What Is the HERS Index? What It Means for Your New Cincinnati Home

Understanding the HERS Index: What It Means for Your New Cincinnati Home

By John Henry Homes

A HERS Index Score is essentially an MPG rating for a house: the lower the number, the less energy a home uses. A reference home built to minimum code scores 100, a typical existing home scores around 130, and the typical new John Henry Homes home rates in the 55 to 60 range. That means a new John Henry home is built to use roughly half the energy of an older resale home, which shows up directly in monthly utility bills.

What Is the HERS Index?

The HERS Index (Home Energy Rating System) is the industry standard for measuring a home’s energy performance, developed and administered by RESNET, an independent nonprofit. A certified HERS rater inspects the home, models its insulation, air sealing, windows, HVAC equipment, and ductwork, and assigns a score. Every point below 100 represents roughly one percent less energy use than the reference home; every point above 100 represents roughly one percent more.

Because the rating comes from an independent third party rather than the builder, it gives buyers a way to compare energy performance across different builders and homes using the same yardstick.

What Does a 55-60 HERS Score Mean for a New John Henry Home?

A typical John Henry Homes new construction home is independently certified to score between 55 and 60 on the HERS Index, which the certifying rater compares against a reference home (100) and a typical existing home (130). In practical terms, that means a new John Henry home is built to run more efficiently than a home built ten years ago, with meaningfully lower energy use than an older resale home in the same neighborhood.

HERS scores vary by floor plan, home site, orientation, and location, so the exact score for any individual home will differ. The certified rating for a specific home is available at the time of that home’s energy audit.

What Features Help a New Construction Home Earn a Lower HERS Score?

Every new John Henry home includes a standard package of features built in at construction, not added as an upgrade:

• A 95% efficient furnace
• A programmable thermostat
• LED lighting throughout
• Low-E glass windows
• Continuous mechanical ventilation
• Sealed and inspected ductwork

These features work together to reduce the amount of energy a home needs for heating, cooling, and ventilation year-round, which is a large part of why new construction typically outperforms older homes on the HERS Index.

Why Does the HERS Index Matter When Buying a New Home?

A lower HERS score is one of the more concrete, third-party-verified ways to compare homes, because it is not a marketing claim, it is an inspected and certified number. For buyers, it translates into two things worth asking about directly: what a specific home’s certified score is expected to be, and what standard features are included versus optional upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good HERS score for a new home?Generally, the lower the better. A score of 100 represents a home built to minimum code, so anything meaningfully below that indicates a more energy-efficient home. Newly built homes today often score well below 100; a typical John Henry Homes new construction home is independently certified in the 55-60 range, though individual scores vary by design, site, and location.

Does a lower HERS score actually save money on utility bills?Yes, in general. Since the score reflects modeled energy use for heating, cooling, and other systems, a lower score corresponds to lower expected energy consumption, though actual savings depend on individual usage habits, local utility rates, and the specific home.

Is a HERS rating required to buy or build a new home?No, HERS ratings are not required in most areas, but many energy-efficient builders, including John Henry Homes, have their homes independently certified so buyers have a verified number to compare rather than relying on unverified claims.

Who performs the HERS rating?An independent, RESNET-certified HERS rater inspects and models the home. The rating is not self-reported by the builder.

How is a HERS score different from an ENERGY STAR label?ENERGY STAR certification for homes is generally based on meeting or exceeding a required HERS Index threshold along with other program requirements, so the two are related but not identical designations.

See What a Lower HERS Score Looks Like in a New John Henry Home

Every John Henry Homes new construction home is designed and built with energy efficiency as a standard, not an upgrade. Browse current communities and quick delivery homes, or schedule a self-guided NterNow tour to see the standard features in person. Learn more on our Energy Efficiency page.

Pricing, availability, and certified HERS scores are illustrative and vary by home, site, and location. Contact John Henry Homes for current details on a specific home.