Skip to content

Resource Library

ACEEE Report: Remote Home Energy Assessments 

Website

Overview

Read the article to learn about remote home energy assessments, and how they expand the reach of energy efficiency and encourage energy-saving upgrades.

Remote home energy assessments are an excellent alternative to in-person assessments and will likely continue after the pandemic ends, according to a report released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Well-liked by customers, they can expand the reach of energy efficiency and encourage energy-saving upgrades.

In a remote assessment, homeowners typically use their smartphones to walk the energy assessor through the home while the assessor collects data. At the end of the session or during a follow-up phone call a few days later, the assessor goes over the findings and recommendations, usually including a summary report. Customers generally report the process to be convenient, straightforward, and easy, saying they learned more about their homes.

While the idea of remote assessments has been around for some time, it wasn’t until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that they started to become more prevalent. Initially used to continue reaching customers during the pandemic, the remote assessments allowed many efficiency workers to remain employed and showed promise in reducing program costs. Fewer transportation demands and a larger customer base, including formerly hard-to-reach households, can save programs time and money and increase the number of homes assessed.

Continue reading on ACEEE.org.

Related Resources

Download this BPA resource

Weatherization Installer Job Aids and Single-Family Interactive 3D House

Weatherization job aids are step-by-step visual guides created to assist home energy professionals with effective, durable, and safe energy efficiency upgrades.

Download this BPA resource

Workforce Development Toolkit for the Weatherization Assistance Program

This toolkit provides workforce development information and resources applicable to the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Hyperlink icon to reveal a BPA Resource Video

Whole Home Performance HVAC: Energy Efficient Heating, Cooling, & Weatherization

An HVAC contractor in Georgia discusses how his family-owned company focuses on weatherization and efficient heating and cooling, an essential component of fighting climate change.