Homeowners
Home Energy Assessment
Assessments usually take about one hour for homes up to 3,000 square feet. During the non-invasive assessment, we will analyze the home’s conditioned and non-conditioned spaces, heating and cooling equipment, ductwork, water heater, insulation, windows, and exterior surfaces. The collected data is then compiled to calculate a 1–10 score (10 being the most energy efficient). This number then becomes your official Home Energy Score. The score does not take into account non-permanent aspects such as home electronics, appliances or lighting. Please note that attic and crawl spaces must be accessible for a complete assessment.
How to use your report
The Home Energy Score must be made available to all potential buyers, their realtors and the City of Portland whenever a qualifying home is listed for sale. The score must be posted on all listings (MLS, Craigslist, Zillow, Trulia, and even "For Sale By Owner"). There is a repeating $500 fine for noncompliance.
Share the score when selling your home.
Increasingly, Home Energy Scores are being included in the real estate market. If you are selling your home, ask your real estate agent to see if your score can be posted on local multiple listing services (MLSs). And when buying a home, be sure to ask for every Home Energy Score to make a well informed decision.
Understanding your report
Developed by the Federal Department of Energy and its national laboratories, the Home Energy Score report estimates home energy use, associated costs, and provides cost-effective energy solutions to improve the home’s efficiency. Once the report has been generated, Home Energy Scores are submitted to the City of Portland Green Building Registry and will be available online to any interested party. Your Home Energy Score report will often be available the same day as your assessment. The Home Energy Score must be made available to all potential buyers, their realtors and the City of Portland whenever a home is listed for sale. The score must be posted on all listings (MLS, Craigslist, Zillow, Trulia, and even "For Sale By Owner"). There is a repeating $500 fine for noncompliance.
Home facts
The Home Facts section gives you all of the data the Assessor collected in order to calculate your Home Energy Score. In addition to describing the basic assets of your home (roof, foundation, walls, insulation, windows), energy systems (heating, cooling, hot water), and conditioned floor area, this section also provides energy use estimates for the home.
the score
Like a miles-per-gallon rating for a car, the Home Energy Score is based on a standard assessment of energy-related assets in order to easily compare energy use across the housing market. The scale is a simple 1–10 with 10 being the most energy efficient. It is determined using U.S. Census housing data, and is adjusted for the local climate. This way houses all over the country in different climates can be compared.
It estimates a home’s total energy use, not energy use per square foot.
For this reason, if two homes are identical other than size, the larger home will generally score lower than the smaller home. The more volume a home has to heat or cool, the more energy is required.
Scoring a 1 does not mean your home is poorly built.
A beautiful home with up-to-date equipment can still get a low score if the square footage is high or if there is insufficient insulation. A low score just means there is significant room for improvement to reduce a home’s energy use.
Scoring a 10 does not mean your home cannot improve.
Even a home that uses less energy than most of its peers may benefit from additional energy efficiency or renewable energy investments. If recommendations are provided with your score, consider if those cost-effective measures make sense for your home.
Score with Improvements (below) shows what your house would score if you incorporated all of the listed recommendations. Your assessor should be able to help explain the score’s recommended improvements and how they might be implemented.
recommendations
Your score will include a list of recommended improvements that can raise the home’s score, increase its energy efficiency, and make it more comfortable. Some will be simple and inexpensive solutions you can make on your own. We can also inform you of any local energy rebates currently available.
The recommendations generated by the score are expected to have a full pay-back of ten years or less based on state average utility rates and national average installation rates. Assessors may also provide different or additional recommendations that reflect local rebates or other incentives the Home Energy Score does not consider.
Is your home in Portland?
Check Portland Maps. Enter the property address and look for Portland next to jurisdiction.
Price
All assessments include a home visit by a licensed Home Energy Assessor, recommendations for improving your score and home energy efficiency, and the resulting Home Energy Score report. Assessments take about one hour.
$195 – Homes up to 3000 sf
$249 – Homes larger than 3000 sf
Book now
Call or email
Assessments take approximately one hour. Weekend or evening appointments available on request.
503 893 5830
mark@landmarkenergyassessors.com
About
Owner – MARK ALLEN
As a Portland native, furniture maker and licensed contractor with over 25 years of building experience, I have a thorough understanding of northwest homes as well as the challenges and solutions that our unique climate presents.
CCB# 141914
Certified Home Energy Score Assessor
Certified Lead-Based Paint Renovator
The report
The Home Energy Score report includes 2 pages. Your report will look like the example below.