Charis Homes
For over 20 years, Charis Homes has been crafting ultra-efficient custom homes designed with each family’s health and comfort in mind. The homes aren’t just energy efficient; they have healthier indoor air, ensuring a better quality of life for homeowners and their loved ones.
In this month’s feature and in honor of Women’s History Month, we asked Charis Homes owner Glenna Wilson about her company’s commitment to building HERS® homes.
Q: What is special about a HERS-rated home?
A: Glenna: At Charis Homes, what makes a HERS-rated home truly special is the confidence that comes from independent, third-party verification. Instead of relying on promises, our homeowners receive a measurable, certified score that clearly demonstrates how efficiently their home will perform.
We like to think of the HERS rating as your home’s performance report card — a transparent, data-driven snapshot of quality and efficiency. The result? Fewer surprises after move-in, more consistent year-round comfort, lower energy costs, and the peace of mind that your home was built with precision and accountability.
With a HERS rating, performance isn’t just a claim — it’s verified, tangible, and built into every Charis home.
Q: Why should consumers ask for the HERS Index Score on homes they are shopping for?
A: Glenna: Consumers should ask for a HERS Index score because it reveals information that price, size, and finishes do not. Two homes can look similar but perform very differently over time. The HERS score helps buyers understand long-term operating costs, comfort levels, and construction quality before they purchase. At Charis, we believe informed buyers make better decisions—and the HERS score gives them an objective tool to evaluate real value, not just appearance.
Q: Why did Charis Homes choose to have this home HERS-rated?
A: Glenna: We choose to HERS rate our homes because it protects the buyer. Independent testing ensures the home they’re investing in performs as intended, not just at closing but for years to come. For Charis, the rating process reinforces discipline and consistency in how we design and build. For the homeowner, it provides assurance that efficiency, comfort, and durability were verified—not assumed.
Q: Why should consumers expect energy-efficient homes?
A: Glenna: Consumers should expect energy efficiency because it directly impacts how a home feels and functions every day. Efficient homes are more comfortable, quieter, healthier, and less expensive to operate. From our perspective, building anything less places an unnecessary burden on the homeowner through higher utility costs and reduced comfort. At Charis, energy efficiency isn’t an upgrade—it’s part of delivering a home that truly supports the lifestyle and long-term investment goals of our clients.
Q: How many homes do you build with HERS per year?
A: Glenna: Every Charis home is HERS rated. Regardless of size or scope, we believe every homeowner deserves the same level of performance verification and transparency.
Q: How do you market HERS-rated homes?
A: Glenna: We market our HERS-rated homes by translating performance into real-life benefits. Rather than focusing only on the numbers, we show buyers what those scores truly mean — greater everyday comfort, more predictable energy costs, healthier indoor air, and long-term durability.
The HERS rating serves as measurable proof that our performance claims are verified, helping buyers clearly understand why a Charis home performs differently than conventional construction.
At Charis, we also emphasize that our homes are certified through ENERGY STAR and Indoor AirPlus, programs backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These certifications further demonstrate our commitment to building homes that are energy-efficient, healthy, and built to a higher standard.
Q: How do your customers feel about HERS-rated homes?
A: Glenna: Our customers value the confidence that comes with knowing their home’s performance was independently verified. Many tell us the benefits—consistent temperatures, low energy bills, and overall comfort—become more apparent over time. The HERS rating often reinforces their decision to build with Charis, validating that they invested in quality that extends beyond visible finishes.
Q: What rating company do you work with on your HERS-rated homes?
A: Glenna: We proudly partner with two certified HERS raters — Scott Easton of Westoff Services and Leo Jansen of Energy Efficient Homes Midwest — whose rigorous testing and verification processes align seamlessly with our standards for precision and accountability.
These trusted partnerships help ensure every Charis home performs exactly as it was designed. Through independent verification, our homeowners gain confidence that performance goals have been met — and proven. By bringing in third-party experts, we strengthen trust, reinforce quality control, and advance our mission to deliver homes that are as efficient and durable as they are beautiful.
