RSR | Builder Services

Builder Services

Residential Science Resources (RSR) specializes in home energy performance analysis and consulting, diagnostic testing, certification and training services to the residential home building industry. The Company works with architects, builders, subcontractors, developers, homeowners, government agencies, trade associations, and utilities. We assist our clients in creating homes that meet or exceed all others in terms of performance. Supporting a whole-house-systems approach to home construction, RSR helps build it right from the start to increase health, comfort, safety, materials-durability, energy, and cost efficiencies. Our services are customized to meet individual builder-client's needs.

Services we offer for New Homes

Energy Star Homes
Green Homes
$2,000 Federal Tax Credit Verification
Diagnostics
Reporting
Energy Modeling
Training
Data Management
Utility Program Management

	Energy Star Homes ENERGY STAR qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, lower utility bills, and peace of mind. As a third-party consulting and verification firm, RSR will put your home through a 30 point inspection and provide feedback and verification that your home surpasses the Energy Star Standards.		Green Homes Building a Green Home is a series of processes, not products. The foundation of most green building programs is Energy Efficiency and adds a deeper understanding of the total impact the home will have on the environment. Residential Science Resources will work with you toward your goal(s) of designing, constructing, and verifying a home that has the a minimal impact on the environment.
	$2,000 Federal Tax Credit Verification Under the provision for energy efficient homes, an eligible contractor who constructs a qualified new energy efficient home may qualify for a credit of up to $2,000. The credit is available for all new homes. As part of our standard service, Residential Science can provide the necessary documentation for you to help claim this valuable credit on your federal taxes.		Diagnostics Successfully constructing high performance homes is challenging. RSR employs the following diagnostic tools to to help add value to your building. Blower Door Testing Duct Leakage Testing Infrared Scanning Combustion Safety Testing Room to Room Flow Mapping
	Reporting We create detailed and useful reports for each of the services you choose to have performed. Every data point from our on site inspections is recorded and pictures are taken and included when a visual reference is needed. RSR reports are generated electronically and backed up on our secure servers in case you ever need a copy. Printed versions are a fantastic addition for prospective buyers of a new home. Here are a few examples...		Energy Modeling An in depth look at the cost(s) of heating, cooling, producing hot water, lighting and operating major appliances in your home. This energy model will allow you to make educated and informed decisions about product upgrades with regard to operating costs. Residential Science will accurately model your specific home to generate estimated consumptions of each item. A specific HERS (Home Efficiency Rating System) index will be created for each home.
	Training Knowledge is power. New products, procedures, and programs are emerging in the housing market on a regular basis, making for challenging decisions on how to proceed. RSR provides training and education in many packages ranging from onsite individual instruction to full-day seminars. If your organization could benefit from a workshop that will specialize in green building and/or energy performance technologies that are already tested and used effectively in the building industry, please contact RSR at 651.994.1234.		Data Management We retain all inspection data for our rated homes. This allows reports for builders, customers, and agents to be obtained at any time. Automated emails can be sent to your clients and customers with pertinent information for their home. Our Data Management system also allows us to map energy efficiency trends over regions and seasons.
	Utility Program Management Consolidating, organizing, tracking, and disseminating various energy savings from consumers, builders, and/or raters can be difficult. Residential Science has both the skill and experience to assist in organizing, facilitating, and managing programs from gas and electric utilities for both new and exiting homes. The management staff from Residential Science can customize a program to meet you specific needs with regard to growth, market penetration, reliability, and credibility in your service area(s).

RSR Implements Xcel Energy’s Home Efficiency Program (HEP) Partnered with Xcel Energy, RSR assists builders who sign on to the free HEP program to create homes that surpass others in comfort, energy efficiency, moisture control, air quality and durability. The program is available to Minnesota builders and residents living in Xcel Energy’s residential gas territories. RSR provides HEP builders with intelligible and systematic guidelines, as well as a thorough knowledge of rules and Minnesota State energy codes. We supplement this knowledge with energy science diagnostic technologies that enable builders to perform responsibly and profitably.

RSR works closely with builders and subcontractors both on and off-site to provide information and training throughout the building process. We are certified by the national Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to conduct residential energy ratings (HERS Ratings) to evaluate building construction methods and materials. The ratings are essential for determining eligibility for ENERGY STAR status and in qualifying for low cost energy efficiency mortgages.

The scope of RSR involvement begins with a comprehensive site analysis and blueprint review to determine how the home size, design and structural components may affect site placement, windows, insulation, heating and cooling systems, air flow and performance of all components. On-site inspections are scheduled at critical points in the building process to ensure subcontractors are performing to best standards of practice. Final site testing includes infrared camera and blower-door testing to determine areas of possible air and moisture leakage. As a third-party testing service, RSR offers independent testing and certification that helps building professionals build and sell homes that perform to optimal levels. This “seal of approval” guarantees that your building meets specific verifiable efficiency and performance standards and helps to distinguish your product from the competition. Our training includes proven marketing strategies to help builders sell more homes. Call RSR today at 651.994.1234 to schedule a brief meeting at your office or model with one of our professionals, and see for yourself what many builders are calling a "no-brainer".