The mission of the United States Department of Energy (U.S. 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 U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score (HES) program. Developed by the DOE and its national laboratories, the HES 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 is the only national sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) program.
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 the U.S. Department of Energy 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 and Contractor Accreditation Standards.
Better Buildings is an initiative of the U.S. DOE designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes more energy-efficient by accelerating investment and sharing successful best practices.
Pearl has been a member in the Better Buildings initiative since Pearl’s founding. Pearl has presented to the membership on multiple occasions about best practices and innovative strategies. Pearl’s most recent presentation on June 8, 2023 focused on Marketing Residential Energy Efficiency in the Era of IRA (Inflation Reduction Act).
Pearl Certification is transforming the housing market. We’re making a visible difference nationwide for homeowners and the businesses that serve them.
