Need a HERS Rating in Massachusetts? You're in the right place.
Fast, Stress-Free HERS Ratings for Massachusetts Homeowners, Builders & Architects
I'm the owner and the person who picks up the phone. Every HERS rating, every inspection, every question — answered by me directly. No dispatch, no outsourcing.
"We had no idea what a HERS rating even was. Max called us back the same day, explained everything start to finish, and handled all the paperwork. Building permit went through without a hitch."
Never heard of a HERS rating?
You're not alone — and that's fine.
Most people building a new home or renovating an existing home in Massachusetts have no idea a HERS rating is required until the building department mentions it. It's a code requirement, not optional — but it doesn't have to be stressful. Here's exactly what happens when you work with EcoScore:
Floor plans and basic building specs. No energy jargon required — we'll tell you exactly what we need, in plain language.
This goes to your building department with your permit application. Typically done in 2–5 business days. We handle the technical certification document.
On-site visits to verify insulation, air sealing, and mechanical systems — plus a blower door test at the end.
Required for your Certificate of Occupancy. We submit the documentation directly to RESNET's registry. You're done.
Talk to Max directly — he'll answer your questions and walk you through the whole process.
EcoScore is a solo operation. When you reach out, you get the actual HERS rater — not a salesperson, not a scheduling system. Max will explain your project requirements in plain English and tell you exactly what you need.
- Free initial project review — no obligation
- Responds within 2 business hours
- Explains everything in plain language
- Serving all of Massachusetts
What is a HERS Rating? The MPG score for your home.
A HERS score measures how energy-efficient a home is — the lower the number, the more efficient. In Massachusetts, a HERS rating is required at two critical stages of every new residential construction project.
When You Need a HERS Rating in MA
Every stakeholder in the process
Builders, architects, homeowners, code officials — EcoScore makes compliance straightforward for everyone involved.
Fast turnaround on plan review. Flexible inspection windows. We work around your schedule.
- Projected rating for building permit
- Framing & insulation inspection
- Final blower door & duct testing
- CO-ready HERS certificate
- 45L tax credit documentation
Know exactly how efficient your new home is. Plain English — no jargon, no runaround.
- New construction HERS certification
- Existing home energy assessments
- Mass Save documentation
- Energy Efficient Mortgage support
- Clear written report & certificate
Catch compliance issues at the design stage — not at permitting. Early plan review saves time and money.
- Early plan review & feedback
- Stretch Code compliance consulting
- Performance vs. prescriptive analysis
- Ekotrope energy modeling
- LEED & Energy Star support
Complete, audit-ready documentation. Cleaner permit files. Faster inspections.
- RESNET-certified rating reports
- Projected rating for permit issuance
- Final HERS certificate for CO
- Complete inspection audit trail
- RESNET national registry filing
How a Massachusetts HERS Rating Works — start to finish
Submit drawings. We review insulation, windows, HVAC, and envelope specs.
Projected HERS score issued — use this for your building permit application.
On-site verification of insulation, air barriers, and thermal bypasses.
Blower door and duct leakage tests confirm actual airtightness at completion.
Official HERS certificate issued — submit for your Certificate of Occupancy.
Rating filed with RESNET's national registry — permanent record for taxes and resale.
EcoScore Home Performance — RESNET and ICC Certifications
RESNET HERS RaterICC Inspector / Plans ExaminerICC HERS Compliance Specialist
Your Massachusetts HERS Rater — credentials you can trust, communication you'll actually get.
Most homeowners building in Massachusetts have never heard of a HERS rating until it shows up as a permit requirement. That's fine — explaining it is part of the job. EcoScore is a solo operation, which means when you reach out, you're talking directly to the person doing the work. No call centers. No dispatchers.
Background in HVAC trade school, military service as a combat medic, and nursing. The approach is methodical, precise, and plain-spoken — energy code compliance is detail work, and people deserve to understand what they're paying for.
RESNET HERS Rater, ICC Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner, and ICC HERS Compliance Specialist — the full certification stack to handle anything Massachusetts energy code throws at your project, from your first home to a portfolio of new builds.
Independent & Unbiased: EcoScore does not sell insulation, HVAC equipment, or installation services. Your HERS rating is a genuine third-party assessment — exactly what code, your clients, and the IRS require.
Questions people ask before getting started
A HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating is a third-party energy efficiency score for your home, like a miles-per-gallon rating for a car. In Massachusetts, it's required by code for most new construction — your builder needs a projected HERS rating to pull the building permit, and a final HERS rating (with on-site testing) before you can receive your Certificate of Occupancy. You don't need to understand all the technical details — that's what we're here for.
Yes — in most Massachusetts municipalities that have adopted the Stretch Code, a projected HERS rating based on your drawings is required for the building permit. The final HERS rating with on-site testing is then required before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued.
For homeowners building a new home: floor plans, wall/roof sections with insulation details, a window schedule, and your HVAC equipment specs. Don't have everything yet? Reach out anyway — we can often start with partial plans and refine as the design develops. We'll tell you exactly what we need in plain language.
The projected rating is a model-based prediction from your plans — required for the building permit. The final rating involves on-site inspections and blower door / duct leakage testing after construction — required for the Certificate of Occupancy.
Under the MA Stretch Code, new homes must achieve HERS ≤ 45 for all-electric or ≤ 42 for mixed-fuel. Communities on the Specialized Stretch Code may have additional requirements. Use the town lookup tool on this page to check your municipality.
The prescriptive path follows a fixed checklist — specific R-values, U-factors, etc. The performance path uses Ekotrope energy modeling to demonstrate equivalent performance, allowing design flexibility. Under 2024 IECC, performance modeling can eliminate the continuous exterior insulation the prescriptive path requires.
Yes — the 45L Federal Energy Efficient Home Credit pays builders $2,500–$5,000 per qualifying new unit. A HERS rating is the IRS-required third-party documentation. EcoScore provides 45L-compliant certification as part of the rating process.
Projected ratings are typically completed within 2–5 business days of receiving complete drawings. Rush turnaround is available — contact us to discuss your timeline.
Yes. EcoScore serves all of Massachusetts with a focus on Central MA and Worcester County. Remote plan review is available statewide. On-site testing is scheduled across the state — contact us to confirm scheduling for your location.
Which code applies to your town?
Massachusetts has three tiers of energy code — each with different HERS requirements. Look up your town before you submit for a permit.
Town Code Lookup
Enter any Massachusetts city or town to see which energy code applies and the required HERS target.
Questions? Permit deadline?
Just not sure where to start?
Fill out the form and Max will reach out directly — to answer your questions, walk through what you need, and let you know exactly what the process looks like for your project. No obligation, no sales pitch.