100,000 Home Energy Scores So Far And Counting!

This post originally appeared on the Better Buildings Beat Blog.

DOE’s Home Energy Score™ is a tool for homeowners, homebuyers, and renters that estimates home energy use, home energy costs, and provides cost-effective solutions to improve home energy efficiency. This score was developed after research showed the need for a low-cost, reliable method for homeowners and buyers to understand their homes’ energy efficiency. As of December 2018, more than 100,000 homes have been rated using the tool by organizations partnering with DOE nationwide!

We did a quick analysis on the data from these 100,000 scores to get a better sense of the energy savings potential of homes scored to-date. Here is what we found out: Homes in this sample are in 39 states and in every continental U.S. climate zone. The average home in the dataset had a starting score of 4.7 (out of 10) and an upgrade score of 7.3, if cost-effective energy improvements were made. On average, each home could cost-effectively reduce energy use by more than 20%, save over $600 each year on energy bills, and eliminate 2 tons of CO₂ pollution each year.

Like the average US home, these homes can save a lot of energy. What work would it take to achieve these savings? The most common upgrade recommendations from the Home Energy Score based on a 10-year payback calculation are:

• Installing an ENERGY STAR® water heater
• Installing an ENERGY STAR heating system
• Having the home professionally air sealed
• Sealing ducts
• Installing an ENERGY STAR air conditioner
• Installing or increasing the amount of attic insulation
   

If every home in this sample made the upgrades recommended by the Home Energy Score, homeowners would save an estimated more than $57 million on their energy bills and eliminate over 185,000 tons of CO₂ pollution - the same as removing 39,000 cars from the road!

Organizations working to implement the Home Energy Score can do analyses like this – and more – using their Home Energy Score dataset. This information can help them gain a more detailed picture of the housing stock in their region, determine best-fit energy programs and efforts, and showcase the impact of efficiency investments.

Want to provide the Home Energy Score and its associated data to customers as a part of your contracting, auditing, or home inspection business? We are looking to partner with organizations/experts that:

• Hold a relevant credential
• Work with a Home Energy Score Partner
• Complete the training and test
• Work with a mentor to score your first home
   

For additional information, including how to find someone able to deliver a Home Energy Score, visit www.homeenergyscore.gov or email homeenergyscore@ee.doe.gov.