A: The U.S. Department of Energy has not finalized its rule-making and guidance. However, Pearl appears to meet many — if not all — of the requirements. In fact, Pearl considers itself a best-in-class certification with a robust set of products and services that support the accurate valuation of energy-saving and energy-generation features of a home. Pearl has certified over 130,000 homes (as of April 2023). Multiple appraiser-led studies have shown that Pearl-Certified homes, when properly marketed, earn a price premium.
A: No, Pearl does not compete with other home certifications. In fact, Pearl helps those certification programs to be understood and valued by the real estate industry. Visit Pearl's Certification System Standards webpage for more information.
A: No. Many of Pearl’s Standards reference standards created by those organizations — just as those organizations often reference one another’s standards.
A: Yes. Pearl was designed from the ground up to be relevant for new construction and for existing homes. Pearl’s certification system has been described as a “living certification” that can be readily updated over time as a home is built, maintained, and upgraded.
A: No. Pearl recognizes high-performing features (including products) that are present in a home, but it doesn’t certify the actual products. For example, Pearl doesn’t certify or label appliances like the ENERGY STAR and WaterSense programs do. But Pearl will certify the presence of an ENERGY STAR dishwasher or a WaterSense-labeled faucet in a specific home. Pearl will also make the presence of those features visible to home buyers, appraisers, and others. Pearl completes the Appraisal Institute's Green and Energy Efficient Addendum for every home it certifies.
A: Pearl Certification assigns points to home features (e.g., appliances, smart home devices, insulation, etc.) based on how much they contribute to the home’s performance. The total number of points awarded to a home can earn it an Asset, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Certification with each tier signifying a different level of home performance. Because Pearl’s scoring system is based on current technologies (e.g., smart home devices, appliances, etc.) and building codes, Pearl reviews and revises its scoring system at least every three years to reflect current industry standards and trends.
A: No. Pearl values ANSI Standards, as well as other process-driven standards, programs, and schemas, such as those adopted by green building programs, energy codes, and minimum Federal energy conservation standards. Pearl Standards are developed in a similar process-driven approach, seeking consensus among major interest groups that serve at the intersection of the home services, energy management, mortgage, construction, and insurance industries.
