EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale)

Home Energy Performance with the EnergySmart Home Scale

US DOE — The E-Scale is an easy-to-understand metric that helps home buyers and home owners evaluate how many “miles per gallon” their homes get – helping them to make smart energy decisions when purchasing or updating a home. It is designed to provide clear, objective answers to basic questions:

* How much energy does this home consume?
* How does it compare to a code home?
* How close is it to the “ultimate” – a net zero energy home?

The E-Scale is placed by participating builders on the power panels of homes that meet the Builders Challenge goal of a 70 or better on the E-Scale, showing energy performance achieved for each individual home or model. Participating builders and partner organizations may also:

* Co-brand the E-Scale label with their logos and program or product names
* Augment the rating with estimates of annual energy dollar savings – which can help homebuyers get better mortgage terms
* Include estimates of carbon dioxide reductions associated with the energy savings.

The E-Scale is based on the well-established Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index, developed by RESNET, the Residential Energy Services Network.

For more information on the technical rating system behind the E-Scale, visit the Residential Energy Services Network.