Regardless of the size or capacity of your home, all homeowners should be aware of their property’s Home Energy Score.
When selling your house, or buying your next home, get a score from one of our certified and experienced assessors. We provide same-day score results for sellers who plan to list their house for sale, and need to meet the Portland Home Energy Score ordinance.
What is the Home Energy Score?
City Council unanimously adopted the home energy score ordinance Portland City Code Chapter 17.108 on December 14, 2016. The City of Portland Home Energy Score program will begin on January 1, 2018. The ordinance requires sellers of single-family homes to:
- Obtain a home energy report, including a home energy score, from a licensed home energy assessor.
- Disclose the score and the report prior to listing a home publicly for sale in Portland on or after January 1, 2018.
Imagine you are considering purchasing a car and comparing your options.
You weigh a number of factors within purchasing decision, such as performance, the overall cost, vehicle size, and its appearance. Of course you would ask the salesperson what the expected miles-per- gallon rating is for the car. Suppose the salesperson shrugs, and says, “I don’t know what the MPG is.” Even if the vehicle’s fuel efficiency is not the primary factor in your purchase, this would likely concern you as a prospective buyer.
Yet, this is exactly how many people make a decision when buying a home: without the proper information about how much energy the home uses, how much money this will cost them in utilities, or how to lower energy usages and reduce expenses.
Developed by Department of Energy, the Home Energy Score provides homeowners comparable and credible information about a particular home’s energy usage. Like the miles- per-gallon rating for a car, the Score is based on a standard assessment of a home’s energy-related assets (i.e. furnace, A/C, insulation, etc.) to compare energy use across a specific housing market.
The Home Energy Score Report estimates a home’s energy use and associated costs, and can provide energy solutions which could cost-effectively improve the home’s overall efficiency. Each Home Energy Score is shown on a one- to -ten scale, where ten represents the most efficient of homes regionally.
Features of the Home Energy Score
- It is an energy efficiency score based on the home's walls, foundation, roof, insulation, windows, cooling, heating, and hot water systems
- Provides a total energy estimated use, and estimates by fuel type assuming standard operating behaviors and conditions
- Recommendations are given for cost-effective home improvements and annual cost-saving estimates
- A Score with Room for Improvements" displays the home's expected score if such recommended improvements made by the homeowner
Learn More About Home Energy Score
Interested in getting a Home Energy Score, but not sure what to expect? View the Portland Home Energy Score, or the U.S. DOE’s National Home Energy Score, samples and what information is in those reports.
Use the fact sheet, What Does My Score Mean? To help you interpret the results of your Home Energy Score.
Making Smart Home Upgrades
After receiving your Home Energy Score, you may have some questions about what it means and how to improve your score. While your Home Energy Score Assessor will know the most about your score and your home, the Be a Smart and Engaged Homeowner guide covers what you should know before starting work on your home.
Accessing Financing Products and Resources
If you are buying a home or refinancing your home, there are financing options to help you afford an energy efficient home or pay for efficiency improvements. Home Energy Score is an accepted energy label to help borrowers qualify for attractive energy-related loan products offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae , and Freddie Mac.
Use the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to find policies and incentives available in your area. Some states also offer Property Assessed Clean
Energy (PACE) financing options for single-family homes to access energy efficiency and renewable energy products.