The Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) Program is a historic opportunity to improve the nation’s housing stock with energy efficiency upgrades that can save households money, reduce strain on the grid, and create local jobs for contractors. The program includes an innovative feature that has the potential to transform the market: it provides rebates based on the actual performance of home energy upgrades.
For the program to succeed, access to energy usage data is crucial. The modeled pathway requires energy usage data before project installation, while the measured pathway requires both pre- and post-project energy data to quantify actual savings. These data-driven approaches ensure accountability and enable performance-based incentives.
On first glance, getting energy data from utilities might seem to be the most logical path forward. After all, utilities are the ones with direct access to energy data. But obtaining energy data from utilities can be challenging because it often requires the state to reach an agreement with the utilities, which can delay the implementation of these critical programs at a time when they are needed most.
The good news? Energy data is readily available in states across the country using third-party data providers such as Arcadia, UtilityAPI, and Bayou. Homeowners can authorize third-party platforms to collect their energy data, bypassing the need for direct utility involvement. By leveraging these solutions, states can effectively implement the HOMES Program.
Of course, in many states, utilities themselves provide access to data through Green Button Connect and other solutions, and that’s great and should be encouraged. But if needed, states can still effectively implement the HOMES program without direct utility involvement by leveraging third-party solutions.
Check out data access coverage in your state:
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Montana
- Ohio
Not seeing your state? Request it here.