The mission of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
Within DOE, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) works to build a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans. Pearl is a Partner with a number of different DOE programs to meet Pearl’s mission to make our global community a better place by giving homeowners tools to improve the health, comfort, efficiency, resilience, and value of their homes.
Pearl is a proud partner of the DOE’s Home Energy Score program. Developed by the DOE and its national laboratories, the Home Energy Score provides homeowners, buyers, and renters with directly comparable and credible information about a home's energy use. Like a miles-per-gallon rating for a car, the Home Energy Score is based on a standard assessment of energy-related assets to easily compare energy use across the housing market.
The DOE Zero Energy Ready (ZER) program labels high-performance homes that are so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home's annual energy use.
Pearl encourages builders to build Zero Energy Ready homes and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance to help builders participate in the program.
For builders that already participate in the ZER program, Pearl provides sales, marketing, and other support to assist the builder in communicating the full set of benefits that a homebuyer would experience in a ZER home. Additionally, Pearl helps real estate agents and appraisers to understand how these homes are superior to other homes in the marketplace, including how a ZER Ready home has also met the ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS requirements.
Pearl and the ENERGY STAR® Home Upgrade Program have partnered to help homeowners make smart, energy- and cost-saving home investments.
Pearl is a Partner with the Home Improvement Expert™ Partner Program. The Home Improvement Expert Checklists are designed to make it easy for homeowners to work with contractors that perform high-quality work.
Proper installation of all home improvements related to energy efficiency is critical but often a significant challenge for homeowners. Research findings reveal significantly reduced energy savings and potential performance risks where home improvements are not properly installed. Pearl promotes the use of DOE tools that homeowners can use to help ensure quality installation. Home Improvement Expert fact sheets and checklists compile best practices from industry leaders and national laboratories for 21 home improvements related to energy efficiency.
These checklists are also elements of Pearl's Certification System Standards
The Better Buildings Residential Network connects energy-efficiency programs and partners to share best practices and learn from one another to increase the number of homes that are energy efficient.
Pearl has been a member in the Better Buildings Residential Network initiative since Pearl’s founding. Pearl has presented to the membership on multiple occasions about best practices and innovative strategies. Pearl’s most presentation on June 8, 2023, focused on Marketing Residential Energy Efficiency in the Era of IRA (Inflation Reduction Act).
Pearl is transforming the housing market by scoring, verifying, and certifying the performance of homes across the country.