A Home Energy Score is a report compiled based upon various criteria and data. A requirement for all Portland homes to have prior to listing the house for sale. The Home Energy Score estimates a home’s energy efficiency and the associated costs. Put simply, a Home Energy Score gives you pertinent information regarding how much energy your home uses when compared to other like homes in the area. Our Home Energy Score Reports provide same-day results and solutions to help existing and prospective homeowners cost-effectively improve their homes energy usage, while protecting them from rising energy costs. The report does come with recommendations towards energy conservation, increasing your energy score number, and smart usage.
*Some special circumstances may allow for a home to be listed for sale without a score, call for details
Your Home Energy Score will include a report which assesses a home’s use of energy (consumption) based on the home’s envelope; the envelope refers to the structural aspects of the home, such as the foundation, roof, windows, walls, and insulation. Utilizing the information our trained technicians find during your score assessment, we will compile a report which details the efficiency of energy use of a home, an estimate of the average use of energy and behavior of that energy use, and a roster of solutions as well as recommendations to maximize the efficiency of the home’s energy use.
Prior to investing your time and money into any significant purchase, you’re likely to consider all underlying factors and details which could negatively affect your investment. The same can be said for the Home Energy Score of a house you are interested in purchasing. Not only are Home Energy Scores required for all* Portland homes listed for sale, but these reports allow homeowners to carefully compare the energy costs and performance of homes in the nearby area, in addition to cost-saving solutions for energy use issues. In other words, regardless of the fact that these scores are required, homeowners do benefit overall from obtaining a Home Energy Score on a prospective home, and most Real Estate Professionals will inform their clients of the need to obtain this report.
*(Some special circumstances may allow for a home to be listed for sale without a score, call for details)
Home Energy Scores use a 1 to 10 scale, whereby 1 refers to a home with high energy use; a 5 refers to a home with average energy use; and 10 denotes a home as having a low energy use. Homeowners are often alarmed by a low score, however, neither a 1 nor a 10-rated home on the scale means that the home itself is negatively or positively using energy. Most homes, regardless of their score, can benefit from improvements in the way they utilize and consume energy.
The primary benefits of a Home Energy Score revolve around cost-effectiveness and home quality. Home Energy Scores can tell homeowners a lot about a home, including how much energy the house will use on average per year. However, these scores can also improve the overall quality of the home, inside and out, and can additionally improve upon the value of the home at the time of listing the home for sale.
Home Energy Scores can also provide valuable insight into how homeowners can scale back on energy use in their home, especially if a homeowner is purchasing a house and would like to know as much as possible about the efficiency of their potential next home.
As of January 1st of 2018, all* homes in Portland will be legally required to obtain a Home Energy Score Report prior to being publicly listed for sale. This means that Home Energy Scores also have the benefit of making the selling process less complicated when or if you decide to list your home for sale. *(Some special circumstances may allow for a home to be listed for sale without a score, call for details)
With Home Energy Score, you will receive your report during the same-day appointment you make with our skilled, professional assessors. Our convenient and proactive approach to Home Energy Scores means homeowners can obtain a report quickly, without the added hassle of waiting for score information or third-party companies to compile the results of their score. On average our Assessor will spend about ninety minutes at your home during the appointment. Inspection time lengths will vary based on the size of the property, and other factors of the home.
The price of your Home Energy Score will depend upon the square footage of your home. If you would like additional details regarding the cost associated with our scoring services, please contact us at (503) 330-1091 or by getting a quick quote from our online scheduling page by entering your home’s square footage for an estimate.
Yes, our team works directly with both Realtors and Builders/Developers to provide Home Energy Score Reports. Whether you are working with a Realtor to sell or purchase a house, or if you would like your Real Estate Broker to obtain a report for you on your behalf, Home Energy Score.com can work closely with your Realtor® to compile a same-day score. If you have not yet selected a Real Estate Agent to work with, we are happy to work directly with you and walk you through the details of the process and the scores results.
Our report will also include simple and cost effective way to improve your Home Energy Score, and provide relevant solutions and suggestions for how you can effectively maximize your home’s use of energy.
Ways in which you can improve your home’s energy score include:
- Upgrade your home’s installation
- Replace outdated or drafty windows or doors
- Fix any foundational damage
- Consider purchasing a high-efficiency furnace
- Use high-efficiency appliances in your home
- Install a more efficient water heater
- Replace your old HVAC system with a more energy, efficient one
- Update the windows within your home
- Change your lightbulbs to more efficient bulbs