A comparative validation based certification test for home energy rating system software

This paper summarizes a two volume National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report entitled "Home Energy Rating System Building Energy Simulation Test (HERS BESTEST)" (Judkoff and Neymark, 1995a). HERS BESTEST is a comparative validation method for evaluating the credibility of building energy software used by Home Energy Rating Systems. As NREL has now produced two comparative validation methods for testing building energy simulation software, the other method being International Energy Agency Building Energy Simulation Test and Diagnostic Method (IEA BESTEST) (Judkoff and Neymark, 1995b), a comparison detailing the capabilities and appropriate use of the two methods is also included.