PATERSON, N.J. - BASF hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate its Near-Zero Energy Home that is 80 percent more energy efficient, more durable, and faster to construct than conventionally built homes, according to the company. The project was designed to achieve a 95.5 Home Energy Rater Systems (HERS) Energy Star® score and is a prototype for the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC's) newly launched rating system for the energy efficiency and environmental impact of homes.