According to Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), Minnesota has one of the lowest average Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Scores of all states that energy tested more than 4,000 homes in 2023. The lower the HERS Index Score, the more energy-efficient the home is.
According to RESNET, Minnesota tested 7,727 homes in 2023 and the state’s average HERS Index Score was 49. The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that a typical resale home scores 130 on the HERS Index, while a standard new home is awarded a rating of 100.
Housing First Minnesota’s Green Path program has provided Home Performance Reports (HPRs) and HERS index scores for more than 43,000 homes that have been third-party tested since the program began. The state’s average HERS score of 49 means that the average Minnesota Green Path energy-tested home is 51% more energy efficient than a HERS Reference Home and 81% more energy efficient than the average existing home.
Many builders across the state consistently choose to go above and beyond the code to provide additional energy-efficient benefits to their homebuyers thanks to Minnesota’s Green Path program.
“Homebuilders in Minnesota continue to demonstrate their commitment to consumers and the environment by building some of the most energy-efficient homes in the country,” said James Vagle, CEO of Housing First Minnesota. “Minnesota’s Green Path program and HERS Index Scores have equipped buyers in our state with the necessary knowledge to inform their home-efficiency choices.”
Minnesota’s Green Path currently has 55 builders committed as Designated Green Path Builders. Designated Green Path builders commit to testing at least 75% of their newly built homes annually and attend professional development events throughout the year.
