Pearl Certification is a national firm that provides third-party certification of high-performing homes: homes with performance assets that make them healthy, safe, comfortable, energy and water efficient.
Pearl’s certification system is based on building science. It was developed in consultation with national experts on energy efficiency and home performance, and with technical assistance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Pearl’s certification system takes into account how well an asset like insulation or a cooling system was installed. It also takes into account tools that allow a homeowner to view, understand, and improve their home’s performance.
Each home receives a certification score based on verified high-performing assets that enhance the quality of life for its owners. These assets fall within four Special Performance categories:
Asset 1
300 possible points
Asset 1
A home's Building Shell consists of the roof and attic, exterior walls, windows, doors, and basement or crawlspace.These assets provide an air, moisture, and thermal barrier that separates the inside from the outside.
Asset 2
360 possible points
Asset 2
A home’s heating and cooling systems include furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. This equipment heats and cools air, water, or steam. The ducts and pipes that circulate the air, water or steam through the home are also part of the heating and cooling system.
Asset 3
240 possible points
Asset 3
A home’s baseload includes devices that run year-round, not just in the heating or cooling season. Water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, lighting, and other features contribute to a home’s baseload.
Asset 4
300 possible points
Asset 4
A home’s management assets include “smart” devices that control heating and cooling systems, lighting, and other technologies. This includes dashboards that provide information about energy use and plans for improving the home’s overall performance.
