Energy Performance Score – Cited from Energy Trust of Oregon

The easy way to assess a new home’s energy use, carbon impact and utility costs.

The Energy Performance Score (EPS), developed by Energy Trust of Oregon, provides a clear and quantitative way to compare a home’s energy use and costs. The lower the score, the better—with zero being the best. A low score means an energy-efficient home with a smaller carbon footprint and reduced utility costs.

Discover the energy efficiency of a new home.
Energy efficiency, utility costs and environmental impact are important factors to consider when buying or building a home. The EPS now gives homebuyers a way to comparison shop between homes based on these factors. It also gives homebuyers a sense of how many energy upgrades were made to the house beyond what code requires, and how the home compares to an average home built in Oregon.

How does a home receive an EPS?
A home’s EPS is based on many factors such as the home’s size, level of insulation, air leakage, heating and cooling systems, major appliances, lighting and water heating. Builders voluntarily work with Energy Trust to receive our third-party assessment of the home’s features and construction techniques, which determines the EPS for the home.

Look for the EPS when buying a new home.
Now you have the ability to shop for your new home based on features in addition to location, neighborhood and amenities. Choosing an energy-efficient home not only benefits the environment but also helps you save money.

If a new construction home you’re considering does not have an EPS, ask the builder to call Energy Trust’s New Homes Trade Ally Coordinator at 1.877.283.0698, option 1, for more information about how to get the home scored.

Stay tuned for further EPS developments later this year. Energy Trust is currently working on expanding the EPS for both new and existing homes to make it easier for homebuyers to compare and contrast homes relative to their energy efficiency, carbon impact and utility costs.
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