Pearl certifies home features based on their performance characteristics - such as whether a dishwasher earned the ENERGY STAR label or whether the water heater has a good Energy Factor.
For some features, like insulation and heating and cooling systems, how the feature is installed is critical. These features are not "plug-and-play". If they aren’t installed correctly, the manufacturer’s assumed performance values will not be achieved.
- Insulation has an R-value based on the material type and thickness. But if it is compressed or installed with gaps, it will not perform as expected. Insulation earns points based on R-value. But if the installation quality is known, it can earn more points.
- Heating and cooling systems are even more complex. Characteristics like SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) are important and do contribute to Pearl points. But how a system is properly sized, designed, and commissioned is critical to deliver comfort, indoor air quality, and savings. Pearl awards points if the design and installation is documented and meets quality standards.
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