The Certification System

THE FOUNDATION

What makes a home “high performing”?

Your home is a system. Each feature (also referred to as an asset) has a unique role, but they must all perform together to keep your home feeling good and running smoothly.

For example, when a home has good attic insulation, heating and cooling systems run less, last longer and keep you more comfortable.

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In a high-performing home, the right features are working together in the right ways to provide you with superior comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency compared to traditionally built homes. It all adds up to enhanced well-being for you and your family.

THE FRAMEWORK

Understanding Pearl's Asset categories

Your home's assets provide a full picture of its high-performing features, as well as the areas you may want to focus on to create a healthier, more comfortable, and energy-efficient home.

The assets that Pearl certifies are organized into the following categories:

Building Shell

The roof, walls, windows, and foundation create the barrier between the outside and inside of your home.

Heating & Cooling

Equipment like your furnace and air conditioner, as well as the ductwork, keep your home at the right temperature.

Baseload

Equipment such as water heaters, appliances, and electronics use a consistent amount of energy year-round, no matter what temperature it is outside.

Home Management

Smart thermostats, information dashboards, and energy management plans help you maintain and improve home performance.

Solar, EV & Energy Storage

The solar panels, inverters, batteries, and electric vehicle chargers that provide investment-grade documentation.

What earns more points?

Assets that have a greater impact on home performance are worth more points.

Attic insulation that exceeds the best energy code is worth more points than an ENERGY STAR^® certified dishwasher because insulation does more for your overall energy use.

Assets that interact more with your local climate are worth more points.

In Phoenix, Arizona, a high-efficiency air conditioner is worth more points than a high-efficiency furnace. In St. Paul, Minnesota, it’s the opposite.

The more efficient a feature is, the more points it earns.

High-efficiency water heaters earn a higher uniform energy factor (UEF) measurement, earning them more certification points than water heaters that are less efficient.

A high-quality installation adds more points than a low-quality one.

A low-quality installation can mean air leaks, improperly sized equipment or other issues that hold your home back from peak performance.

Learn why Pearl Partner Contractors are known for quality

THE NEXT LEVEL

Pearl offers multiple certification levels

The total number of points your home earns determines which level of Pearl Certification it achieves.

Your home can earn Pearl Certification no matter when it was built if you have made the right improvements to it. As you continue to invest in your home, you can achieve a higher level of certification.

Each level up means you have made a measurable, meaningful improvement to your home’s performance.

Find out if your home qualifies

Pearl Asset

A home that doesn’t reach Pearl Silver can qualify for Pearl Asset Certification. This provides useful information about one or more high-performing features in the home and enables the owner to communicate the value of these features to future buyers.

Pearl Silver

A Pearl Silver home typically has a building shell or a heating and cooling system that is much higher quality than those found in an average home.

Pearl Gold

A Pearl Gold home has both a building shell and a heating and cooling system that is much higher quality than those found in an average home.

Pearl Platinum

A Pearl Platinum home’s energy-efficient systems are far better than those found in an average home. Pearl Platinum homes typically have high-performing features in all four categories.

Badges celebrate exemplary homes

In addition to issuing home certifications, Pearl also awards badges, which signify that a home excels in a particular area.

Solar Badge

While efficiency reduces energy use, a solar system produces energy.

That’s why we created the Pearl Solar Badge. It gives you the proof you need at resale to get the best price for your solar-powered home.

View a sample solar certification

Electrified Home Badge

The Electrified Home badge makes the invisible all-electric home visible.

Homes that operate solely on electric earn Pearl's Electrified Home badge, signifying to buyers and industry members that the home deserves a premium price tag for placing less stress on the environment, operating more efficiently, providing improved indoor air quality, and maintaining a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout the home.

Earn the Badge

The plan for what’s next

With other home certifications, an evaluator comes, puts your home through its paces, and then leaves. That’s it!

With us, it’s different. Once your home has been evaluated by an elite Pearl Network Contractor or Pearl Real Estate Network Member and we issue your certification, you receive an ongoing source of guidance and practical resources. We’re in this journey with you.

Here are the three primary ways we’ll stay in touch and (and stay helpful):

Pearl Certification Report

Your custom Pearl Certification Report helps you, your real estate agent, and appraiser, as well as future buyers, understand the benefits — and value — of your home’s high-performing features.

See an example report

Home Investment Plan

A Pearl Network Contractor can generate your Home Investment Plan, a roadmap for certifiable upgrades that will maximize the return on your investment, enhance your family’s well-being and continue growing your energy efficiency from now on.

See an example plan

Green Door App

This is your one-stop shop to improve your home’s performance. See all the details about your current Pearl score, get recommendations for upgrades, find Pearl professionals for new projects and keep track of your home’s maintenance.

Open the Green Door Green Door for Apple Devices Green Door for Android Devices

You’ll thank yourself later

Making a smart investment means making a certified improvement.

It’s a decision you can feel confident about now and years down the road — when your Pearl Certification proves to appraisers or buyers that your home is worth more.

Make the smart investment

How Pearl Certification Works.