REM/Rate
Desktop HERS rating and residential energy code compliance software, RESNET-accredited for ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301-2022 with an NREL hourly simulation engine, supporting Energy Star, ZERH, and IECC compliance for single-family homes -- over 1,000,000 homes rated.
Hidden PricingAgent-hostile
2.2 /5 composite score
The industry-standard HERS rating desktop tool with over 1M homes rated and active RESNET accreditation through December 2026 -- the 2025 release bundles the latest NREL engine (ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301-2022), but the product is desktop-only with no public API/CLI/MCP (RF2), pricing requires contacting the vendor (RF1), and XML export is a paid per-address add-on.
Situational
Rubric Scorecard
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Value for the price | 2/5 | quote-only (per-seat license, contact vendor) |
| Agent Friendliness | 1/5 | API: none (desktop application; XML export is a paid per-building-address add-on) |
| Ease of adoption | 3/5 | -- |
| Portability & lock-in | 3/5 | 3 file formats |
| Interoperability | 2/5 | 4 integrations |
How we verified this: we checked REM/Rate against its live site and an independent source — resnet.us. Nothing on this page is listed from memory. See how we grade. Verified 2026-07-06.
Evidence
File formats
| Format | Direction | Support |
|---|---|---|
| XML | export | partial -- paid add-on per unique building address |
| export | full | |
| REM/Rate project files | native | full |
Integrations
RESNET registry Energy Star ZERH IECC compliance reporting
Alternatives in Energy Analysis
Free, open-source EnergyPlus front-end from NREL with a SketchUp plugin, a Measures library for parametric analysis, and Radiance daylighting support.
4.4/5
SaaS whole-life-carbon data platform used by architecture and engineering firms to run rapid embodied, operational, refrigerant, and landscape carbon (LCA) assessments from concept through construction, benchmark portfolios, source low-carbon products via EPDs, and auto-generate AIA 2030 DDx compliance reports. Grew out of EHDD's in-house carbon tool (EPIC) and is separately licensed to power Autodesk Forma's Embodied Carbon Analysis feature.
4.4/5
Free open-source Grasshopper plugins for climate analysis, energy modeling, daylighting, CFD, and urban simulation, with a commercial cloud layer via Pollination.
4.0/5
Free, DOE-funded whole-building energy simulation engine with sub-hourly HVAC, lighting, and water modeling -- the engine under most commercial tools on this list.
4.0/5
Subscribe to Building Probable
Independent AEC + AI reviews & research, including Energy Analysis coverage -- the companion newsletter to buildingtech.pro.
Subscribe to Building Probable →