Question 1

How is my home energy score calculated?

Accepted Answer

We estimate your home's annual electricity use from your answers (state, size, heating fuel, AC, occupants, EV) using EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) regional averages, then compare it to what a similar-size home in your census region typically uses. Using less than that benchmark scores higher (closer to 100); using more scores lower. The score reflects electricity drawn from the grid, so a home that heats or heats water with gas or oil naturally uses less electricity and scores higher.

Question 2

Is this the official DOE Home Energy Score?

Accepted Answer

No. The official U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score is a 1–10 rating produced by a certified assessor who inspects your home in person. This is a free online screening estimate modeled on the public ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick approach (comparing your use to similar homes). It's meant to give you a quick, no-cost sense of where you stand — not to replace a professional assessment or certification.

Question 3

How accurate is the bill estimate and score?

Accepted Answer

Left to the profile alone, both are ballparks built from regional averages, so we show the bill as a range and the score as a band (efficient / typical / high-use) rather than treating the exact number as precise — real homes vary a lot with insulation, equipment age, behavior, and rate details like tiered or time-of-use pricing. The single best way to sharpen them is to enter your average monthly kWh from your bill: the score then compares your real usage to similar homes (the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick approach) and the bill anchors to your actual use. Pick your state to load the local rate, and enter your real rate and fixed charge for the closest figure.

Question 4

What's a good home energy score, and how do I improve it?

Accepted Answer

Roughly: 70–100 means you use less electricity than most similar homes, 45–69 is about average, and below 45 is higher than most. The biggest levers are the biggest loads — switching electric resistance heat to a heat pump, adding a heat-pump water heater, sealing and insulating to cut heating and cooling, and shifting EV charging to off-peak hours. The tool suggests the levers that apply to your home and links the calculators to size up the savings.

Home Energy Score & Bill Estimator

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