Become an Assessor
Enhance your business by adding DOE’s Home Energy Score™ to your portfolio. By providing the Home Energy Score, you can supply customers with reliable home energy information to help them save money on energy bills and live more comfortably in their homes. If you are an energy auditor, home inspector, or another type of residential energy professional, you can become a Home Energy Score Certified Assessor™.
Individuals must hold one of the credentials in the following table to participate in the Home Energy Score program. It establishes that the candidate Assessor understands the basics of a home’s functions. Findings from research, analysis, and pilot testing conducted with Assessors across the nation support these qualification standards.
| Organization | Minimum Accepted Credential | Website |
| American Society of Home Inspectors | ASHI Certified Inspector; ASHI Inspector | ASHI |
| Association of Energy Engineers | Certified Energy Auditor; Certified Energy Manager | AEE |
| Building Performance Institute | BSP, BA, EP, HEP EA, HEP QCI or IDL | BPI |
| Building Science Institute | Energy Code Compliance Specialist | BSI |
| Build It Green | Certified Green Building Professional; Green Point Rater | BuildItGreen |
| CalCERTS | Rater | CalCERTS |
| California Real Estate Inspection Association | Certified Home Inspector | CREIA |
| CHEERS | Rater | CHEERS |
| CLEAResult | Building Science Basics Certificate | CLEAResult |
| Earth Advantage | Sustainable Homes Professional | EA |
| Florida Association of Building Inspectors | Licensed Florida Building Inspector | FABI |
| GreenHome Institute | Certified GreenHome Professional | GHI |
| International Association of Certified Home Inspectors | Home Energy Inspector | InterNACHI |
| International Code Council | Residential Building Inspector; Residential Energy Inspector | ICC |
| National Association of the Remodeling Industry | Certified Remodeler; Green Certified Professional; Master Certified Remodeler | NARI |
| National Institute of Building Inspectors | Certified Home Inspector | NIBI |
| North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners | PV Installation Professional | NABCEP |
| North American Technician Excellence | Air Conditioning / Heat Pumps; Gas / Oil Heating; Gas / Oil Hydronics | NATE |
| Oregon Training Institute | Residential Energy Analyst | OECA |
| Residential Energy Services Network | HERS Rater | RESNET |
| Passive House Institute US | Certified Passive House Consultant | PHIUS |
| Texas Real Estate Commission | Certified Professional Inspector | TREC |
| U.S. Green Building Council | LEED Green Rater, LEED GA, or LEED AP | USGBC |
| Other Organization? | Contact us here or via email at homeenergyscore@ee.doe.gov |
Interested Assessors should contact a local Partner or Remote Service Provider for information about joining their program. Or, you can reach out to another organization that is not yet a Partner and ask they become one.
The Home Energy Score Simulation Training ("Sim") teaches prospective Assessors important information about the Home Energy Score. Through the Sim, you conduct virtual home walk throughs designed to show a variety of situations you might encounter. The Sim and written exam require 8-12 hours of a candidate's time to complete. It can be taken at your own pace or in coordination with a group, if offered by your Partner organization. Access to the Sim is only availble after joining a Partner's program.
Watch the short Sim overview video to find out more.
Candidate Assessors must score their first home with a mentor. This must be completed within six months of passing the Sim and written exam. Some Partner organizations also offer group or remote mentoring sessions.
You are now ready to provide the Home Energy Score to customers. Your Partner organization and the DOE work together to provide talking points, branding materials, and any technical support you need to successfully deploy the Home Energy Score. Be sure to read and download the Assessor Resources for helpful reminders, tools, and tricks you can use in the field.
Assessors can provide the Home Energy Score within an energy audit, home inspection package, or as a standalone product. You have the flexibility to offer the Score in the way that makes sense for your business.
After becoming an Assessor, there are certain standards you are expected to meet.
- Quality Assurance. Five percent of homes scored must be re-scored by a quality assurance provider. Re-scored homes should be randomly selected and if data entry errors are detected, Assessors are expected to take action to correct these errors for future assessments. Additionally, if you use a remote quality assurance provider, your first five homes require re-scoring.
- Stay Up-To-Date. Assessors receive infrequent yet important email updates from assessor@ee.doe.gov, and Assessors are expected to carefully review these messages.
- Refresher Course. If you do not use the Scoring Tool for more than six months, you will be deactivated until you pass a short, online refresher course and test to regain access to the Scoring Tool. This can be avoided by using the Tool to score homes on a regular basis.