Programs for Improving Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings

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Home Energy Score Data Entry Guidelines
The following are rules and guidelines for using the Home Energy Scoring Tool and entering the
information based on what is observed on site. These guidelines are in addition and supplementary to
the Tool Tips displayed on the Scoring Tool. Be sure to open the Tool Tips on the Scoring Tool - they
contain important guidance and information as well. Correctly interpreting your onsite observations
and converting those interpretations into the appropriate data inputs is a critical part of accurately
scoring a home. Complex homes will require greater interpretation, for which adherence to these
guidelines will be most important – please reference this document whenever you’re unsure as to how
you should characterize certain home components in the Scoring Tool. Some of the details in these
guidelines only apply to those Assessors who are using the Home Energy Score web interface. If you
are using a third party software or app to enter the data, please contact your program Partner for
more details about the system you are using.

Contents – quick links to the category you are looking for:
Scoring Tool Do’s and Don’ts
Data Entry Guidelines
About this Home
Roof/Attic
Foundation
Walls
Windows/Skylights
Systems
Heating
Cooling
Ducts
Hot Water
Alternative Reports/Labels
Troubleshooting
Building America Solution Center

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Scoring Tool Do’s and Don’ts
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Please do not open the Home Energy Scoring Tool in multiple tabs or log on to the
Tool in more than one instance at a time. Doing so may cause an error and the
Tool may lock your session.
The Home Energy Score is appropriate for scoring single family houses and
townhouses/row houses/duplexes only. Do not attempt to score mobile homes
(manufactured housing) or apartments/multifamily dwellings.
It is critical that you characterize the Assessment Type properly: select “Initial” for
the first session and “Final” for the test-out session. All other sessions for the
home should be either “Corrected”, “Test”, or “Alternative EEM” (unless it is the
“QA” session). Absolutely no home should have more than one “Initial” session,
more than one “Final” session, and more than one “QA” session. “Mentor” should
only be selected by the experienced Assessor in charge of mentoring a new
Assessor scoring their first home.
Please always complete your scoring session on the same day it was started.
Sessions that are left open for more than a day will often not be counted once
they’re completed. A scoring session should not be initiated if the Assessor does
not have the intention of completing it and creating a label the same day. If a
session is left open for a few days (especially over a weekend) it should be
deleted and the data should be re-entered into a new session.
Please utilize the Home Energy Score Assessor Calculator to determine weighted
averages, find values for multiple systems, and calculate accurate equipment
efficiencies or defaults. The calculator is provided to each new Assessor as an
attachment to your confirmation email, or can be easily obtained by notifying us
at [email protected].
Please use the Tool Tips in the Home Energy Scoring Tool. The Tool Tips are
accessed by clicking on the question mark icons available throughout the Tool,
and will provide you with important and helpful information regarding each entry
or selection. Refer to these guidelines if more clarity is needed.
Do not share your login or allow others to score homes through your login; doing
so will compromise your status as an Assessor and your access to the Scoring Tool
may be blocked indefinitely.
Use correct capitalization when entering the address (avoid using all caps), as it
will be displayed in the label the same way it is entered - it should look
professional.

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Data Entry Guidelines
About This Home
Assessment Date - Enter the date when the assessment inspection was done so that the score reflects
the conditions at the time of the inspection.
Number of bedrooms – A bedroom is defined as a room purposely built as such and defined as such by
local ordinance. If there are more than 10 bedrooms, just enter 10.
Stories Above Ground Level – If a house has a level that is 50% or more below grade that level should
be characterized as a basement. For example, if half of the lower (walk-out) level of a two level ranch is
below grade, the house should be characterized as 1 story, with a basement for the foundation. For
houses considered to have a half story above, round up to the next whole number. For example, Cape
Cod’s are sometimes characterized as 1½ stories; in the Scoring Tool they should be entered as 2
stories, unless the upper ½ story is actually an unconditioned attic. Split level or tri-level homes should
often be entered as having two foundations, as follows:
a.) If there are two full levels on either side of the split, the house is 2 stories and the foundation
types will be basement and either crawlspace or slab-on-grade.
b.) If there are two full levels on one side of the split, one full level (usually over crawlspace) on the
other side, and the lowest full level is more than 50% above grade, the house is 2 stories and
the foundation types are slab-on-grade and crawlspace – if there is no crawlspace then only
one foundation type (slab-on-grade) is necessary.
c.) If there are two full levels on one side of the split and one full level (usually over crawlspace) on
the other side, and the lowest level is more than 50% below grade, the house is 1 story and the
foundation types are basement and either crawlspace or slab-on-grade.
Interior Floor to Ceiling Height – If there are different ceiling heights, average the heights using a
weighted average calculation based on areas, and round to the nearest whole number – the
“Averaging Calculator” tab in the Home Energy Score Assessor Calculator (aka Assessor Calculator)
can be used for this. If the calculated average height is exactly between two whole numbers, round up
to the nearest whole number. For example, if the average ceiling height is calculated as 8.4 ft., round
to the nearest - 8 ft.; however, if the average ceiling height is calculated as 8.5 ft., round up to 9 ft.
Conditioned Floor Area (all stories combined) – This must be based on actual measurements done by
the Assessor. Measuring the outside dimensions of the house is often a preferred method for
calculating floor areas, as long as it can be done accurately. Do not use real estate listings (MLS),
appraisals, county records or websites such as Zillow to determine square footage, as these are often
inaccurate and/or out of date. Conditioned floor area must include all conditioned spaces that are
intentionally heated and/or cooled including conditioned basements, but must not include conditioned

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crawl spaces. An area is considered conditioned only if there are duct registers or radiators present.
Closets, cupboards, stairwells, and hallways within the conditioned envelope are considered part of the
conditioned area. Many auditors have been trained that a basement should be considered conditioned
if the ducts and/or HVAC system are in the space, but for Home Energy Score there must be direct
delivery to the basement area for it to be considered conditioned (i.e., “unintentionally conditioned”
does not count). Do not include commas in the entry.
Direction faced by front of house – Enter the compass direction the house is facing. This can be readily
determined with a compass or compass app, or by looking up the home’s address on map software
(such as Google Maps) and ascertaining the compass direction.
Air leakage rate – If a blower door test has been conducted on the house and the results are available,
enter them as @CFM50. Do not include commas in the entry. If a blower door test result is not
entered, the assessor will need to characterize whether the house has been previously air sealed. “Air
sealed” means professionally treated to seal or control major air leakage pathways. If it cannot be
determined that a house has been professionally air sealed, assume it is not.
Roof / Attic 1
If there is more than one type of roof construction or finish, or more than one type of ceiling, attic, or
insulation type, you should enter the information as two roof/attic types by clicking “Enter a second
roof / attic”.
Attic area – Attic area is the ft² area of the attic only, i.e. the attic footprint. If there is just one
attic/roof type, the attic area will be the same size as the upper story floor area you measured while
determining the house conditioned floor area, with the exception of cathedral ceilings. If there is more
than one roof/attic type, click “Enter a second roof / attic”. Additional fields will be displayed so that
the characteristics of a second roof/attic type can be entered – be sure to enter the correct area for
each attic. If there are more than two roof/attic types, combine those that are most similar to narrow
down the variables to just two and use the “Averaging Calculator” in the Assessor Calculator to
perform a UA calculation in order to determine the overall insulation R-value of the types that were
combined.
Unless the house is single story on slab, crawlspace, or unconditioned basement, the attic area will not
be the same as the conditioned floor area. For example, if a single story house has a conditioned
basement (directly beneath), the attic ft² will be half of the total conditioned area. Do not include
eaves or attic spaces over unconditioned areas such as porches or garages. Use the “Floor-Roof Area”
checker in the Assessor Calculator to verify that your attic area calculation is logical. The total
roof/attic area should be at least as large as the total foundation area.
Construction and Exterior Finish - choose the predominant characteristics. If the home’s roof
construction or exterior finish is not one of the choices, select the most similar choice.

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Insulation level – Refers to the roof only, not the attic floor. Provide the nearest R-value from the
dropdown menu choices – if there is no insulation in the roof, select R-0. If the attic is vented, any
insulation installed at the roof is irrelevant - select R-0. If there are multiple insulation levels, perform a
UA calculation (w/ the Assessor Calculator) and round to the nearest R-value on the dropdown menu.
If a calculated R-value falls halfway between two menu choices, choose the lower value.
Roof Color – Choose the color of the roof from the following choices –

White =

Smooth building material surfaces covered with a fresh or clean, stark white
paint or coating.

Light =

Masonry, textured, rough wood, or gravel surfaces covered with a white paint
or coating.

Medium =

Off-white, cream, buff, or other light-colored brick, bare metal, concrete block,
or painted surfaces and white-chip marble-colored roofs.

Medium =
dark

Brown, red, or other dark colored-brick, concrete block, roofs with gravel, red
tile, stone, or tan to brown shingles.

Dark =

Dark brown, dark green, or other very dark-colored painted, coated, or
shingled surfaces.

Cool Color =

If the homeowner knows the reflectivity of the roof, choose cool color and
enter the absorptance value, i.e. the inverse of the reflectance.

Attic or Ceiling Type – Choose the type from the dropdown menu. If Cathedral Ceiling is chosen the
insulation value must be entered under “Roof: Insulation Level”.
Attic Floor Insulation – Select the nearest R-value from the dropdown menu choices. If there are
multiple insulation levels, perform a UA calculation with the Assessor Calculator and round to the
nearest R-value on the dropdown menu. If a calculated R-value falls halfway between two menu
choices, choose the lower value. Be sure to de-rate the insulation based on the quality of the current
install, and to account for any voids by performing a weighted average R-value calculation on the
Assessor Calculator. A void of just 2% can have a significant impact on the overall R-value.
Foundation 1
If there is more than one type of foundation construction or more than one type of foundation
insulation type, you should enter the information as two foundation types by clicking “Enter a second
foundation / floor”.
Foundation area – Enter the ft² area for each foundation type. If there is just one foundation type, the
foundation area will be the same size as the lower story area you measured while determining the
house conditioned area, excluding cantilevered areas or bump outs, etc. If there is more than one

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foundation type, click “Enter a second foundation / floor”. Additional fields will be displayed so that
the characteristics of a second foundation type can be entered – be sure to enter the correct area for
each. If there are more than two foundation types, combine the most similar types to narrow down the
variables to just two and use the Assessor Calculator to perform a UA calculation if necessary in order
to determine the overall insulation R-value of the combined types.
Foundation Type – Choose the type from the dropdown menu. If Slab-on-grade is chosen an insulation
value must be entered under “Foundation walls insulation level”. If you know insulation is installed
under or around the perimeter of the slab, select R-5. In all other cases select R-0. An unconditioned
garage under a conditioned living space should be characterized as an “Unconditioned basement”. For
a house built on an open foundation such as on piers, the foundation type should be characterized as
“Vented crawlspace”. Also, if there are significant bump-outs/cantilevered areas, a second foundation
type should be entered for those spaces and “Vented crawlspace” should be chosen for the foundation
type.
Floor Insulation above basement or crawlspace – If the foundation type is basement or crawlspace, the
insulation value between that space and the floor above should be entered. Select the nearest R-value
from the dropdown menu. If there is no insulation, select R-0. If there are multiple insulation levels
within one foundation type, perform a UA calculation and round to the nearest menu choice. If a
calculated R-value falls halfway between two menu choices, choose the lower value.
Foundation Wall Insulation level – If the foundation wall is insulated, select the nearest R-value from
the menu choices. If there is no insulation, select R-0. If there are multiple insulation levels, perform a
UA calculation and round to the nearest dropdown menu choice. If a calculated R-value falls halfway
between two menu choices, choose the lower value. If the foundation type is Slab-on-grade and you
know there is insulation installed under the slab, select R-5; otherwise select R-0.
PLEASE NOTE - Both the foundation and floor insulation fields must have a value entered. If one of
them does not apply to the house, select R-0 for the field that does not apply. Unlike the roof and attic,
it is okay to enter non-zero values in both of these insulation fields. For example, a conditioned
crawlspace might have insulation on both the foundation wall and between the floor joists of the
crawlspace ceiling – both values should be entered.

Walls – If the wall on one or more sides of the house is different from the others, the characteristics of
each side of the house must be entered. If all sides of the house are the same, the characteristics
should only be entered once. For townhouses, enter the information about the exterior (exposed)
walls only.
Townhouse – This includes row houses, duplexes, townhomes, or any house sharing a wall with
another house. Indicate the position relative to the other units: end right, end left, or middle. The right
and left positions are determined by street view (facing the front of the house from the street).

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Construction and Exterior Finish – If there is more than one type on a single wall choose the
predominant type. If the home’s wall construction or exterior finish is not one of the choices, select
“Wood Frame” and “Wood Siding”.
Insulation – Enter the nearest R-value from the dropdown choices. If there are multiple insulation
levels, perform a UA calculation with the Assessor Calculator and round to the nearest R-value on the
dropdown menu. If a calculated R-value falls halfway between two menu choices, choose the lower
value. If the wall insulation cannot be readily determined try to estimate the installation based on
historical local building practices and codes, or use the default values in the chart below, based on the
type of wall construction and the year it was built:

Skylights - If there are multiple skylight types, enter the skylight characteristics of those that make up
the largest combined area.
Panes, Frame Material, Glazing Type – Choose from the dropdown menu choices. If there are multiple
types, choose the predominant type.
Skylight Size – Enter the total skylight area of all skylights in the house combined.
Windows - If the windows are the same on all sides of the house, only one set of characteristics should
be entered. If at least one side is different from the others, distinct window characteristics must be
entered for each side of the house.
Window Area – Enter the total window area from each side of the house. The right and left positions
are determined by street view (facing the front of the house from the street). The glass in entry doors
(excluding storm doors) should be considered as windows.
Panes, Frame Material, Glazing Type – Select from the dropdown menu choices. If there are multiple
types on a side, choose the predominant type. Storm windows should be characterized as an additional

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pane only, i.e. a single pane window with a storm window should be characterized as “Double-pane”.
Storm window frame material is irrelevant.
U-Factor and SHGC – If this info is available the “Actual window specification” button should be clicked
and these values should be entered instead of the window characteristics.

Systems
System Efficiency Values for heating, cooling and hot water equipment should always be entered
instead of the year installed. Please utilize the “Equipment Efficiency Calculator” tab in the Home
Energy Score Assessor Calculator to determine the efficiency of an appliance. The Calculator provides
more accurate calculated efficiencies then the Scoring Tool, since the Scoring Tool significantly de-rates
efficiencies when the year installed is entered. The Calculator requires you to enter the age of the
equipment, which is determined by the year of manufacture. If this date is not printed on the service
data plate and is not available from the owner, it can be determined from the serial number on the
service data plate. Go to www.buildingcenter.org to look up the serial number code by manufacturer,
which should enable you to determine the age of the equipment.
Percent of conditioned floor area served by system – enter the percentage of the conditioned floor
area served by the system as a whole number. If there is only one system, enter 100. If there are
multiple systems, the sum of the percentages must equal 100. If there is a second system, scroll down
(past “Ducts”) and click 'Enter a second system'. The screen will expand to provide a second set of data
entry elements for the second system. Calculate or estimate the percentage of the home served by
each system, based on the square footage that system serves. If there are more than two systems,
combine similar systems and enter the system size-weighted average efficiency, which can be
determined using the Assessor Calculator. For example, if a home is serviced by two heat pumps and
one gas furnace, combine the two heat pumps as System 1 and calculate the weighted average
efficiency (based the calculated efficiency of each heat pump and on the sq. ft. each unit serves). Enter
the gas furnace as System 2.
If wood heat is frequently used as a supplemental heat system, enter it as System 2 and attempt to
characterize the amount the wood heat is used as a percentage.
If the house has a hybrid heat pump with a gas furnace back-up, do not enter the gas furnace back-up
as a second system – the Scoring Tool already calculates for back-up heating in heat pumps.
Heating – If there are multiple systems, characterize the two largest systems. If there are more than
two systems, combine those using the same fuel and calculate a system size-weighted average
efficiency.
*If the home is heated and/or cooled by ductless or mini-split heat pump(s), choose “Heat pump” and
make every effort to determine the actual installed efficiency of the unit(s) as it is significantly higher

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than the default values. Although there are no actual ducts, the Tool requires an entry for ducts when
heat pump is selected - enter “Conditioned space”, 100%, and “Yes” for both insulated and sealed.
Heating System Efficiency – It is always preferable to enter the efficiency rather than the year installed.
Gather the information from the equipment or the homeowner and determine the efficiency using the
Assessor Calculator. The efficiency is entered as AFUE for combustion heat and electric furnace, HSPF
for heat pump, and COP for ground coupled heat pump. If the installed year is entered (not allowed for
gchp), the efficiency value will default to a delivery weighted average efficiency for that year, and high
efficiency equipment will incur a significant penalty. The Tool provides default efficiencies for wood
heat and electric resistance, so the efficiency/install date fields will be hidden when either of these is
chosen. Combustion Furnace/Boiler efficiency values (AFUE) should not be entered as less than .70
unless you actually measure it as such. Heat pump efficiency values (HSPF) should not be less than 6.5.
Cooling - If there are more than two systems, combine similar systems and determine the combined
efficiency by calculating a system size-weighted average efficiency using the Assessor Calculator. If
there are more than two dissimilar systems, enter the data for the largest systems.
Type of Cooling System – If heat pump was selected for the Heating System it will automatically be
selected for the Cooling System. If the home is cooled by a ductless or mini-split heat pump, please see
* above.
The Home Energy Score does not currently model evaporative cooling systems. If the house has an
evaporative/swamp cooler, choose “Central air conditioner” as the type of cooling system, click “Yes”
for efficiency, and enter 28 as the efficiency value. Do not click “No” and enter the year installed to
obtain the efficiency as this will produce an erroneous value.
Cooling System Efficiency - It is always preferable to enter the efficiency rather than the year installed.
Gather the information from the equipment or the homeowner and determine the efficiency using the
Assessor Calculator. The efficiency is entered as SEER for central air conditioning or heat pump, and
EER for room/window air conditioning or gchp. If the installed year is entered (not allowed for gchp),
the efficiency value will default to a delivery weighted average efficiency for that year, and high
efficiency equipment will incur a significant penalty. Air conditioning/heat pump (cooling) efficiency
values (SEER) should not be less than 9.
Ducts – The duct fields will be hidden when a non-ducted system is chosen (i.e. electric baseboard,
boiler or wood heat) and there is no central air conditioning.
Duct Location – choose the location. *See above for ductless or mini-split heat pumps.
Percent in that location – indicate the whole number percent of the duct length in that location with
the same insulation and duct seal characteristics. There are up to 3 entries available - the sum of the
location percentages must equal 100.

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Are the ducts insulated/sealed – Answer yes or no based on those ducts referenced in the duct
location entry. Ducts should only be considered sealed and/or insulated if the Assessor has visually
verified as such, i.e. duct mastic/spray foam/UL-181 tape on joints and insulation on (or in) the ducts,
particularly in unconditioned areas.
Hot Water
Hot Water Type – If there are multiple systems using different fuels, enter the characteristics of the
largest one. If the water heater is an instantaneous/on-demand type, choose storage type and make
every effort to determine the actual installed efficiency of the unit(s), as it is significantly higher than
the default values.
Water Heater Efficiency – It is always preferable to enter the efficiency rather than the year installed.
The Tool will accept an energy factor as high as 3.00 (for a heat pump water heater). If the energy
factor is unknown, use the default values from the “Equipment Efficiency Calculator” in the Assessor
Calculator. The energy factor should be rounded to the second decimal. If the installed year is entered
the efficiency value will default to a delivery weighted average efficiency for that year, and high
efficiency equipment will incur a significant penalty. If there are multiple systems using the same fuel
calculate and enter a system size weighted average efficiency using the Assessor Calculator. If there
are multiple systems using different fuels, enter the efficiency of the largest system.
If one of the home’s heating systems is a boiler and it provides the domestic hot water as well, select
“Boiler with tankless coil” or “Boiler with indirect tank” appropriately – no efficiency value is required.

Alternative report/label options
There are functions available which allow assessors to create reports with
customized recommendations. By clicking the selectable menu next to the
completed score on your Dashboard you have the option to either:
I.
II.

create a “Final” report that has the actual score only, and excludes the “Score
with improvements” score as well as the “Recommendations” page; or,
create a “Custom” report that provides a projected “Score with improvements”
based on your own custom recommendations (as opposed to the default
recommendations).

I. In order to create a “Final” report after doing a post-improvement score of the
home (Assessment type: “Final”), select “Final report” from the drop down menu
next to the home’s label icon on your Dashboard, and click on the label icon. After

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a few seconds the report will generate and open. The report can be converted
and saved as a PDF. To return to your Dashboard, click “Back to Dashboard”.
II. To create a “Custom” report that provides a projected “Score with
improvements” score based on your own custom recommendations, you’ll need
to do the following:
1. Score the home – Create a label for the home in its existing condition as you
normally would. Choose the appropriate Assessment Type (“Initial” or, if it’s
already been scored before, “Corrected” or “Alternative EEM”).
2. Re-Score the home incorporating your projected improvements – Using your
own custom recommendations, rescore the home incorporating the
improvements you will be recommending to the homeowner (outside of these
recommendations, all other inputs should be identical to the previous session),
and create the “projected” score label. Be sure to select “Alternative EEM” as
the Assessment Type.
3. Go to your Dashboard – Next to the first score of the home, open the drop
down menu – select “Custom improvement with Label #####”, the numbers
referring to the other session (or sessions) created for that address. Select the
alternative or projected session and click on the home’s label icon to generate
the report.
4. Provide to the homeowner – the customized label along with the separate list
of recommendations you used to create the projected re-score.

Troubleshooting
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Problems logging on: Assessors must enter their Assessor ID in the username field and their
password at http://hescore.labworks.org in order to access the Home Energy Score. If you do
not know your Assessor ID please click on the “Request new password” tab on the login screen
and enter the email address you originally provided to your Partner. An email with your
Assessor ID (username) in the salutation and a temporary link will be sent to you at that email
address. Go to your email, open the email from [email protected], and click on the temporary
link in the email message. Follow the password instructions. Once you’ve created a new
password, be sure to record your username and password for future reference.
 If you no longer have access to the email account you provided to your Partner please
contact us at [email protected] to register a new email address.
 If you’re typing in your Assessor ID / password and it’s not working, check to make sure that
your caps lock is not on.

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 Do not share your login or allow others to score homes through your login; doing so will
compromise your status as an Assessor and your access to the Scoring Tool will be blocked
indefinitely.
 Session “Lock-ups”: If you enter data into a session, then exit the Home Energy Score before
creating the label, and then re-access the session a few minutes later it may cause the session
to lock-up, in which case you’ll need to wait at least an hour before the session is unlocked. If
you find that the session is permanently locked you will need to start over by creating a new
session. In this case the permanently locked session can be deleted from your Dashboard. If you
seem to be locked out of the Scoring Tool, please notify us at [email protected].
 Reporting Problems: If you run into an error or need to report a problem with the Home Energy
Score software please provide as much information about the issue as possible in your email,
including screen captures, to [email protected]. If it is about a particular run, provide the
Session ID number and whether you generated a score or were entering data at the time of the
failure. If you are using a third party software to access the Scoring Tool, identify the software
in your email and Cc the software vendor to your message.

Other
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Building America Solutions Center website at http://basc.energy.gov
o DOE’s new free resource on building science & energy efficient construction
o Lots of diagrams, renderings, and photos
o Step-by-step “how to” instructions
o Mostly focused on new construction but existing construction is being added
o Users can “gather” the information that is most helpful to them
o Users can provide feedback to the site, including content

Home Energy Score Technical Team
Home Energy Scoring Tool, Training, Test, and Quality Assurance
Glenn Dickey
Erik Lundquist
[email protected]

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