Summary
🏡 Can a Homeowner Do Their Own Rescheck Report? (Your DIY to Rescheck Energy Code Compliance)
Penned by Jobe Leonard from Rescheck.info, an admirer of all who build, insulate, and comply.
Jobe Leonard Rescheck.info
If you are planning a new home, a major addition, or significant renovations, you’ve likely encountered a prerequisite from your local building department: the REScheck Report. This document proves your design meets the energy efficiency requirements (like the International Energy Conservation Code or IECC).
So, as the homeowner managing this project, the most frequent question I hear is: Can I complete the REScheck report myself?
The answer is: Yes, absolutely.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) created the REScheck Web and Desktop programs to be accessible tools for anyone building or renovating residential structures. However, for a homeowner investing significant time and money into a project, the more practical question is: Should you?
The DIY Process: What Homeowners Need to Collect
If you choose to tackle the REScheck yourself, the first step is gathering meticulous details about your planned construction materials. You will need to work closely with your builder, architect, or materials supplier to pin down the specifications for every energy-related component.
To start your report, you’ll need the following details, which must align with your project’s location and local code:
Local Building Code: Which version of the IECC or state-specific code is your jurisdiction enforcing? (Crucial for determining passing criteria).
Foundation & Walls: The exact type of foundation (e.g., slab, basement, crawlspace) and the specific wall construction and insulation R-value planned.
Roof System: The roof design and the specific ceiling insulation R-value you are utilizing.
Fenestration (Windows & Doors): The official U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) for all windows and exterior doors (including garage doors). This information comes directly from the product manufacturer.
Measurements: The exact square footage and lineal footage of all these components (e.g., total window area, wall area, ceiling area).
Once all this data is accurately entered into the free REScheck program, you click “check compliance.” If your home meets the energy code, you pass. If you fail, the headache begins.
The Homeowner’s Hurdle: Navigating the “Trade-Offs”
For a homeowner, the real difficulty with a DIY REScheck isn’t the initial data entry—it’s the failure notification.
When a design fails to comply, the program won’t tell you how to fix it. It only alerts you that the structure uses too much energy for its climate zone. This forces you to make a “trade-off”: you must compensate for the deficiency by upgrading another component.
For a homeowner, this means:
Project Delays: You lose valuable time, often running multiple “what-if” scenarios, trying different insulation levels or window types just to get the report to pass.
Increased Costs: Without expert knowledge, you might choose an unnecessarily expensive upgrade—like adding costly insulation everywhere—when a simple switch to a different window specification would have solved the problem more affordably.
The Expert Advantage: Stress-Free Rescheck Compliance for $79
Your time should be spent focusing on design choices and construction quality, not wrestling with complex energy code software. We offer a specialized service to be your compliance partner, ensuring your project passes the first time:
Expert Knowledge of the “Trade-Offs”: My specialty is knowing exactly which options offer the most effective and affordable pathway to compliance. I have used the Rescheck Web and Rescheck Desktop software efficiently for decades.
Unbeatable Value: We provide this specialized service, including all the expertise and free consulting, for a flat, low rate of $79 per report.
Peace of Mind: Whether your home is being built in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Utah, or Massachusetts, I serve homeowners across the entire United States. I’ll ensure your project is compliant and properly insulated, giving you the peace of mind that your permit application won’t be rejected due to energy code issues.
You can do your own REScheck, but if you want to skip the compliance headache, avoid costly construction errors, and ensure a smooth permitting process, we are ready to serve you.
To get started, simply email your order confirmation number, PDF plans, jobsite address, and square footage to service@rescheck.info and receive your compliant Rescheck in about 4-6 hours.
