Background
In 2018, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy (MoDNR) established the Missouri Home Energy Certification (MHEC) to encourage Missourians to reduce energy usage by making energy efficiency improvements to their homes. The MHEC is designed to promote energy efficient homes by showcasing efficiency-related investments and clearly communicating that value to potential home buyers. MoDNR partnered with Renew Missouri, a local nonprofit, to help spread the word about MHECs, which populates the state's Green Building Registry. MoDNR recognized Pearl as an official scoring tool, and Pearl and Renew partnered to expand access to residential energy efficiency improvements in Missouri.
Renew Missouri Homes
Pearl Certification and Renew Missouri, a local non-profit, launched the Renew Missouri Homes program in October 2022 as a statewide program to make energy efficiency more accessible and to prepare the state to deliver Inflation Reduction Act rebates to Missouri homeowners. The program leverages MoDNR's MHEC, the state Green Building Registry, and Renew Missouri's deep understanding of the local energy efficiency sector and Pearl’s unique approach to market transformation that ties energy efficiency features to home value to drive consumer demand for high-performing homes. The goals of the program are to educate homeowners on the value of home certification, connect them with high quality contractors to make the improvements that result in energy savings, learn what rebates or other incentives are available to them to help offset the costs, and find real estate agents to help them sell their high performing home when they are ready. Eligible homeowners receive both a MHEC and a Pearl Certification as part of their participation in the program.
Current State
Today, Pearl Certification and Renew Missouri’s activities include certifying work that is completed by qualified contractors, ongoing partnerships and engagement with local utilities, energy efficiency program administrators, nonprofits, contractors, and real estate professionals. Additionally, Pearl Certification is actively involved in educational and outreach efforts through partnerships with RESNET and EEtility, helping to raise awareness of the benefits of energy-efficient home improvements among Missouri residents. Pearl is actively exploring ways to expand access to Home Energy Score as part of the Renew Missouri Homes program.
The Renew Missouri Homes program is a vital extension of the great work the DNR Division of Energy is doing throughout the state. This program provides an easy-to-use framework for Missourians to create more comfortable, efficient, and sustainable homes that benefit the entire state.”
Impact
The collaboration between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Pearl Certification and Renew Missouri demonstrates the power of public private partnerships to meet an important public need. The Missouri Home Energy Certification is a critical tool for educating Missouri homeowners on the value of making energy efficient improvements on their homes.
The Renew Missouri Homes program is promoting the MHEC through Pearl's contractor network, homeowner engagement, leveraging national partnerships and engaging with local partners who can expand access to residential energy efficiency in Missouri.
Pearl Certification has trained real estate agents and appraisers in St. Louis on how to effectively market and value the MHEC and Pearl Certification for the homeowners they work with. Marketing and earned media efforts led by Pearl and Renew Missouri have also notified over 100,000 homeowners of the free resources available to them through the program.
About Pearl Certification
Pearl is bringing our private sector learnings to support state's abilities to administer IRA rebates to homeowners, as a third party certification services provider who can meet the IRA HOMES statutory requirement for third party certification. The company has issued 138,000 Pearl Certifications nationwide as of May 2023, and 4,000+ Pearl Certifications in Missouri. We anticipate 100 Missouri Home Energy Certifications by the end of 2023, and seeing that number grow substantially in 2024.
About the Partnership
Renew Missouri | renewmo.org
Renew Missouri, a local nonprofit, was founded in
2006 to advance renewable energy and energy
efficiency in the state of Missouri.
Missouri DNR - Division of Energy | dnr.mo.gov/energy
The division assists, educates and encourages
Missourians to advance the ecient use of diverse
energy resources to drive economic growth, provide
for a healthier environment and achieve greater energy
security for future generations.
Pearl Certification | pearlcertification.com/p3
Pearl Certification provides the public sector with the
guidance and tools needed to launch a done-for-you
market-transformation program that meets energy
goals and drives demand for high-performing homes.
