What is Energy Savings Readiness Score?
An Energy Savings Readiness Score is a structured assessment that evaluates five dimensions: property type and ownership, current energy expenditure, primary energy goal, upgrade interest area, and decision timeline. The score routes property owners toward the highest-impact energy improvement path based on their specific property, usage, and ownership situation.
Why This Matters
Upgrade sequencing determines ROI
ENERGY STAR 2025 data shows performing envelope upgrades (insulation, air sealing) before installing solar or a heat pump allows right-sizing equipment to a smaller, less expensive system. The correct sequence reduces total project cost by 15 to 25% compared to equipment-first approaches.
Ownership status determines available options
ACEEE 2025 data shows renters can reduce energy costs by 10 to 20% through no-cost and low-cost measures, and community solar programs in 40+ states allow solar savings without rooftop access. A readiness assessment prevents renters from pursuing options that require property ownership.
Incentive timing affects project economics
EnergySage 2025 data shows the federal Investment Tax Credit covers 30% of residential solar costs through 2032. Combined federal, state, and utility incentives can cover 30 to 50% of heat pump installation costs. A readiness assessment surfaces time-sensitive incentives before they phase down.
Common Mistakes
❌ Installing solar before addressing envelope efficiency
A home that wastes 30% of heating and cooling energy through poor insulation needs a larger, more expensive solar system. Spending $3,000 to $5,000 on insulation and air sealing first can reduce the required solar system size by 20 to 30%, saving $4,000 to $8,000 on solar installation.
❌ Comparing energy upgrades on sticker price alone
A $25,000 solar system with a 7-year payback and 25-year lifespan returns $50,000+ in lifetime savings. A $5,000 window replacement with a 20-year payback returns $5,000. Total lifetime ROI, not upfront cost, determines which upgrade to prioritize.
❌ Oversizing equipment without a load calculation
Heat pumps and solar systems sized by rule of thumb rather than engineering calculations (Manual J for HVAC, site-specific solar modeling) are typically 20 to 30% oversized, wasting $3,000 to $8,000 in unnecessary equipment cost.
Industry Benchmarks
| Category | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Electric Bill | Under $100 (efficient home) | $100 to $200 (US median $140) | Over $300 (high usage or rate) |
| Solar Payback Period | 5 to 7 years | 7 to 10 years | Over 12 years |
| Home Energy Score | 8 to 10 (DOE scale) | 5 to 7 | Under 5 |
Source: EIA, EnergySage, ENERGY STAR, DOE
Benchmark data sourced from EIA, EnergySage, ENERGY STAR, DOE.