Energy Trust Home > Home Energy Solutions > Existing Homes > Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
What is Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR®?
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR takes your entire home into account—from heating and cooling systems to weatherization—to show how your house uses energy and what improvements will help your home work at peak performance, using the least energy.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Educational VideoTo view all 9 chapters select play - to view individual chapters select the play buttons to the right of the image. To view other chapter titles choose the second or third dot under the play buttons.
Comprehensive Home Assessment 1:28 min Exterior Inspection 0:42 min Interior Inspection 1:28 min Attic Inspection 1:13 min Crawl Space & Basement Inspection 0:45 min Combustion Safety 0:39 min Duct Blaster Test for Duct Leakage 1:01 min The Blower Door Test 0:54 min Home Performance Evaluation 1:39 min |
Using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, a Building Performance Institute-certified trade ally contractor will test and evaluate all components of your home’s interior and exterior. Your contractor will answer questions such as: Do all combustible systems vent correctly out of your home? Why is the bedroom cold while the rest of your home is warm? Do gaps around windows or vents leak warm air during winter and cool air in summer?
After a 3-4 hour comprehensive home assessment, you will receive a customized energy- and cost-saving action plan, identifying which improvements will cut long-term energy costs—calculating energy savings to the dollar—and how they’ll enhance the comfort your home.
Get started today by contacting one of our certified Home Performance contractors. For more information, call us at 1-866-368-7878.
What can Home Performance with ENERGY STAR do for you?
Lower energy usage and costs: Enjoy using less energy, while saving up to 30 percent on energy costs, when you make recommended home improvements.
Increased comfort: By making your home work as a system, you can stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and eliminate drafty rooms all together!
Safety: Know your home is safe when the contractor tests the carbon monoxide levels of all your combustion appliances—stoves, furnaces and water heaters. Your contractor will also inquire about and inspect any known problems in the home—water leaks, moisture build-up and cold drafts—that could lead to health issues.
Quality assurance: Your contractor is BPI-certified and uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to evaluate your home.
Long-term home investment: The investments you make to improve the energy efficiency of your home today can increase the overall value of your home for years to come.
Energy Trust cash incentives and Oregon tax credits: Receive cash incentives from Energy Trust to help offset the cost of your energy-saving home improvements. You may be eligible to receive Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credits on qualifying improvements.
Step 1: Schedule a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment
Contact a Home Performance trade ally contractor to schedule your assessment. During the 3-4 hour comprehensive assessment, your BPI-certified contractor will perform a series of inspection and testing procedures, comprising:
- Exterior home inspection—inspects for moisture problems, proper attic and crawl space ventilation and window inefficiencies
- Interior home inspection—inspects for indoor moisture problems, proper room ventilation, air leaks and insulation levels
- Attic inspection—inspects insulation levels and ventilation
- Crawl space and basement inspection—inspects for moisture problems, insulation levels and air sealing
- Diagnostic testing for combustion safety—tests for efficiency and any natural gas leaks or gaseous toxin levels
- The Blower Door test—measures volume of air leaking from your home
- Duct Blaster Test for duct leakage—measures volume of air leaking from your ducts
After your Home Performance assessment, you will receive a detailed report identifying recommended improvements, cost estimates, financing options, potential Energy Trust incentives and state tax credits, and how to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Step 2: Make energy-saving home improvements
With your customized energy-saving action plan, you will have the information you need to make your upgrades. Contact your Home Performance contractor, or any other licensed and bonded contractor, to discuss installation of recommended home improvements.
Step 3: Get cash back for completed home improvements
After your contractor installs your energy-saving improvements, submit a copy of your contractor’s invoice with Energy Trust Incentive Form 300A, within 120 days from the installation date.
Mail completed form and invoice to:
Home Energy Solutions
P.O. Box 847
Portland, Oregon 97207
Or, fax to: 1-866-516-7592
We will mail your incentive check six to eight weeks after we receive your invoice and completed form.
The U. S. Department of Energy offers a comprehensive guide to all forms of energy supply, demand and usage and government links, and also features many energy-conservation tips.
ENERGY STAR is devoted to helping individuals and businesses protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
Building Performance Institute promotes excellence in the contracting trades by establishing standards of performance for technicians and providing certifications for qualified contractors.
GreenStreet Lending – Need financing for your home improvement project? Energy Trust of Oregon has joined forces with Umpqua Bank to create GreenStreet Lending — an innovative alliance designed to help homeowners and small business owners access affordable financing to change the way they use energy. GreenStreet Lending offers preferred rates, no closing costs and no loan fees. Learn more at www.GreenStreetloan.com.
Notes:
- Energy Trust maintains a network of trade ally contractors. Contractors who are not participating in Energy Trust’s Trade Ally Network are eligible to install recommended measures if they are licensed by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.
- Energy Trust provides technical assistance and financial incentives but does not develop, sell or install energy systems or equipment. This work is done by independent businesses that are solely responsible for the quality and performance of their installations.
| Cash Incentives | Forms and Resources |
Photo Top: An Energy Trust of Oregon Home Performance with ENERGY STAR trade ally contractor performs a comprehensive home assessment.


