Home Energy Report FAQ 

What does a Home Energy Report look like?

 

This is a sample of what a home energy report will look like. Homes are divided based upon ZIP code into three climate zones: piedmont, foothills and mountains. Each zone has a different calculation for average and efficient usage. For a given month all usage on Residential rates above a minimum usage threshold (100 kWh) are collected. “Average Usage” is the median value (50th percentile) and “Efficient Usage” is the 25th percentile. The average and efficient usage lines do not consider your home’s square footage, age or number of occupants.

Suggestions are tailored to fit your unique usage profile. Members with a high summer cooling energy usage or load will receive recommendations focused on improving HVAC performance via best practices and system maintenance. Members with high occupant driven energy usage (load) will receive recommendations focused on changes to equipment and behavior that should reduce their energy usage (load).

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FAQ

  • How is the pie chart calculated?

    The Electricity Usage Breakdown Pie Chart is based on your home’s electric use during the last 12 months. 
     

    Idle Load
    Home idle load is the energy used by appliances that are always on. Devices that contribute to idle load include refrigerators and freezers, electric water heaters, telephones, clocks, smoke alarms, and plugged-in electronics such as televisions, cable boxes, and game consoles.

    Occupant Driven Load
    Occupant driven load is the energy used by the occupants of a home day-to-day that is not seasonally dependent. Examples of occupant driven loads are lights, kitchen appliances, vacuums, electronics, and power tools.

    Heating & Cooling
    Home heating and cooling loads are the energy required to maintain a home's indoor temperature. Heating and cooling loads are calculated by comparing a home's electricity usage to outdoor temperature from the closest airport weather station. Note that seasonal energy usage can appear to be heating and cooling loads. For example, during the winter months the electricity used for hot water and clothes washing tends to be greater, and during the summer months the electricity used for refrigerators and pool pumps tends to be greater.

  • What are examples of idle load?

    (Always operating): Refrigerator, Chest Freezer, Water Heater, Pool Pumps, Aquarium, Security System, Well Pump

  • What are examples of occupant driven loads?

    Dishwasher, Laundry, Electric Oven, Lights, TV, Computer, Video Game Consoles

  • How is energy intensity calculated?

    Your Energy Intensity is calculated as your total 12-month electricity usage divided by the square footage of your home. For example, if you used 10,000 kWh in a year for a 1000 square foot home, your Energy Intensity was 10 kWh per square foot.

    Your home’s square footage is estimated from publicly available county GIS data and may not reflect recent remodeling or additions.

    The Energy Intensity ruler is color coded to show you how your home's Energy Intensity compares to other homes in your area and climate zone.  Half of all homes are in the green and yellow zones, meaning just above or below the average. A quarter of all homes are in the red zone, meaning that they are in the highest 25% of Energy Intensity for homes in their area.