What if you could have an energy performance measure for your house, just like you have for your car? We all understand what MPG means, and many of us use this metric to make informed decisions when buying a car. But when it comes to our homes, how well they use energy is often a mystery. This is where the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score comes in. The Home Energy Score is a national rating system that provides homeowners and homebuyers with information about a home’s energy use and efficiency.
The Home Energy Score aims to address the market failure of not having a standard measure for a home’s energy performance. By providing a standard audit across the United States, the Home Energy Score gives homeowners and other stakeholders a measure of their home’s energy performance and how it compares to others. This score ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most energy-efficient.
The Home Energy Score also provides an estimate of the home’s annual energy usage and recommendations for energy-efficient improvements. These recommendations can help homeowners save money on their energy bills, reduce their carbon footprint, and increase the comfort of their homes.
Michigan Energy Options (MEO) is piloting the Home Energy Score across the state, helping homeowners understand their home’s energy performance and make informed decisions about energy-efficient upgrades. By using the Home Energy Score, homeowners can identify areas where they can make improvements to their home’s energy efficiency, potentially increasing the value of their home in the process. By piloting the Home Energy Score, we hope to provide Michigan homeowners with an opportunity to learn about their home’s energy performance and take steps towards a more energy-efficient future.
For more information on the Home Energy Score visit https://energy.gov/
