Pearl Certification

Content Published: December 15, 2018

Phoenix Green Team is an authorized issuer of the Pearl Certification. Pearl is a science-based certification system that allows homeowners to truly understand how efficient their home is when it comes to energy usage. Homes in Arizona that are Pearl certified sell on average for 5% more than non-certified homes.

Our team will evaluate the energy efficiency of your home, test the home, and provide you with the feedback needed to fix the inefficiencies. Once fixed, homes can receive a Pearl Certification from an authorized agent right here in Phoenix, Arizona.

Here is how it works.

The Pearl Certification system is designed to grade each high performing component in your home so that you can evaluate its efficiency through numerical values. When functioning properly, these components are what makes your home energy efficient.

Pearl Certification –  Primary Areas of Focus:

• The insulation in your attic and walls

• Your heating and cooling system

• ENERGY STAR appliances

• Hot Water Tank

• Smart thermostats

• Energy Efficient Windows

Performance Recognition

Like anything else, the value is awarded to the features of the home that perform the best. The Pearl Certification process allows us to recognize these assets and award them the points needed to reach efficiency goals. Premier equipment, and quality installation efforts will be rewarded over low-efficiency equipment and poor installation efforts.

The certification level a home will receive is based on the number of accumulated points it receives during the inspection. Below is the different level of Pearl Certification that can be achieved.

The Pearl Silver Certification

• Home accumulates 700 total points.
• Homes that are efficiently insulated (building shell), and have efficient heating and cooling features will typically qualify for the Pearl Silver Certification.

The Pearl Gold Certification

• Home accumulates 825 total points.
This certification acknowledges that the home is built to modern energy code, and the home has both an efficiently installed building shell and a quality heating and cooling system that is energy efficient. Meeting these criteria will usually result in a Pearl Gold Certification.

Pearl Platinum Certification

Home accumulates 975 total points.
This certification acknowledges that the home is built to modern energy code, and the home has both an efficiently installed building shell and a quality heating and cooling system that is energy efficient. In addition, a platinum-certified home will also have efficient appliances, lighting, and other energy monitoring devices like a smart thermostat. Meeting these criteria will usually result in a Pearl Gold Certification.

Pearl Certification Process

The Pearl certification process allows us to group the various assets in your home into four major categories. A home asset inventory will show how you score in each of the four main categories for energy efficiency.

The Building Shell

• There are 300 possible points
The building shell is made up of the roof, walls, windows and the foundation. These assets specifically create the barrier between the interior and the exterior, or the difference between “outside” and “inside” your home.

Heating and Cooling System

• There are 360 possible points
The heating and cooling system is in reference to your furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ductwork, and other equipment that is crucial for keeping your home at the temperature you want it.

Baseload

• There are 240 possible points
This is a general assessment of the electronic equipment that you use throughout the year, like water heaters, appliances, and home electronics.

Home Management

• There are 300 possible points
This is made up of smart devices, information dashboards, and plans that help you maintain and improve your homes energy efficiency throughout the year.

Estimating Your Home’s Pearl Point Value

The average home that was built to industry standards in the 1980s and 1990s should receive a Pearl Point Value of approximately 600 points. Newer homes built in areas with contemporary energy codes typically have between 700 and 800 points. These homes often qualify for the Silver or Gold level Pearl Certifications.

Using Pearl To Build Science-Based Systems

Pearl’s point value system is based on advanced building science principles with professional advice from leading energy efficiency industry experts. It is used in conjunction with Pearl’s administration of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program.