Although HERS ratings are already mandatory for every new home in Aspen, Pitkin County, Boulder and Boulder County Colorado, the addition of Advanced Energy Modeling offers luxury homeowners a pathway to achieve even higher energy efficiency and sustainability, because the modeling can be tailored precisely to their unique needs and preferences—going beyond what a HERS score alone can provide.
Luxury residential homes are built to stand the test of time, not just outlast the mortgage. Advanced energy modeling uncovers more opportunities to enhance the building envelope, improve indoor air quality, and integrate high-performing mechanical systems, ultimately resulting in a more efficient and comfortable luxury home.
Supplementing these energy modeling efforts with publicly recognized standards like Passive House and adhering to Manual J, D, and S documents ensures compliance with building codes and optimizes the luxury home’s overall performance, comfort, and market value for its current and future occupants.
What is Advanced Energy Modeling?
Advanced energy modeling refers to the use of engineering expertise, sophisticated software and analytical techniques to simulate, analyze, and optimize the energy performance of homes, buildings, systems, or processes.
It involves creating detailed models that consider a wide range of factors, including building design, materials, occupancy patterns, weather conditions, and energy systems, to predict energy consumption and identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. Additionally, our DMA team applies energy engineering expertise to interpret and explain the complex data to deliver
insights to stakeholders and make recommendations for value-added improvements.
What is a HERS Rating?
The Home Energy Rating System (HERS index) is the industry standard for measuring a home’s energy efficiency. It was developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), a nonprofit organization dedicated to leading the path to Net Zero energy homes.
However, this tool is meant for non-engineers to model a home from 900 square feet to 20,000+ square feet for code compliance. Because it is not a design tool, a HERS index lacks the sophistication to accurately model more complex, sustainable luxury homes and make effective design decisions.
Unlocking Peak Efficiency for Your Luxury Home: Advanced Energy Modeling vs. The HERS Rating
Advanced Energy Modeling offers several enhancements beyond the standard HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating, particularly for high-end energy-efficient builds. Here’s how it goes beyond the basic requirements:
1. Detailed Analysis of Energy Use
- HERS Rating: Provides a general overview of a home’s energy efficiency by evaluating the performance of various systems and components.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: Offers a more detailed analysis of energy consumption patterns, including a more extensive range of variables, including specific usage scenarios, occupant behavior, and interactions between different building systems. By performing hourly simulations you can capture the true operation of the building. HERS and other modeling techniques aim to prove whether a building meets the code.
2. Customized Recommendations
- HERS Rating: Delivers standardized recommendations based on the home’s score.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: Provides tailored advice that aligns with the homeowners’ unique design, materials, and lifestyle preferences.
3. Simulation of Different Design Options
- HERS Rating: Primarily assesses the home against a non-representative box versus the as-built or design without extensive exploration of alternative scenarios.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: Simulates various design options and their impact on energy performance, including materials, HVAC systems, insulation levels, and renewable energy integration.
4. Long-Term Performance Predictions
- HERS Rating: Focuses on the immediate energy efficiency of the home at the time of assessment.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: Projects long-term energy performance, accounting for changes over time, such as aging of materials and systems, future energy costs, and potential upgrades.
5. Enhanced Comfort and Indoor Air Quality
- HERS Rating: Provides a general sense of the home’s efficiency, indirectly impacting comfort and air quality.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: Directly analyzes and optimizes factors affecting indoor comfort and air quality, such as thermal bridging, ventilation, humidity control, and zoning of heating and cooling systems.
6. Cost-Benefit Analysis
- HERS Rating: This may include some cost-saving estimates based on energy efficiency improvements.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: Delivers a detailed cost-benefit analysis of energy efficiency measures, including upfront costs, payback periods, and long-term savings. These details are crucial for high-investment custom and sustainable luxury homes where owners want to maximize value.
7. Compliance and Beyond
- HERS Rating: Ensures compliance with minimum energy efficiency standards as required by building codes.
- Advanced Energy Modeling: For luxury homes seeking cutting-edge energy efficiency, advanced energy modeling is essential. While HERS scores meet code requirements, this sophisticated approach ensures enduring performance that goes beyond the mortgage as well as long-term sustainability.
Leverage Advanced Energy Modeling in Your Build
HERS scores are required in Colorado, but DMA Engineering recommends being more proactive by using Advanced Energy Modeling for custom sustainable luxury homes.
For example, we accomplished Net Zero for a 13,000-square-foot luxury residential property at White Hawk Ranch in Boulder, Colorado. We conducted computational fluid dynamics modeling (CFDM), redesigned the mechanical system, and participated in the commissioning process to optimize site-wide efficiency.
As an engineering firm, we know how to make Advanced Energy Modeling produce long-term results without sacrificing luxury. We can help you use cutting-edge technology to create innovative energy solutions for your next project.
Contact DMA Engineering today to discuss how Advanced Energy Modeling can help you reach your energy goals.
Your Home, Your Future: Start with Advanced Energy Modeling
Unlock the full potential of your custom home with DMA’s expert energy modeling services. Our cutting-edge technology will optimize your home’s design for maximum energy efficiency, comfort, and sustainability.