inspection fee, which means the extra expense has paid for itself in energy savings during that period. Given that many people live in their home much longer than two years, the return on investment will be significant.
When the time does come to sell your home, get your home green-tested again and use the rating as an added benefit to entice potential buyers. Keep your old score and utility bills on file so you can show buyers the comparison and how much HER-advised changes cut down on your monthly energy expenses.
Anyone out there ever used a HER professional? Please share your experience!
Posted at 01:48PM Sep 02, 2009 by Beverly Bahm in Green Real Estate Comments[0]
