ODOE Home Energy Score Program Earns “Innovation Award” from U.S. Department of Energy

The Oregon Department of Energy’s statewide home energy score program earned a 2019 “Innovation Award” from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings division last week.

The Innovation Award recognizes agencies or organizations that implement creative strategies that support home energy scoring programs. We earned the award for launching “a replicable, statewide Home Energy Score program that coordinates local and regional programs, minimizes program management burdens, and streamlines Home Energy Score implementation throughout the state.”

Roger Kainu, ODOE’s Energy Analyst and home energy score coordinator, accepted the award at USDOE’s Home Performance Coalition National Conference in Chicago last week. ODOE has been working with community stakeholders since 2009 to develop and implement a Home Energy Score program in Oregon.

A home energy score helps homeowners and homebuyers better understand a home’s energy use, and identify even small improvements that can make a big difference in energy savings. A certified assessor evaluates a home’s performance and issues a score, similar to the bright yellow Energy Guide label found on home appliances. Assessors review more than 40 home characteristics that affect a home’s energy performance, such as air sealing, windows, heating and cooling systems, rooftop solar, and others.  

One of our goals was to develop a program that’s easy for Oregon communities to implement and use. The City of Portland was the first to adopt a mandatory energy score program, with guidance from ODOE. Our team has also met with Milwaukie, Bend, Eugene, Corvallis, Ashland, Hood River, and Hillsboro about launching energy scoring programs.

Earlier this year, we announced a partnership with Earth Advantage to expand and help manage Oregon’s voluntary statewide energy scoring program. Earth Advantage’s consistent approach will further help Oregon communities benefit from home energy scoring.

Learn more about home energy scoring on our website.