Whole-Home Energy Efficiency Scorecard
Comprehensive virtual home energy audit. Calculate your home's thermal efficiency grade, quantify annual energy waste, and generate a customized retrofit ROI roadmap.
Step 1: Home Structure & Thermal Envelope
Building vintage and insulation resistance determine your home's baseline heating and cooling load.
Methodology & Building Physics Model
Energy Bill Lab's Whole-Home Energy Efficiency Scorecard benchmarks residential properties against the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and regional heating degree day (HDD) / cooling degree day (CDD) baselines.
Thermal envelope resistance accounts for 30% of total score weighting because air leakage through unsealed top plates, recessed lighting cans, and attic hatches creates continuous convective thermal bypass. Mechanical systems (heating, cooling, and water heating) constitute 55% of the score because equipment efficiency (AFUE, SEER2, HSPF2, and UEF) dictates how much raw utility energy is required to deliver each unit of conditioned air or hot water.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Home Energy Efficiency Letter Grade calculated?
The score (0–100) and letter grade (A+ to F) are modeled using building science principles from ASHRAE 90.2 and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). The tool scores five core thermal and mechanical components: building envelope/insulation (30 pts), primary heating system (25 pts), air conditioning efficiency (15 pts), domestic water heating (15 pts), and window draft resistance (15 pts).
What is estimated annual energy waste?
Annual energy waste represents the dollar value of electricity (kWh) and natural gas (therms) lost through preventable thermal bypass leaks, uninsulated attics, or obsolete mechanical equipment compared to a modern, code-compliant benchmark home.
Which home energy retrofit provides the fastest return on investment?
For most homes built before 2005, attic air sealing combined with R-49 blown-in cellulose insulation delivers the fastest simple payback (typically 2 to 4 years), saving 15% or more on annual heating and cooling expenses.
Are home energy efficiency upgrades eligible for federal tax credits?
Yes. Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C), homeowners can claim a 30% federal tax credit up to $2,000 for qualifying heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, and up to $1,200 annually for insulation and air sealing.