Third-party verification for ENERGY STAR certified homes, multifamily new construction, and commercial buildings — RESNET-accredited HERS Rater with deep multifamily and affordable housing experience across the region.
ENERGY STAR is the U.S. government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, administered jointly by the EPA and DOE. ENERGY STAR certified homes and multifamily buildings are independently verified to be 10–15% (or more) more energy efficient than buildings built to code, with verified energy savings for owners and tenants.
To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a home or multifamily building must be inspected and tested by a RESNET-accredited HERS Rater (Home Energy Rating System) accredited by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). The verification includes: review of the construction documents and energy model, on-site inspection at the pre-drywall stage, final inspection with diagnostic testing (typically a blower door test and duct leakage test), and a verified HERS Index score that meets the program threshold for the building type and climate zone.
HECS is a RESNET-accredited HERS Rater with deep experience in affordable housing, ENERGY STAR for Multifamily New Construction (MFNC), and DOE Zero Energy Ready Home. We work with the design team from the early phases to right-size the energy model, identify the most cost-effective efficiency measures, and confirm that the design will clear the ENERGY STAR threshold before the spec is committed. Then we stay with the project through construction to verify, document, and issue the final certificate.
HECS delivers three ENERGY STAR engagement scopes depending on the building type, the program version, and the certification tier. All three produce the certified report that satisfies the EPA and the lender of record.
Single-family & townhome
ENERGY STAR Certified Homes v3 for single-family and townhome construction. RESNET-accredited rater, pre-drywall and final inspections, certified HERS Index.
Best for: Single-family, townhome, custom
Multifamily new construction
ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC) for 4-story and above. Sampling per RESNET 380, common areas plus dwelling units, NABERS + MFNC path options.
Best for: Multifamily 4+ stories, LIHTC, HUD, USDA
Certification + tax credit
ENERGY STAR bundled with 45L tax credit documentation. One schedule, one team, one set of reports that line up with each other and with the IRS requirement.
Best for: Developers pursuing both the certification and the tax credit
From design review to the final certificate, here is what HECS delivers on an ENERGY STAR engagement.
HECS reviews the architectural plans, the mechanical equipment schedule, and the target energy model. We work with the design team to identify the most cost-effective efficiency measures and confirm the design will clear the ENERGY STAR threshold before construction commits.
HECS conducts on-site inspection at pre-drywall: insulation grade and continuity, air-sealing details, window U-factor and SHGC, duct rough-in, and framing details that affect the energy model. We document the as-built conditions and flag deviations before drywall closes the wall cavities.
At final, HECS runs the certified field tests: blower door, duct leakage, refrigerant charge verification (where applicable), and the inspection of the as-built HVAC system. Every test is run with calibrated instruments, with current calibration certificates, and the test results feed the HERS Index.
HECS issues the certified ENERGY STAR report: the energy model, the HERS Index, the field test results, the instrument calibration, the rater signature, and the certificate of record. The report is the deliverable the builder files with the EPA and the lender.
Every HECS ENERGY STAR report includes the following calibrated measurements, formatted to the EPA program of record.
Energy-rating software of record (REM/Rate, Ekotrope, or TREAT) produces the HERS Index. Required for the ENERGY STAR threshold check. HECS raters are accredited on all three platforms.
Calibrated blower door test at 50 pascals. CFM50, ACH50, and ELA reported per ASTM E779 or RESNET 380. Required at final for ENERGY STAR verification.
DuctTester measures total duct leakage to outside at 25 Pa per RESNET 380. Required at final for the duct-leakage credit on ENERGY STAR projects.
Pre-drywall inspection of insulation, air-sealing, window U-factor and SHGC, and envelope continuity. Required for the building-envelope credit on ENERGY STAR.
Equipment efficiency (SEER, EER, HSPF, AFUE) verified against the energy model and the manufacturer submittal. Required for the equipment-efficiency credit.
On installed AC and heat pump systems, HECS verifies the as-found charge against the manufacturer submittal. Required on most ENERGY STAR HVAC verification paths.
A certified ENERGY STAR report is the deliverable that releases the certification, satisfies the lender, and transfers performance risk from the builder to a qualified third party.
ENERGY STAR is the only national, government-backed energy-efficiency label recognized by lenders, appraisers, and tenants. The certified HERS Index and the report of record are the deliverables the EPA accepts for certification release.
ENERGY STAR MFNC is the most widely adopted certification on LIHTC, HUD, USDA, and HOME-funded multifamily projects. HECS delivers ENERGY STAR MFNC as part of the full affordable housing stack — 45L, NGBS, EarthCraft — with one schedule and one team.
For multifamily, ENERGY STAR offers the NABERS path — a performance-based certification that uses 12 months of operating data. HECS delivers the NABERS path on multifamily projects where the operational approach fits the owner’s long-term reporting goals.
Field-measured performance that matches the engineer’s design intent — verified, documented, and accepted by the certification program of record.
ENERGY STAR certified buildings use 10–30% less energy than code-built baselines. Tenants see lower utility bills, owners see lower operating cost, and the certification becomes a marketing advantage on the lease-up.
A certified third-party report transfers performance risk from the builder to a qualified third party. It is the deliverable that releases the certification, satisfies the lender, and closes out the engagement.
HECS is an NCI-certified testing and balancing firm. We work with general contractors, mechanical contractors, property developers, and certification programs across the region — delivering field measurements, certified reports, and the documentation owners and inspectors actually need.
Every HECS field technician holds current NCI certification. We use calibrated instruments, follow NCI-formatted reporting, and produce the documentation that commissioning authorities, code inspectors, and certification programs accept on the first review.
HECS serves commercial, multifamily, institutional, and light-industrial projects across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri. We staff jobs of every size — from a single building balance to a 12-building multifamily rollout — with the same team and the same reporting standard.
Blower door, duct leakage, refrigerant charge, combustion analysis, decibel, infrared, TAB, and 45L documentation — HECS delivers all of them. One contract, one schedule, one set of reports that line up with each other and with the certification program of record.
HECS ENERGY STAR certification is the right fit for:
Tell us about the project — program, scope, schedule — and we will respond with a written proposal inside two business days.
ENERGY STAR is the U.S. government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, administered jointly by the EPA and DOE. ENERGY STAR certified homes and multifamily buildings are independently verified to be 10–15% (or more) more energy efficient than code-built baselines. The certification is recognized by lenders, appraisers, tenants, and federal housing programs.
ENERGY STAR requires a RESNET-accredited Home Energy Rater (HERS Rater) using RESNET-approved energy-rating software. HECS is a RESNET-accredited HERS Rater accredited on REM/Rate, Ekotrope, and TREAT. We staff the field testing, the energy modeling, and the certified report on every ENERGY STAR engagement.
The HERS Index is a scoring system developed by RESNET that measures a home’s energy efficiency. A lower HERS Index means a more energy-efficient home. A code-built home scores 100 on the HERS Index; every ENERGY STAR certified home scores below the program threshold (typically 50–70 depending on climate zone and program version).
Yes. ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC) is a separate program path designed for multifamily buildings of all heights. HECS delivers ENERGY STAR MFNC on 4-story and above multifamily projects across the region, with sampling per RESNET 380 and the full documentation required by the EPA.
Yes. ENERGY STAR and 45L are commonly bundled on affordable housing and production-builder projects. HECS delivers both as a single integrated engagement — one schedule, one team, one set of reports that line up with each other and with the IRS requirement for the tax credit.
ENERGY STAR Certified Homes v3 is the program path for single-family and townhome construction. ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction (MFNC) is the program path for multifamily buildings. MFNC includes the NABERS performance-based path as an alternative to the prescriptive path.
Most single-family ENERGY STAR engagements take one field test day plus two weeks for the certified report. Multifamily MFNC projects run longer — HECS provides a project-specific schedule with the proposal.
Yes. ENERGY STAR requires a blower door test at final for all program paths. HECS runs the blower door test with calibrated Retrotec equipment and reports CFM50, ACH50, and ELA per ASTM E779 or RESNET 380.
The RESNET-accredited rater runs the field tests, operates the energy-rating software, signs the certified report, and is the qualified third party of record. HECS raters carry current RESNET accreditation and current calibration certificates on every instrument.
Call (859) 983-7382 or email [email protected] with the project name, address, unit count, program version, and the target certification. HECS responds with a written proposal inside two business days.
NCI-certified TAB that verifies design airflow and water flow at every terminal. Calibrated instruments, certified report.
Whole-building and duct leakage to RESNET, ENERGY STAR Multifamily, NGBS, and code. Blower door + duct tester.
Mechanical design review, submittal review, and value engineering for commercial, multifamily, and institutional projects.
Tell us about the project — program, scope, schedule — and we will respond with a written proposal inside two business days.
Free consultation, fast turnaround, and audit-ready reports. Same-day callback during business hours.
Pick a time that works for you. We'll confirm within an hour during business hours. Free consultation, no obligation.