Energy Performance Score

The easy way to assess a new home's energy use, carbon impact and utility costs.

The Energy Performance Score (EPS), developed by Energy Trust, provides a clear and quantitative way to compare a home's energy use and costs. The lower the score, the better—with zero being the best. A low score means an energy-efficient home with a smaller carbon footprint and reduced utility costs.

Discover the energy efficiency of a new home.

Energy efficiency, utility costs and environmental impact are important factors to consider when buying or building a home. The EPS now gives homebuyers a way to comparison shop between homes based on these factors. It also gives homebuyers a sense of how many energy upgrades were made to the house beyond what Oregon energy code requires, and how the home compares to an average home built in Oregon.

How does a home receive an EPS?

A home's EPS is based on many factors, such as the home's size, level of insulation, air leakage, heating and cooling systems, major appliances, lighting and water heating:

• Improved insulation and windows—Properly installed insulation and high-performance windows help keep heat inside during winter and outside during summer.
• Well sealed house and ducts—A house with tight construction and ducts reduces air exchange between the house, crawl space and attic. This reduces drafts and energy use, while improving indoor air quality.
• Efficient appliances and lighting—ENERGY STAR® certified appliances use up to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models. Compact fluorescent lighting uses up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent lighting.
• Heating, cooling and ventilation—Efficient equipment, when properly installed, provides better heating, cooling and ventilation for lower energy bills, enhanced comfort and improved indoor air quality.
• On-site energy generation—Solar panels use the sun to heat your water or convert its rays into electricity to help meet your energy needs, reducing the amount of energy you buy from your utility.

Builders voluntarily work with us to receive our third-party assessment of their home's features and construction techniques, which determines the EPS for the home.

Look for the EPS when buying or building a new home.

Now you have the ability to shop for your new home based on features in addition to location, neighborhood and amenities. Choosing an energy-efficient home not only benefits the environment but also helps you save money.

If a new construction project you're considering does not have an EPS, ask your builder to call Energy Trust's New Homes trade ally coordinator at 1.877.283.0698, option 1, for more information about how to get the home scored. Our Real Estate Professional trade allies can also help you find newly built Oregon homes that have an EPS.

Energy Trust is currently working on expanding the EPS for both new and existing homes to make it easier for homebuyers to compare and contrast homes relative to their energy efficiency, carbon impact and utility costs.