Home Energy Score Video (text version)
Below is the text version of the video titled "Save Money with the Home Energy Score." In addition to this text version of the audio, you can view the video. This video, presented by Cathy Zoi, Acting Under Secretary of Energy, introduces the U.S. Department of Energy's Home Energy Score program.
[Image of Cathy Zoi sitting in front of a computer screen with "Save Money with the Home Energy Score" appearing on the screen.]
Hi, I'm Cathy Zoi, Acting Under Secretary of Energy. I'm excited to expand upon an announcement Vice President Biden just made to help you save money by saving energy. Today we're giving you a preview of a new program called the Home Energy Score. It helps householders and prospective home buyers understand how a home's energy systems perform on a simple, 10-point scale.
[Image of the dashboard of a car driving down the road with an EPA Fuel Economy Estimate label.]
To put it in perspective, most of you know what the mileage your car gets - or should get. And that the higher the MPG rating, the less you're going to spend on gasoline.
[Image of home and then a sheet of paper with an annual summary of utility bills.]
But what about your home? Do you have any idea what the "MPG" of your home is?!? Here's the thing: most Americans spend between $1,500 and $2,500 each year on home energy costs.
[Image of Cathy Zoi sitting in front of a computer screen with "Save Money with the Home Energy Score" appearing on the screen.]
Well, the new Home Energy Score is like the MPG for your house. It provides a barometer for home energy performance, so you can see how your home uses energy and receive tailor-made suggestions on how to reduce your utility bills by a lot.
Let me walk you through how the Home Energy Score works.
[Image of a home performance contractor walking through a home looking at a furnace, duct work, and insulation.]
As you know, all homes are different. So first, a trained and qualified contractor will come to your house to evaluate your particular home's structure, its heating and cooling systems, insulation levels and more.
[Screenshot of the Home Energy Scoring Tool where the contractor can enter information about the type of heating system, year heating system was installed, and heating system efficiency.]
Next, the contractor will enter that information into the Home Energy Scoring Tool to generate your home's score.
[Image of Cathy Zoi sitting in front of a computer screen with a sample Home Energy Score label appearing on the screen.]
And then right then and there you'll receive a label like this, full of valuable information.
[Focus on the label's number scale with an arrow indicating the home's current score of 6 and a highlight on the 10 and then a highlight on the 1.]
- You can see your home's current score, where a 10 is the best, most efficient home; and a 1 means there's a lot of energy and money being wasted;
[Focus on the label's number scale with an arrow indicating a score of 8 with upgrades and the estimated annual savings of $350.]
- Here's your home's score with upgrades, meaning what your score could be if you make all of the recommended home energy improvements, such as adding insulation and sealing your ducts;
- And this is your estimated annual savings, which could easily total hundreds of dollars each year if you make all of the upgrades.
[Screen showing custom recommendations: seal air ducts with an annual savings estimate of $210 and payback time of 4 years; insulate attic to R-49 with an annual savings estimate of $140 and payback time of 6 years; replace water heater with an annual savings estimate of $40 and payback time of 5 years.]
Along with your home score, you'll receive customized recommendations on how to improve your home's energy performance and an estimate of how long it'll take to recover your investment.
[Image of the home performance contractor looking at duct work and then the contractor speaking with the homeowners.]
And because only qualified professionals can access the Home Energy Scoring Tool, you can be confident that you're getting accurate results.
[Image of Cathy Zoi sitting in front of a computer screen with "Save Money with the Home Energy Score" appearing on the screen.]
Here's another great thing: no matter where you live – or are looking to buy – the Home Energy Scoring Tool can be used. It works everywhere in the country. Whether you're in Tampa or Tuscaloosa; Minneapolis or Midland; a technician enters the data, your house gets scored and you get practical recommendations for making the home more comfortable and economical.
So we're very excited about the Home Energy Score. Finally, an easy way to get quick and credible advice on how to save money and make your family more comfortable. And a tool that allows you to benchmark one home against another – and to brag about your home if it's really efficient! All of this while helping America reduce dependence on polluting fuels, many of which are imported from overseas.
For the next few months, we'll be piloting the Home Energy Score in selected communities across the country. We'll then make it widely available in the middle of 2011, so get ready!
[The Energy Savers URL appears on the screen: www.energysavers.gov.]
In the meantime though, if you're keen to get going on home energy improvements, you can visit www.energysavers.gov for a series of practical tips on saving energy at home.
Remember, the Home Energy Score is a perfect combo: Saving Money, Saving Energy, Helping America.