Home Energy Score and the Home Energy Assessment

  • What’s the difference between these home energy reports? Don’t they both analyze how energy efficient the house is and give suggestions for improvements?
     
    Yes, both the Home Energy Score and a comprehensive home energy assessment will analyze your home’s energy efficiency and suggest improvements, but they are different.

    The Home Energy Score assumes average energy usage for anyone living in your home and does not account for behavior – where you set the thermostat, how often you leave the lights on, or what your utility bills are.

    A comprehensive energy assessment will take those factors into account as well as health, safety and durability issues.

    Learn more about the Home Energy Score and the comprehensive home energy assessment.
  • When should I opt for a Home Energy Score over a comprehensive assessment or vice versa?

    The Home Energy Score offers homeowners a lower-cost “entry-level” assessment that includes customized recommendations for home improvements to increase energy efficiency and to generally guide your improvement decisions. For a typical home, an experienced Building Analyst can complete a Home Energy Score analysis in under an hour.

    The comprehensive energy assessment provides health and safety testing, a formal work scope, and cost estimate for each energy improvement. A comprehensive follow-up assessment could take 2-4 hours depending on the size and complexity of the home.

    If you are already planning on doing energy improvements, if you are aware of moisture issues in your home, or if you are interested in LEAP’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Certification and cash rebates, a comprehensive energy assessment is the better option. Ask your Building Analyst if they will score your home at the same time as they do the comprehensive home energy assessment.

    Or, if you get the Home Energy Score, you can also ask your Building Analyst if they will reduce the cost of a comprehensive home energy assessment.  
     
  • How can I get my home scored and how much will it cost?

    Visit our website (www.leap-va.org/energyscore) or contact us (434-266-4777) to view a list of the DOE-approved Home Energy Score contractors. Please review their company descriptions and chose someone with whom you want to schedule your Home Energy Score.

    Each contractor sets his or her own price for this service, but the average cost is between $100-150. If you chose to take the next step towards actually improving the comfort and energy performance of your home, most contractors will offer a reduced rate or credit towards the cost of a comprehensive home energy assessment.
     
  • What does it mean to be a “pilot”?

    DOE is working with Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in partnership with a group of select communities – of which Charlottesville through LEAP is a part -- to test a new software tool, the Home Energy Scoring Tool, customers’ reactions to the Home Energy Score, and how easy and useful it is for contractors. 
     
  • Does LEAP offer any rebates or discounts for the Home Energy Score?

    Neither LEAP nor the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offers any rebates or discounts for the Home Energy Score at this time. We do, however, offer a $250 rebate towards a comprehensive energy assessment when you enroll in our Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.

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