Welcome to Consumer Reports Advocacy

For 85 years CR has worked for laws and policies that put consumers first. Learn more about CR’s work with policymakers, companies, and consumers to help build a fair and just marketplace at TrustCR.org

CU Says Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score Program Could Help Consumers Save Money

November 9, 2010

Consumers Union Says Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score Program Could Help Consumers Save Money, Use Less Energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers Union today commented on a new program by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) called the Home Energy Score, which lets homeowners compare the energy consumption of their homes to other homes. The Home Energy Score for your house would be similar to the mile-per-gallon rating for your vehicle.

Under the program, a home energy assessor would visit a house for a short walk-through to collect information on energy performance and score the home on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being excellent. The homeowner would receive tips for energy improvements, cost savings estimates, and a Home Energy Score label.

Shannon Baker-Branstetter, policy counsel for Consumers Union, said, “This program has great potential to provide consumers simple, standardized information about the energy consumption of our homes and how we can make cost-effective improvements. Our hope is that consumers can save some money while they use less energy. This could really help take same of the guesswork out of making energy-efficient upgrades to our homes.”

Home Energy Score is currently a pilot program in ten areas across the U.S. More information about the program is available at www.homeenergyscore.gov.

***

Media Contact:David Butler, 202-462-6262

IssuesEnergy