INDEPENDENT IDENTITY

is having no financial interest in, and not advocating or recommending the use of any product or service as a means of gaining increased business with firms or persons specified in Section 1673(i) of the California Home Energy Rating System Program regulations (California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 8). (Financial Interest is an ownership interest, debt agreement, or employer/employee relationship. Financial interest does not include ownership of less than 5 percent of the outstanding equity securities of a publicly traded corporation).

NOTE: The definitions of "independent entity" and "financial interest," together with Title 20, Section 1673(i), prohibit conflicts of interest between HERS Providers and HERS Raters, or between Providers/Raters and builders/subcontractors.