Radiant barrier sheathing can significantly improve a home’s energy efficiency. Two of the most widely used metrics are the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) and the Energy Rating Index (ERI). With both measurements the lower the score, the higher the home’s energy efficiency. These ratings are objective measurements of things like HVAC duct leakage and the effectiveness of insulation. Most homebuyers are looking for energy efficiency scores significantly lower than the 100 rating found in many new homes.
“There are now more than two million U.S. homes that are HERS rated,” says Steve Baden, executive director of RESNET, the nonprofit organization that oversees the HERS Index. “New homes today have an average HERS score of 62 compared to a typical HERS score of 130 for homes built prior to 2000. That means that they’re 68% more energy-efficient than the average existing home.”
The websites of many large builders—including KB Home, Beazer and PulteGroup—include easy-to-understand information about why lower HERS and ERI ratings are beneficial to prospective buyers. One of the many ways to lower those scores is to use products like LP TechShield Radiant Barrier Sheathing above the attic. For example, installing radiant barrier roof sheathing can lower a home’s ERI score by three points in some climate zones.
Most HERS-rated homes are being built in Sunbelt states, but that’s not solely because of climate. “Texas, Arizona, Florida and North Carolina have the highest numbers mainly because they’re leading the nation in new single-family construction,” says Baden.
Baden anticipates that HERS scores will continue to drop, perhaps reaching the 50s within five years. “When a home is that energy efficient, it’s a persuasive selling point for builders,” he says.
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