Meet the Heroes Behind Energy-Efficient Homes
In the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Home Energy Raters play a key role in delivering homes with lower utility bills, better comfort, and lasting value. These independent professionals verify that a home performs as a true high-performance home, so buyers don’t have to settle for houses built only to minimum code standards.
Before a home earns a high-performance verification, its energy features are evaluated by qualified experts who go beyond basic code checks. The Raters featured here are licensed through nationally recognized programs such as RESNET or Building Science Institute, and work under approved Rating Providers that review their documentation for accuracy and compliance.
Raters inspect homes during construction and after completion, testing insulation, air sealing, duct systems, HVAC equipment, water heating, and overall home tightness. They also provide code compliance testing, energy audits, and Energy Rating Index (ERI) scores to confirm that homes meet higher performance standards. While builders hire the Rater, their independent verification benefits builders and buyers alike—providing confidence that the home was properly tested and built to perform as promised.
CARROLL’S INSPECTION SERVICES
(956) 455-7779 • (956) 459-2636
chris@carrollsinspectors.com
PROVIDER: Building Efficiency Resources (BER)
(L-R) Chris Carroll; Noe Uribe
Chris Carroll founded Carroll’s Inspection Services after being introduced to ENERGY STAR® home rating at a Texas home inspection conference in 2002. Inspired by verified energy performance, he became one of the earliest ENERGY STAR® raters in the state. He enjoys helping builders and homeowners understand how homes perform and takes pride in improving comfort, durability, and energy savings through honest testing, education, and long-term relationships built on trust, accountability, and proven industry experience over time across South Texas.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS
(956) 271-2322 • jm-92@outlook.com
PROVIDER: Building Science Institute
(L-R) Carlos Gutierrez; Marco Rivera; Jorge Maldonado
Jorge Maldonado is the owner Environmental Energy Improvements, established in 2016. His path into energy rating began while working with his father, a local builder, where duct testing sparked his interest in building science. Now a licensed Building ScienceInstitute (BSI) Rater, Jorge provides home energy ratings, IECC code inspections, blower door and duct testing, thermal imaging, fog scans, and more. He takes pride in identifying issues, offering practical solutions, and delivering clear feedback that leads to real energy savings and improved comfort.
Home Energy Rating Service
(956) 645-1213
HomeEnergyRatingService@gmail.com
PROVIDER: Building Efficiency Resources (BER)
Luis Barrera
Luis Barrera is the owner of Home Energy Rating Service, established in 2020. He began his career as a HERS Rater while working for an HVAC company, gaining hands-on experience in home performance testing. Luis enjoys traveling throughout South Texas to test homes and values the flexibility his work provides. With more than 15 years of experience inspecting and testing homes, he takes pride in helping builders construct energy-efficient homes and is known for being reliable, honest, and straightforward with home owners and builders alike.
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