What is the ENERGY STAR® Home Upgrade program?

Pearl and the ENERGY STAR® Home Upgrade Program (ESHU) have partnered to help your customers achieve significant energy and cost savings by promoting six carefully selected, high-impact, energy-efficient home improvements. Pearl, the leading third-party certifier of home energy assets, provides investment-grade documentation of each improvement to ensure the added value of each asset is accounted for whenever the home undergoes valuation.

By offering an ESHU program through Pearl, ENERGY STAR®-partnered manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can use ESHU branding to promote their high-efficiency equipment and showcase the value those assets add to the home.

ESHU Responsive Cutaway preview

Qualifying Products

The upgrades below are eligible for the ESHU program. Each asset can be certified by Pearl, the leading certifier of home energy upgrades, which means each asset can increase the value of the home in which it is installed.

  • ENERGY STAR®-Certified Heat Pumps

  • Super-Efficient Water Heater

  • Attic Insulation

  • High-Performing Windows

  • Smart Thermostat

  • ENERGY STAR®-Certified EV Charger

Benefits for Participating Manufacturers, Distributors, and Retailers

  • Consumer Awareness: EPA will promote ESHU directly to homeowners through regional and national campaigns, prioritizing market transformation and driving demand for products.

  • Prove Increased Home Values: Studies have shown Pearl Reports can increase home values by an average of 5% over non-certified homes in the same market. By investing in ESHU-recommended improvements and certifying them with Pearl, your customers can increase their home's market value and recoup their investment.

  • Support Your Installer Network: Contractors who can document they’ve met quality install specifications for products have access to ESHU branding for their company.

  • Sell More High-Efficiency Equipment: Leverage the national brand of ENERGY STAR® and Pearl’s ability to increase home values to upsell qualifying high efficiency equipment.

  • Reduce Cost Sensitivity: Through Pearl’s tool, IncentivesHub, your dealers can quickly identify available rebates and tax credits to alleviate cost-sensitivities at any point in the sales process.

  • Marketing Materials: Pearl will provide and approve ESHU branding assets for use by OEM and/or dealer.

  • Get Ready for the Inflation Reduction Act: Pearl provides ongoing support, updates, and consumers resources for manufacturers, distributers, and retailers as IRA programs roll-out across the country.

Two Ways to Offer ENERGY STAR® Home Upgrade & Pearl
Product Only Program Product + Quality Install Program
Product Marketing Build on your existing association with ENERGY STAR by highlighting your product’s impact on whole-house energy savings. Benefit from national campaigns paid for by ENERGY STAR promoting the program to homeowners, as well as Pearl’s consumer education and support for individual homeowners. ✅
Product Sales Highlight ESHU-certified products and benefits in sales conversations, including how your products can contribute to a home’s equity Contractor can also mention they are an ESHU contractor and will provide not only an ESHU-certified product but also a ESHU quality installation.
Data Integration Pearl receives qualifying equipment data from your system or from a product registration or warranty firm. Data received includes quality install documentation.
Certification Issuance Pearl issues ESHU certification directly to the homeowner, highlighting the value of your product’s impact on the home’s equity. A Pearl Certification Report also includes that the product was properly designed, installed, and verified.
Homeowner Engagement Homeowner receives a free Green Door account that will provide information on additional ESHU improvements and applicable rebates & tax credits available. ENERGY STAR and Pearl educates the consumer on future purchasing decisions, including other product categories that you may offer. ✅
Dealer SalesTraining Protect your brand and reduce the risk of call backs and warranty claims. Leverage new training recognition platforms being established by the U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR. Pearl can work with your training provider to take full advantage of these resources and initiatives. ✅
Dealer Technical Training ❌ ✅
Installation Verification ❌ Pearl can work with you to establish a scalable method to ensure your products are properly installed in a home, based on the same approaches that will be used by the IRA rebate programs.

Interested in Pearl ’s ESHU program for OEMs? Let's talk.