EP158 From HERS Ratings to Resale: Making Performance Visible (October 2026)
Release Date: 11/09/2026
EP158 From HERS Ratings to Resale: Making Performance Visible (October 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “When you really start talking to people about how it’s going to impact their daily lives, that’s really, really when they start to listen.” — Ashley Rummage “You can have two houses completely the same, and you would have no idea that one is energy efficient and one isn’t.” — Paul Ryll “The value to them is how their family lives in their home.” — Sierra Alden What happens when a home’s best features are the ones buyers and appraisers can’t see? In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn talks with real estate agent Ashley Rummage,...
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EP157 See Something, Say Something: Why HERS Raters Belong in the Code Conversation With Phil Crone (LBA) and Paulette McGhie (RESNET®) (September 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “A well-run permitting system treats time as a part of affordability.” — Phil Crone “If we hadn't had our ears to the ground, we might not have even known that was going to happen.” — Paulette McGhie, on preserving blower door testing in Utah “Be yourself. Be the constituent that they want to hear from.” — Phil Crone What role can HERS® Raters play in shaping better energy codes and housing policy? More than they may realize. In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn talks with Phil Crone, Vice President of Leading Builders of America...
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EP156 RESNET®’s Next Chapter: Listening, Learning and Growing With Shelby Gatlin and John Hensley (August 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “The HERS Index isn’t just a score. It’s somebody out there in that home throughout the build, making sure that the promises are proven. — Shelby “The better our rating industry does, the better our boots-on-the-ground rating companies and RFIs and modelers are doing their job, RESNET®wins. We all win.” — John “RESNET® needs to look at themselves and say, ‘How can we do this better?’ And do that often. — John RESNET®is entering a new chapter. With Shelby Gatlin stepping into the executive director role and...
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EP155 5 Million HERS Ratings: What This Milestone Really Means (July 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: "We're not just checking boxes. We're helping builders build better homes." – Matthew Cooper "The conversation needs to shift from price per square foot to value per square foot." – Steve Byers "Professionalism, curiosity, and partnership are what make great HERS Raters." "Five million homes is impressive, but it's the quality behind those ratings that really matters." Five million HERS-rated homes is more than a milestone. It represents decades of collaboration between builders, HERS Raters, Rating Providers, manufacturers, and RESNET® to improve the quality,...
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EP154 Every Drop Counts: The Evolution of HERSH2O® (June 2026)
RESTalk
“Water efficiency is moving from a nice feature to a development necessity.” “HERSH2O® helps turn water conservation into something builders can measure, verify, and communicate.” “Water is a precious resource—and unlike energy, we cannot simply produce more of it.” Water efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of homebuilding, particularly in regions facing drought, rising tap fees, and development restrictions. In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn speaks with Ryan Meres and Jacob Atalla about the continued evolution of HERSH2O® and the expansion of the...
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EP153 How Energy Codes Really Get Made, and Why Raters Should Have a Seat at the Table (May 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “The people closest to the work often have the clearest view of what needs to change.” “Codes do not become practical until field experience finds its way into the conversation.” “Better data leads to better codes, and HERS® Raters are sitting on some of the most useful data in the industry.” “The future of energy codes will be shaped not only in committee rooms, but also in crawlspaces, attics, and blower door tests.” In this episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn welcomes Nathan Kahre of the National Association of Home...
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EP152 Powering ENERGY STAR Multifamily in the Southwest: SRP & Copa Health’s Blueprint for High-Performance Housing (April 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “Utilities are no longer just incentive providers. They are becoming design partners.” “High performance is not a luxury in affordable housing. It is a necessity for predictable living costs.” “If you want this to scale, it starts with early coordination and shared goals.” In this episode of RESTalk, we head to Tempe, Arizona, where extreme heat, rising energy costs, and housing needs are converging, and where a standout project is redefining what ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction can look like in a hot, dry climate. Bill is joined by Rebecca...
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EP151 Emerging Leaders, Real Talk: The Future of HERS® Starts Here (March 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “You can’t fix what you didn’t catch early. Thoroughness upfront saves everything downstream.” “It’s a young industry. That’s what makes it exciting, we’re still shaping what it becomes.” “If you don’t have a reason for being in this work, it’s going to be hard to stay in it.” In this episode of RESTalk, Bill sits down with 2026 Emerging Leader Fellows Courtney Holland and Hayden Cantoni fresh off their experience at the RESNET® Conference. Both guests share how they found their way into the HERS® and building performance industry, often...
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EP150 Women Building the Future: Voices from the RESNET® Community (March 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “You absolutely belong here. There are many paths into this industry, and there’s room for everyone to thrive.” - Cindy Zeis “Patience, facts, and science always win the day.” - Sharla Riead “The future of women in building science is unlimited.” - Nancy St. Hilaire In this milestone 150th episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn marks Women’s History Month by highlighting the voices of women from across the RESNET® community. Through a series of short conversations, industry leaders share how they entered the world of building...
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EP149 Inside the 2026 RESNET® Conference: The Next Era of HERS® (January 2026)
RESTalk
QUOTES from the episode: “The RESNET® Conference is where experience meets fresh perspective, and that’s where the real progress happens.” “This isn’t just another conference. It’s about shaping the next era of the HERS© industry.” “If you want to understand where the industry is headed, this is where the conversations are happening.” In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn sits down with Noah Kibbe from RESNET® to preview the 2026 RESNET® Conference coming to San Antonio’s Riverwalk. Noah shares what goes into planning the event, from selecting the location and shaping...
info_outlineQUOTES from the episode:
“When you really start talking to people about how it’s going to impact their daily lives, that’s really, really when they start to listen.” — Ashley Rummage
“You can have two houses completely the same, and you would have no idea that one is energy efficient and one isn’t.” — Paul Ryll
“The value to them is how their family lives in their home.” — Sierra Alden
What happens when a home’s best features are the ones buyers and appraisers can’t see? In this episode of RESTalk, Bill Spohn talks with real estate agent Ashley Rummage, appraiser Paul Ryll, and appraisal operations leader Sierra Alden about how energy performance factors into a home sale—and why it sometimes doesn’t.
Ashley sees growing interest from buyers in utility costs, insulation, HVAC systems, and the health of the home. She explains how she connects efficiency features to everyday experiences: comfort, quieter rooms, indoor air quality, and the broader cost of ownership.
Paul describes the difference between an upgrade’s cost, its appeal to a buyer, and the value an appraiser can support with market evidence. A heat pump water heater, for example, may benefit the household without producing an easily measurable adjustment in a sales comparison. He also explains why local markets matter: a feature with a recognizable contribution in one region may be harder to evaluate in another.
RESNET® and HERS® ratings enter the conversation as part of the effort to make home energy performance visible. Sierra describes how learning about RESNET® opened the door to conversations between the appraisal and building performance communities. A documented RESNET® HERS rating or other certification can give agents and appraisers useful information about a home that may not be apparent during a walkthrough. The guests discuss the opportunity for RESNET®, raters, agents, appraisers, lenders, and builders to share knowledge and improve the flow of that information.
The conversation also examines expectations around resale value and solar ownership. Spending money on an improvement does not guarantee an equal increase in appraised value, and lease terms deserve careful attention before a homeowner signs. Paul’s advice to agents is straightforward: give the appraiser the information you have. Better documentation gives the market a better chance to recognize what’s there.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulryll/
www.linkedin.com/in/arummage
www.linkedin.com/in/sierraalden
Emails:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Info on the UAD3.6 set form:
https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/delivering/uniform-mortgage-data-program/uniform-appraisal-dataset
To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at [email protected]