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How Can My Home Earn a Certification?

A home earns a Pearl Certification when it reaches one of three achievement tiers: Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Each tier represents meaningful improvements in home performance, measured by the Pearl SCORE™ and documented by key requirements that go beyond points alone.

The Role of the Pearl SCORE™

Every Pearl Certification begins with a Pearl SCORE™, a point-based system that measures your home’s performance across five pillars: Safety, Comfort, Operations, Resilience, and Energy.

To qualify for certification, a home must:

  • Achieve the minimum SCORE required for Silver, Gold, or Platinum, and
  • Meet the prescriptive threshold requirements for key features

Certification Levels and Requirements

Certification tiers are established based on specific performance criteria and terms established by the building science community. The Glossary of Terms defines many of these terms.

Silver Certification

Minimum SCORE: 500 points

Requirements:

  • Attic insulation is at least R-30
  • Primary heating and cooling system are efficient:
    • Furnace ≥ AFUE 92%
    • Cooling ≥ SEER2 15.2
      • Or
    • Heat Pump ≥ SEER2 15.2 / HSPF2 7.8
  • Testing: None required

Gold Certification

Minimum SCORE: 625 points

Requirements:

  • Attic insulation meets 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC):
    • R-30 (Climate Zone 1)
    • R-38 (Climate Zones 2-3)
    • R-49 (Climate Zones 4-8)
  • Primary heating and cooling system meet Silver requirements
  • Smart thermostat
  • Testing: 
    • Blower door test required
    • Combustion Appliance testing, as applicable
    • Ventilation is required if the blower door test measures an ACH50 ≤ 7
      • Whole-house ventilation, or
      • At least 1 kitchen AND 1 bath fan, both documented as being vented outdoors

Platinum Certification

Minimum SCORE: 750 points

Requirements:

  • Attic insulation meets 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), same as Gold
  • Primary heating and cooling system meet Silver requirements
  • Smart thermostat same as Gold
  • Whole-house ventilation is required
  • Resilience: Must earn at least 150 home hardening points, also achievable by absence of risk
  • Energy: Must have at least one of the following:
    • EV-ready, or
    • Solar badge, or
    • Battery storage (≥10kWh), or
    • Smart electric panel or energy management system
  • Testing: 
    • Blower door test required and results must be at ≤ 5 ACH/hour
    • Combustion Appliance testing, as applicable

Why Tiers Matter

Each certification level signals to buyers, lenders, and appraisers that your home has been documented as meeting specific thresholds. Silver shows meaningful improvements, Gold aligns with ENERGY STAR® Certified Home performance, and Platinum highlights top-tier homes with exceptional efficiency, comfort, resilience, and energy features.