Take Action: What’s Your Home Energy Score?

October is National Energy Action Month – a time for us all to take action to ensure a clean and sustainable energy future. For homes and commercial businesses, electricity can be a significant contributor of harmful greenhouse gases. Reducing your energy use – or signing up for green, renewable power programs through your utility – can have a significant impact on your carbon footprint.

Not sure where to start? Getting a Home Energy Score is a great first step! A Home Energy Score, or Home Energy Performance Score, gives your home a grade based on its energy use and efficiency – similar to the bright yellow Energy Guide label you’ll find on your home appliances.

A certified professional will evaluate your home’s performance and issue a score – the pro will look for air leaks, check insulation levels, inspect energy-efficient windows and doors, make sure your heating or cooling system is well-maintained, check lighting, appliances, and more! Your score can help you better understand how your home compares to other homes in the region, and where you can make improvements and increase your score. Even simple, inexpensive improvements like adding insulation or sealing leaky windows or ductwork can make a huge difference.

In addition to saving money on your utility bill, an energy-efficient home is more comfortable. Sealed leaks, solid insulation, and efficient appliances can help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The Oregon Department of Energy is working on implementing a standard Home Energy Performance Score system for the state. Learn more about our work on our website: http://www.oregon.gov/energy/At-Home/Pages/HEPS.aspx

Earlier this year, we sat down with the City of Portland to talk about their energy score program – get the details in our “Oregon Scores!” podcast episode.