What is Pearl SCORE?

Pearl SCORE™ is the first nationally standardized metric to quantify home performance, measuring Safety, Comfort, Operations, Resilience, and Energy (SCORE). It empowers home buyers and homeowners by providing a clear, credible rating of a home's performance. Unlike energy ratings, Pearl SCORE*™ looks at all performance factors with a more comprehensive approach that reflects real-world value. Pearl SCORE™ is also dynamic. Any improvements in home performance are reflected in the Pearl SCORE™ ensuring that they don’t go unnoticed.

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Map of Pearl Homes

How Pearl SCORETM Works

Pearl SCORE™ is calculated using a proprietary methodology informed by building science and national standards. We analyze data from 87 million U.S. homes, assessing factors like insulation, HVAC efficiency, air sealing, and renewable energy features. Each home receives a score from 0 to 1000, with higher scores indicating better performance. Homeowners can report performance improvements or upgrades to increase their Pearl SCORE™.

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Methodology

This White Paper details a ground-breaking framework for assessing the performance of U.S. single-family homes, rating them for Safety, Comfort, Operations, Resilience, and Energy (SCORE). This document details how building science and third-party standards inform our scoring system to deliver actionable insights for home buyers and homeowners. It explains why Pearl SCORE™ was created, what it measures, and how it empowers stakeholders with transparency into a home's efficiency, health, and resilience. Download the white paper to explore the rigorous methodology behind this national standard.

Download the White Paper
Pearl Score Methodology White Paper DRAFT Q22025
Home Performance Snapshot

Home Performance Snapshot

The Home Performance Snapshot offers a clear, concise overview of a home’s energy efficiency and performance, empowering home buyers and homeowners with actionable insights to assess and objectively compare homes. This expertly crafted tool distills complex data into an easy-to-understand format, highlighting key metrics such as how much the home may cost to operate, it's performance across the five major performance criteria, and more. Explore the Home Performance Snapshot of any single-family home in the U.S. by visiting the Pearl Registry.

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Built by Experts

Pearl SCORE™ was developed by a team of nationally recognized experts in building science, computational modeling, real estate, and consumer behavior to provide a reliable, easy-to-understand measure of home performance.

Robin LeBaron, Co-Founder and President of Pearl Certification.
Robin LeBaron Co-founder and President

Robin is a national expert on energy efficiency

Robin developed the first Pearl SCORE and oversaw the design of scoring algorithms that make up the Pearl SCORE v2.0

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Adam Stenftenagel VP Modeling, Radiant

Adam has been working in the green building industry since 2004. He founded/co-founded four Boulder Colorado based businesses in the building energy efficiency industry and now works as the VP of Modeling at Pearl Certification. Adam conducts research and provides technical guidance as Pearl integrates the Radiant Labs energy modeling platform into their services and deploys Pearl’s SCORE registry. He specializes in building science, energy modeling, and cost-benefit analysis.

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Casey Murphy, Senior Vice President of Business Incubation at Pearl Certification.
Casey Murphy Senior Vice President, Quality and Standards

Casey Murphy brings over 30 years of experience in building science, energy efficiency, and residential performance to the development of the Pearl SCORE. As a former home performance contractor, Casey worked directly with homeowners to improve comfort, health, and efficiency—real-world experience that grounds his approach to certification and scoring. He also served as a technical advisor to national initiatives like ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings program, served on the Building Performance Institute’s (BPI) Standards and Technical Committee (STC) and contributed to the ANSI/ACCA 9 QIvp-2016 HVAC Quality Installation Verification Protocols.

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Kerry Harp, Senior Sustainability Analyst at Pearl Certification.
Kerry Harp Senior Sustainability Analyst

Kerry has over 25 years of experience researching and promoting energy-efficiency, sustainability, and the health/wellbeing of occupants in the built environment and uses this experience in the development and support of Pearl’s products. Kerry played a key role in the evolution of Pearl SCORE v2.0 by researching and developing the scoring methodology for the assets, criteria, and algorithms of the 5 pillars that make up SCORE.

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Kelly O'Connell Data Insights Team Lead

Kelly’s decade of expertise in energy modeling and managing large-scale evaluations at Radiant Labs and Energy & Resource Solutions enhances the accuracy and impact of Pearl SCORE™.

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John Costello, Senior Certification Process Manager at Pearl Certification.
John Costello Senior Certification Process Manager

John Costello joined Pearl’s Contractor Success team in July 2018, bringing with him over 25 years of hands-on experience in residential, commercial, and heavy industrial construction. His extensive field background provides a deep understanding of building systems, construction practices, and applied energy efficiency standards.

John holds numerous certifications in building science and workforce training. He is a certified master trainer, healthy home evaluator, and was a founding board member of the Healthy Home Environment Association.

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Cynthia Adams Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

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AC Capehart, Chief Technology Officer of Pearl Certification.
AC Capehart Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

“Whether it’s safety testing vehicle autonomy or helping incident responders on the front lines of cyber-defense, it’s important to me that the technology I create serve humanity. Pearl Certification grants me the opportunity to promote home improvements that not only increase the comfort of those who make them, but to reap financial rewards as well. It’s truly win-win!”

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Jeff Friesen

Jeff is an expert in energy modeling and machine learning who co-developed Snugg Pro one of the nation’s leading contractor energy modeling tools (acquired in 2024 by Franklin Energy), and co-founded Radiant Labs, a firm that developed analytics and market segmentation software and performed large scale city-wide hourly energy modeling and data analysis on residential and commercial buildings.

Jeff oversees the development and operations of Pearl’s energy modeling and scoring software.

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Noel Merket R&D Modeling Engineer

Noel is a national expert in energy modeling who led the development of the next generation Home Energy Score for the U.S. Department of Energy; co-developed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) ResStock building modeling tool; played a key role in the development of NREL’s EnergyPlus whole building energy simulation software (the most sophisticated energy modeling software in the world); and led the development of Home Performance XML, the national data transfer standard for energy efficiency.

Noel works to ensure the accuracy of Pearl’s energy models and SCORE, and to ensure that Pearl’s energy models are consistent across the industry.

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Corey Bressler, Residential Energy Efficiency Program Specialist at Pearl Certification.
Corey Bressler Residential Energy Efficiency Program Specialist

Corey brings nearly a decade of experience in residential and commercial energy efficiency to his work at Pearl. He manages Pearl’s Home Energy Score national service provider program as the lead Energy Auditor, Mentor, and Quality Assurance Provider, while also overseeing operations for the company’s certification system. Corey holds certifications as a LEED Green Associate and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

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Advisory Council

In addition to our partners and in-house expertise, Pearl draws on additional expertise from our advisory council. Each members brings deep expertise and experience to our development efforts.

Robin LeBaron, Co-Founder and President of Pearl Certification.
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Rooted in Industry Standards

Pearl SCORE™ aligns with leading standards used across the housing, construction, and real estate markets today.

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The point allocations in the Safety Pillar are based in part on the following third-party standards and guidance:

The point allocations in the Comfort Pillar are based on the following third-party standards and guidance:

The point allocations in the Operations Pillar are based on the following third-party standards and guidance:

The point allocations in the Resilience Pillar are based on the following third-party standards and guidance:

The point allocations in the Energy Pillar are based on the following third-party standards and guidance:

What's Next for Pearl SCORE™?

We’ve scored every home in America. Now we’re building powerful tools to help buyers, owners, and sellers put those insights to work. Sign up to be the first to know what’s next.

FAQs

  • What is Pearl?
    Pearl is a national platform that rates and helps improve home performance—how a home uses energy, feels, and functions
  • What is the Pearl SCORE™?
    It’s an easy-to-understand score that shows how well a home performs across energy efficiency, comfort, health, and resilience
  • How does Pearl calculate the SCORE?
    We use public data, advanced modeling, and homeowner-verified information to estimate how a home performs.
  • Is Pearl SCORE™ available for every home in the U.S.?
    Yes—every single-family home in the U.S. has a Pearl SCORE. You can look yours up for free.
  • What’s the difference between a claimed and unclaimed home?
    Claimed homes have been updated and verified by the owner. Unclaimed homes use public data only.
  • How can I improve my Pearl SCORE™?
    By updating your home’s information and making smart upgrades in areas like insulation, heating, or ventilation.
  • How do I claim my home?
    Search for your home on Pearl, create a free account, and follow the steps to verify your home’s features.
  • How does Pearl make money?
    We offer paid reports, improvement plans, and tools for homeowners, contractors, and real estate agents.
  • What does the check mark next to the Pearl SCORE™ mean?
    It means the home has been claimed and verified by the owner.
  • What is the operating cost comparison?
    It shows how a home’s estimated monthly energy costs compare to similar homes in the area.
  • Why is the operating cost comparison different for homes with the same Pearl SCORE™?
    Because energy costs depend on fuel type, local rates, home size, and other variables, not just the performance score.
  • What are achievements?
    Achievements are performance certifications or notable features in the home that improve its performance.
  • What does Pearl Certification mean?
    Focuses on the home’s overall performance. It means Pearl has verified and designated it as a high-performance home, documented the high-performing features, and issued a certificate.
  • What are merit badges?
    Focuses on specific performance features in the home. They highlight specific strengths—like solar, HVAC, or insulation—that contribute to home performance.
  • What are the five pillars of home performance?
    The five pillars are the main factors contributing to home performance and provide the basis for how Pearl assesses homes: Safety, Comfort, Operations, Resilience, and Energy.
  • How are the five pillars of home performance measured?
    Using a mix of public data, homeowner input, and modeling to assess features that affect each area.
  • What makes Pearl qualified to rate my home?
    Pearl’s system was developed by the nation’s leading experts in building science, data modeling, and home performance in cooperation with partners like Energy Star, the U.S. Dept of Energy, the National Association of Realtors, and the Appraisal Institute, to name a few.
  • How accurate is Pearl’s data?
    Pearl SCORE™ is the most accurate standardized measure of home performance in the U.S. It draws on trusted public records, advanced modeling, and owner-verified inputs to deliver reliable, transparent scores.
  • Is the Pearl SCORE™ government-backed?
    No, but it aligns with national standards and is recognized by major industry groups and government organizations.
  • Is Pearl independent, or are you paid by third parties?
    Pearl is a fully independent standards organization. We don’t take payments to influence scores or promote specific brands.
  • What does Pearl’s B-Corporation status mean?
    It means we’re legally committed to balancing profit with purpose—creating long-term value for homeowners, communities, and the planet.
  • Have any organizations endorsed Pearl SCORE™?
    Yes. Pearl is a U.S. Department of Energy partner and is trusted by major utilities, contractors, and real estate professionals nationwide.
  • Are there measures in place to prevent someone from gaming the system to boost their score?
    Yes—high-impact items must be verified with documentation like photos, model numbers, or third-party validation.
  • Does Pearl still certify homes?
    Yes. Pearl Certification has been trusted in the housing industry for years and is available for homes with verified high-performance features. Homeowners can apply directly through Pearl or through their real estate agent, or contractor.
  • What is the average Pearl SCORE™?
    The vast majority of U.S. homes are not high-performing (scoring 500 or higher). The average U.S. home scores around 250.
  • Why are most scores below 500?
    The majority of U.S. homes were built before modern performance standards were developed or included in building codes. However, the right upgrades can significantly increase the performance of these older homes.
  • Are scores ranked on a bell curve?
    No. Pearl SCORE™ is based on objective performance benchmarks—not how homes compare to each other.
  • How is Pearl different from Energy Star or LEED?
    Energy Star and LEED focus mostly on new homes and focus mostly on energy. Pearl rates new and existing homes of all ages. Pearl SCORE™ also includes energy assessment, but it includes a wider range of other performance features.
  • Where does Pearl get its data?
    From public records, utility data (where available), and homeowner-verified inputs.
  • What data does Pearl collect from homeowners?
    Information about systems, appliances, insulation, solar, and other features—plus photos or documents for verification.
  • What’s the difference between Pearl SCORE™ and Pearl’s previous rating system?
    Pearl SCORE™ rates all homes on a universal scale, not just high-performing ones. It's simpler, clearer, and available for all U.S. homes.
  • What happens to my previous Pearl Certification under this new scoring system?
    Your Pearl Certification still stands and remains a trusted signal of quality. However, the new Pearl SCORE uses a broader set of performance criteria, so future certifications may have different requirements than in the past.
  • How does Pearl use data about my home?
    Pearl uses your home’s data to give you more accurate performance scores and personalized recommendations. Aggregated and anonymized data from all homes also helps identify national and regional trends that improve the system for everyone.
  • What if my home is already claimed by the previous owner?
    Homes can only be claimed by the current owner. Even if the previous owner claimed it, ownership must be reverified after a sale before the home is transferred.
  • Can I update or challenge my home’s SCORE?
    Yes. By claiming your home and verifying its features, you can update your data and improve the accuracy of your Pearl SCORE™.
  • How often is the SCORE updated?
    Your Pearl SCORE™ updates automatically when new data is added or verified—either by the homeowner or a trusted professional like a contractor, inspector, or real estate agent.
  • What tools do I get after claiming my home?
    You’ll unlock personalized insights, performance documentation and management tools, information on tax incentives and rebates, energy-saving tips, upgrade suggestions, and access to Pearl reports.

  • Can my real estate agent input information for me?
    Yes. Real estate professionals can enter and verify data through the Pearl PRO App—with your permission.

  • Can my contractor input information for me?Yes. Contractors can also enter and verify data with your permission.
  • How does Pearl help when selling a home?Home performance features are often overlooked by buyers. Pearl helps you highlight them—adding transparency, building trust, and making your home stand out. The result: stronger interest, faster sales.