Today, nearly every builder claims their homes are energy efficient.

Words like “high-performance,” “green,” “energy conscious,” and “built better” are everywhere in the homebuilding industry. But those terms can mean very different things depending on the builder, the materials being used, the quality of construction, and whether the home has actually been independently tested and verified.

That’s where the HERS Index becomes valuable.

The HERS Index, which stands for Home Energy Rating System, gives homebuyers a standardized and independently verified way to compare how efficiently homes are expected to perform. Instead of relying entirely on marketing language, buyers can compare measurable performance data from one home to another.

If you are comparing builders, understanding what a good HERS score actually means can help you make a far more informed long-term decision.

If you are new to the HERS Index, our overview article explains the fundamentals of energy-efficient homes and why HERS scores matter in the first place: What If Your Home Came With a Fuel Economy Sticker?

What Is a HERS Score?

A HERS score measures a home’s projected energy efficiency using independent testing and energy modeling performed by a certified RESNET rater.

Think of it like a fuel economy rating for a house.

The lower the score, the less energy the home is expected to use for heating, cooling, and overall operation.

A standard new home built to minimum energy code requirements is generally considered a HERS 100. Homes scoring below 100 are more energy efficient than a standard code-built home, while homes scoring above 100 generally use more energy to maintain comfort.

The score is calculated using a wide range of measurable performance factors, including:

• Insulation levels and installation quality
• Window and exterior door performance
• Air leakage throughout the home
• Duct leakage and HVAC efficiency
• Ventilation systems
• Water heating systems
• Appliance efficiency
• Overall building envelope performance

The final result gives buyers a standardized way to compare homes using actual performance data instead of assumptions or marketing claims.

What Is Considered a Good HERS Score?

Not all homes perform the same — even when they look very similar during a walkthrough.

Two homes may have nearly identical square footage, finishes, and floorplans while operating very differently over time because of what is happening behind the walls.

In today’s market, HERS scores are generally viewed like this:

• 130+ — Typical older resale home
• 100 — Standard new home built to minimum energy code
• 70–85 — Better-than-average new construction
• 60 or below — ENERGY STAR® level performance
• 40s–50s — High-performance home construction
• 0 — Net-zero home

At Two Structures Homes, many of our homes now score in the mid-40s, with some homes independently testing as low as 41.

It is important to understand that moving lower on the HERS scale becomes increasingly difficult. Improving a home from a HERS 100 to a 70 is far easier than improving from a 57 to a 47. The lower the number gets, the more critical details like air sealing, HVAC engineering, insulation installation quality, and duct design become.

Why the Score Matters

A HERS score matters because it helps buyers compare something that is otherwise very difficult to see during a home tour.

Most buyers naturally focus on visible features first — flooring, countertops, cabinets, fixtures, paint colors, curb appeal, and layout. Those things certainly matter. But they are not what determine how efficiently the home will actually perform over the next 10, 20, or 30 years.

What often matters more long term are the systems and construction details hidden behind the drywall.

Air sealing quality, insulation installation, HVAC sizing, duct leakage, ventilation design, and window performance can dramatically impact:

• Monthly utility costs
• Temperature consistency throughout the home
• Humidity control
• Drafts and air leakage
• HVAC workload and long-term durability
• Overall comfort

While no rating system can predict exact utility bills, the HERS Index gives buyers a much clearer picture of how efficiently a home is designed and expected to operate.

How a HERS Rating Is Performed

A certified RESNET rater evaluates the home using a combination of inspections, diagnostic testing, and advanced energy modeling.

The process is significantly more involved than simply looking at insulation thickness or HVAC equipment size.

The evaluation commonly includes:

• Reviewing insulation specifications and installation quality
• Inspecting windows, exterior doors, and overall building envelope performance
• Blower door testing to measure air leakage
• Duct leakage testing
• HVAC system analysis and sizing verification
• Ventilation system verification
• Energy modeling software used to simulate real-world performance

For homes under construction, raters can also provide projected HERS scores based on the plans and specifications before construction is complete.

Once the home is finished, the final as-built score is verified through field inspections and diagnostic testing.

This process helps provide buyers with independently verified performance data rather than relying entirely on builder estimates or assumptions.

Why Independent Verification Matters

One of the biggest differences between true high-performance construction and marketing language is third-party verification.

Any builder can describe a home as “efficient” or “high-performance.” Independent testing helps determine whether the home actually performs that way.

A verified HERS rating provides measurable performance data that buyers can review and compare.

At Two Structures Homes, our homes are independently inspected and tested through certified RESNET rating companies. Many of our homes are also built to ENERGY STAR® certification standards.

That means buyers are not simply being told the home is energy efficient — they are being shown measurable, independently verified performance results.

Real Progress Over Time

Energy-efficient construction has evolved significantly over the past decade — and so have our building practices.

In 2013, a Two Structures home in Edmond achieved a verified HERS score of 57, which was already well ahead of many homes being built in Oklahoma at the time.

That home included features like blower door testing, ENERGY STAR® certification, Manual J HVAC calculations, R-19 wall insulation, and independently verified duct leakage testing — long before many builders in the market were emphasizing those standards consistently.

Today, many of our homes score in the mid-40s, with some homes achieving scores as low as 41 through independent third-party testing.

A recent verified example: a Two Structures Deacon 1394 home at 524 E Grumman Dr. in Midwest City received a final as-built HERS score of 45, independently verified by CLEAResult, a certified RESNET rating company, in January 2026. The home is also ENERGY STAR® v3.2 certified and projects approximately $710 in annual energy savings compared to an average U.S. home.

Notably, this home was built on an infill lot in Midwest City — a more constrained build environment than a planned community — making the verified HERS 45 and ENERGY STAR® v3.2 certification an even stronger demonstration of consistent construction standards.

For homes still under construction, buyers can also review projected HERS scores based on independent plan review. A Two Structures home in the Anthem community in Edmond recently received a projected HERS score of 47 from CLEAResult prior to completion, projecting approximately $676 in annual energy savings.

Final as-built scores are independently verified after construction is complete.

That progression from HERS scores in the upper 50s to scores consistently in the 40s reflects years of refining insulation practices, HVAC engineering, air sealing, duct design, ventilation strategy, window performance, and overall building science.

HERS Ratings for Existing Homes

The HERS Index is not only valuable for new construction.

Existing homeowners can also benefit from a HERS rating.

A HERS evaluation can help identify where a home may be losing energy and comfort — whether through duct leakage, poorly insulated walls, air sealing gaps, inefficient HVAC systems, or outdated windows.

That insight allows homeowners to prioritize upgrades based on measurable performance data rather than guessing which improvements may or may not help.

A HERS rating on an existing home may also help:

• Qualify for certain federal tax credits tied to energy-efficient upgrades
• Verify the effectiveness of remodeling or retrofit work
• Provide documented performance data during resale
• Help future buyers better understand long-term operating costs

As energy costs continue to rise, documented energy performance is becoming increasingly important to both homeowners and buyers.

Questions Buyers Should Ask Any Builder

If energy efficiency is important to you, consider asking builders these questions directly:

• Do your homes receive independent HERS testing?
• What are your typical verified HERS scores — not projected?
• Do you perform blower door testing?
• Are your HVAC systems sized using Manual J calculations?
• Do you build to ENERGY STAR® standards?
• How is duct leakage tested and controlled?
• Can you provide HERS certificates from completed homes?

Builders focused on measurable performance should be able to answer these questions clearly and provide documentation supporting their claims.

If a builder hesitates or can only provide projected scores without completed verification reports, that is worth noting.

Comparing Homes Beyond Surface-Level Features

A home’s long-term performance is determined by far more than finishes and floorplans.

The systems behind the walls — insulation, air sealing, ventilation, HVAC engineering, windows, and duct design — often have a larger impact on long-term comfort and operating costs than buyers initially realize.

The HERS Index gives buyers a way to compare those hidden performance differences using independently verified data.

If you are researching energy-efficient homes, these additional articles go deeper:

• Understanding Energy-Efficient Homes: What Makes a Home Efficient?
• Energy-Efficient Homes in Oklahoma: Why a HERS Rating Matters
• Understanding Low HERS Scores: What Sub-45 Really Means

The difference between a builder who talks about efficiency and one who can hand you a signed certificate is measurable. If you are comparing builders and would like to review HERS certificates, testing documentation, or ENERGY STAR® verification reports, contact our team — we'll walk you through them.