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What does the HERS Index measure, and what does a lower number indicate?

Home equity rating; lower means less equity

Home Energy Rating System index; lower means more energy efficient

Home environmental rating; lower means more sustainable materials

Heating efficiency rating system; lower means less heating capacity

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: GREEN Exam

100

Practice questions in this set

OpenExamPrep

70%

Passing score per course assessment

NAR Center for REALTOR Development

0–100+

HERS Index range (lower = more efficient)

RESNET

30%

Federal residential solar ITC through 2032

IRS / IRA Section 25D

4 pCi/L

EPA radon action level

U.S. EPA

$8,000

Max FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage add-on

HUD FHA EEM

NAR's GREEN Designation is the National Association of REALTORS' credential for residential agents specializing in green and energy-efficient homes, administered by NAR's Green REsource Council. Earning it requires completing the two-day Green Designation Core course (Day 1: Resource-Efficient Homes; Day 2: Representing Buyers and Sellers of Resource-Efficient Homes), passing course assessments at 70%, joining the Green REsource Council, and maintaining active REALTOR membership. The program emphasizes HERS Index ratings, third-party certifications, RESO green MLS fields, and the Appraisal Institute's Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum so designees can document and translate features into buyer-relevant value.

Sample GREEN Practice Questions

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1What does the HERS Index measure, and what does a lower number indicate?

A.Home equity rating; lower means less equity

B.Home Energy Rating System index; lower means more energy efficient

C.Home environmental rating; lower means more sustainable materials

D.Heating efficiency rating system; lower means less heating capacity

Explanation: The HERS Index (Home Energy Rating System) is RESNET's nationally recognized scoring system for measuring a home's energy efficiency. A score of 100 represents a 2006 reference home built to code, 0 represents a net-zero home that produces as much energy as it uses, and every 1-point reduction equates to roughly 1% energy savings. Lower scores mean a more efficient home.

2ENERGY STAR is administered by which U.S. federal agency?

A.U.S. Department of Energy only

B.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (with DOE as a partner)

C.U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

D.Federal Trade Commission

Explanation: ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the U.S. Department of Energy partnering on certain product categories. The label identifies products, homes, and buildings that meet energy-efficiency criteria set by EPA.

3Under LEED for Homes v4.1 (USGBC), what are the four certification tiers from lowest to highest?

A.Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum

B.Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum

C.Standard, Enhanced, Premium, Net-Zero

D.Basic, Advanced, Premier, Living

Explanation: LEED for Homes v4.1, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), uses four certification tiers based on points achieved: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Platinum is the highest level and requires the most points across categories such as energy, water, indoor environmental quality, and materials.

4A home's blower door test result must be at or below 0.6 ACH50. Which certification standard requires this airtightness threshold?

A.ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3

B.Passive House (PHIUS or PHI)

C.LEED for Homes Certified

D.NGBS Bronze

Explanation: Passive House standards (both PHIUS and the Passive House Institute) require an extremely tight envelope verified by a blower door test result of no more than 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 pascals (0.6 ACH50). This level of airtightness, combined with continuous insulation and heat-recovery ventilation, drives Passive House energy use to roughly 80–90% below code.

5A buyer asks the difference between solar PV system 'kW' and 'kWh.' Which explanation is correct?

A.kW measures total energy generated; kWh measures the system's age in hours

B.kW is the system's power capacity (size/output rate); kWh is the energy produced or consumed over time

C.kW is for residential systems; kWh is only used for commercial

D.They are interchangeable units

Explanation: Kilowatts (kW) measure power — the rate at which a solar PV system can produce electricity at a given moment, which describes the system's size. Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy — the cumulative output or use over time. A 6 kW system running at full capacity for one hour produces 6 kWh.

6What does the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) currently provide for residential solar PV systems installed through 2032?

A.A 10% nonrefundable credit

B.A 30% credit on qualified system costs (Inflation Reduction Act)

C.A flat $5,000 rebate

D.A 50% deduction from state property tax

Explanation: The Inflation Reduction Act (2022) restored and extended the residential Investment Tax Credit (also called the Residential Clean Energy Credit) to 30% of qualified solar PV system costs through 2032, with step-downs scheduled for 2033 and 2034. It is a federal income tax credit (not a property-tax deduction or rebate).

7Net metering for a grid-tied residential solar PV system primarily allows homeowners to:

A.Disconnect from the utility grid entirely

B.Receive bill credits for excess electricity exported to the grid

C.Avoid paying any utility connection charges

D.Sell renewable energy certificates directly to utilities

Explanation: Net metering is a billing mechanism in which the utility credits a homeowner for surplus electricity their solar PV system exports to the grid. The homeowner remains grid-tied and draws power at night or when generation is low, with excess production offsetting consumption on the bill. Specific credit rates and rules vary by state.

8What does the EPA recommend as the action level for radon in a residential home?

A.0.4 pCi/L

B.1 pCi/L

C.4 pCi/L

D.10 pCi/L

Explanation: The EPA action level for radon in homes is 4 picocuries per liter (4 pCi/L). At or above this level, EPA recommends mitigation. EPA also encourages mitigation between 2 and 4 pCi/L because no level of radon exposure is risk-free. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

9What does ASHRAE Standard 62.2 establish for residential ventilation?

A.Maximum allowed indoor humidity

B.Minimum whole-house mechanical ventilation rates

C.Required HVAC duct R-value

D.Maximum carbon dioxide concentration

Explanation: ASHRAE Standard 62.2 specifies minimum whole-house mechanical ventilation rates for residential buildings, generally based on home size and number of occupants (often expressed near 7.5 cfm per person plus a floor-area component). It is the basis for ventilation requirements in many green standards including ENERGY STAR, LEED for Homes, and Passive House programs.

10Which acronym describes a mortgage program that allows a buyer to add up to $8,000 of energy-efficiency improvements to an FHA loan?

A.EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgage)

B.HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit)

C.HARP (Home Affordable Refinance Program)

D.PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy)

Explanation: The Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) program lets buyers finance qualified energy improvements as part of an FHA, VA, or conventional loan. Under FHA's EEM, up to $8,000 (or 5% of the property value, capped per program rules) can be added to the loan amount based on a HERS or comparable energy rating that documents projected savings.

About the GREEN Exam

NAR's GREEN Designation, awarded by the Green REsource Council, trains REALTORS to identify, market, and represent buyers and sellers of energy-efficient and sustainable residential properties. Coursework and assessment cover energy efficiency fundamentals, green building certifications (LEED, ENERGY STAR, Passive House, NGBS, Living Building Challenge), renewable energy systems, building envelope and HVAC, indoor air quality, marketing high-performance homes, and the NAR Code of Ethics as it applies to green real estate.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

Course tuition + Green REsource Council membership (NAR Green REsource Council)

GREEN Exam Content Outline

25%

Green Building Certifications

LEED for Homes v4.1 tiers (Certified/Silver/Gold/Platinum), ENERGY STAR Certified Homes, Passive House (PHIUS/PHI) airtightness and EUI targets, NGBS / ICC 700, Living Building Challenge net-positive performance, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, Pearl Certification

20%

Energy Efficiency Fundamentals

Energy hierarchy (reduce loads, optimize systems, generate renewables), passive solar, thermal mass, cool roofs, WaterSense and water-energy nexus, smart thermostats, demand response, EnergyGuide labels, water heaters and UEF

15%

Building Envelope, HVAC and Insulation

R-value by climate zone, insulation types and continuous insulation, air sealing and thermal bridging, U-factor / SHGC for windows, SEER, HSPF, AFUE, Manual J/S/D sizing, dual-fuel heat pumps, duct sealing and insulation, blower door and duct blaster diagnostics, IECC code basics

15%

Renewable Energy

Solar PV (kW vs kWh, grid-tied vs off-grid, anti-islanding, net metering), Investment Tax Credit (30% Section 25D through 2032 under IRA), Section 25C efficiency credit, geothermal/ground-source heat pumps and COP, small wind siting, battery storage, EV charging levels

10%

Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Homes

Radon (EPA action level 4 pCi/L), VOCs and TSCA Title VI formaldehyde rules, mold and moisture management, ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation, HRVs/ERVs, MERV filtration, combustion safety in tight homes, EPA Indoor airPLUS

10%

Marketing Green Properties

HERS Index and Home Energy Score interpretation, RESO green MLS fields, Appraisal Institute's Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum, EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgage) including FHA's $8,000 add-on, PACE financing disclosure, building referral networks with raters and auditors

Code of Ethics and Risk

NAR Code of Ethics Articles 1, 11, and 12 applied to green claims; substantiating advertising; fair housing in green marketing; material disclosures (radon, leased solar, PACE liens); referral and competence boundaries

How to Pass the GREEN Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 2 hours
Exam fee: Course tuition + Green REsource Council membership

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

GREEN Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize HERS Index basics: 100 = 2006 reference home, 0 = net-zero, every 1-point reduction ≈ 1% energy savings; lower is better

2Know the four LEED for Homes tiers (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and the four NGBS tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Emerald) — and which body administers each

3Learn the Passive House airtightness threshold (≤ 0.6 ACH50 blower door) and roughly the EUI target (~14.5 kWh/m²·yr space heating in PHI)

4Practice converting solar PV concepts: kW (capacity) × annual sun-hours × derate ≈ kWh/year; ITC is 30% under the IRA through 2032

5Memorize EPA's radon action level (4 pCi/L) and ASHRAE 62.2 as the residential ventilation standard

6Map each ethics scenario to an article: Article 1 (client interest + honesty to all), Article 11 (competence), Article 12 (truthful advertising)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NAR GREEN Designation?

NAR's GREEN Designation is the National Association of REALTORS' credential for agents specializing in green and energy-efficient homes. Administered by NAR's Green REsource Council, the program trains REALTORS to understand high-performance home features (HERS, LEED, ENERGY STAR, Passive House, solar PV, geothermal), use the RESO green MLS fields, work effectively with appraisers and lenders, and apply the Code of Ethics to green marketing claims.

How do I earn the GREEN Designation?

Candidates complete NAR's two-day Green Designation Core course (Day 1: Resource-Efficient Homes; Day 2: Representing Buyers and Sellers of Resource-Efficient Homes), pass each day's assessment at 70% or higher, hold active REALTOR membership, and join the Green REsource Council with annual dues. Total study and coursework time is typically 30–50 hours including pre-reading and review.

Is there a single GREEN Designation exam?

The credential is built around two course-day assessments (one per day of the Green Designation Core) rather than a single proctored exam. Each assessment includes roughly 50 questions with a 70% passing score. Together they cover energy efficiency, certifications, renewables, IAQ, marketing, and ethics. Candidates can retake assessments per Center for REALTOR Development policies.

What does the curriculum cover?

Day 1 covers resource-efficient home science: building envelope, HVAC, water heating, lighting and appliances, water conservation, renewables, IAQ, and certifications (LEED, ENERGY STAR, NGBS, Passive House). Day 2 focuses on representing buyers and sellers — pricing, appraisal support with the Green Addendum, MLS fields, EEM and PACE financing, and applying the Code of Ethics to green claims.

How much does the GREEN Designation cost?

Costs include course tuition (varies by provider, often a few hundred dollars per day) and annual Green REsource Council membership dues. Candidates also need active REALTOR membership in their local board. NAR periodically offers discounts for members of designated councils or institutes; check the official Green REsource Council page for current pricing.

Is the GREEN Designation worth pursuing?

For agents who serve buyers in growing high-performance home markets — especially regions with state energy-efficiency programs, robust solar adoption, or rising buyer demand for healthier homes — the GREEN Designation provides directly applicable knowledge of HERS ratings, certification programs, EEMs, and appraisal support tools. It complements ABR for buyer representation and pairs well with CRS, GRI, and SRES.