Raters complete the third-party verification required for ENERGY STAR certification. Raters are trained and credential through a Home Certification Organization (HCO), which is an independent organization recognized by EPA to implement an ENERGY STAR certification program for single-family and multifamily homes and apartments using an Energy Rating Index (ERI) compliance path. Learn more and find a current list of HCOs at www.energystar.gov/partner_resources/residential_new/working/other_participants/hco.
Note that to be eligible to certify homes as ENERGY STAR, in addition to HCO’s general Rater training, you are also required to take additional training that covers ENERGY STAR-specific topics (often referred to as ‘ENERGY STAR Version 3 Rater Training’). This training is also available through the HCO.