Find a certified auditor · verified October 12, 2026

How to find a certified home energy auditor

Start with your utility or state program: it’s often free, and many rebates require it. If you want a full diagnostic audit, hire someone with a recognized credential and look them up in the certifying body’s own directory. We don’t sell listings or rank providers.

First stop in your metro The credentials
An energy advisor’s kit on a front-hall bench: infrared camera, pressure gauge with tubing, tape measure, headlamp and a floor sketch

Step 1

Start with your utility or state program

In 13 of the 26 metros we cover, a utility or state program offers a free in-person assessment open to all incomes. Others charge a published fee or pay back part of a private audit. Programs often require their own assessment or participating contractor before they pay rebates, so check this first. The table shows where most homeowners in each metro can start; each metro guide lists every program we found.

MetroWhere to startCostStatus
New York City NY · NJ Home Energy Plan (virtual Home Energy Assessment) ↗ NYSERDA Virtual Free
Open Open. The page is live with no dates and no pause notice.
Los Angeles CA LADWP Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) ↗ Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Free
Open open ('Apply Today' on the program page; LADWP notes programs may change or end without notice)
Chicago IL · IN Home Energy Savings in-home assessment (ComEd with Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas) ↗ ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, jointly with Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Income-qualified Free
Open Open to income-eligible customers (at or below 80% AMI) as of 2026-10-12. ComEd says program details are 'subject to change or cancellation due to funding limits'.
Dallas–Fort Worth TX Fort Worth Weatherization Assistance Program (Tarrant County) ↗ City of Fort Worth Neighborhood Services Department (TDHCA's WAP subrecipient for Tarrant County) Income-qualified Free
Open · limits apply Open: the page says it is accepting applications, but wait times are 'VERY LONG'. The program now prioritizes by need and vulnerability, and funding for some programs 'may be limited or unavailable.'
Greater Houston TX CenterPoint Energy Agencies in Action (free home energy audit + weatherization) ↗ CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (Targeted Low-Income Market Transformation Program), delivered by local agencies and energy service companies Income-qualified Free
Open Open: the page carries an active application form. No 2026 funding-exhausted notice appeared on 2026-10-12.
Atlanta GA Georgia Power Free In-Home Energy Audit ↗ Georgia Power, delivered by Utility Energy Services (UES) Free
Open · limits apply open (availability limited; no end date published)
Washington, DC DC · VA · MD · WV Online Home Energy Profile (DC, MD, VA gas customers) ↗ Washington Gas Online tool Free
Open
Miami FL FPL free Home Energy Analysis (Residential Home Energy Survey) ↗ Florida Power & Light Visit type not stated Free
Open open (no end date published)
Philadelphia PA · NJ · DE · MD Whole Home Energy Assessment (NJ side) ↗ PSE&G Free
Open
Phoenix AZ SRP Home Energy Assessment (virtual or in-home) ↗ SRP (Energy Ambassadors) Virtual free · in-home $49
Open · limits apply Available (page presents it as current on 2026-10-12; SRP 'reserves the right to change or cancel' promotions).
Boston MA · NH Mass Save Home Energy Assessment (virtual or in-person) ↗ Sponsors of Mass Save (in Boston, Eversource and National Grid), delivered by lead vendors or participating Home Performance Contractors Free
Open Open. Offers are 'subject to change or cancellation'. This is part of the 2025–2027 Three-Year Plan; the 2028–2030 plan is in public listening sessions in November 2026.
Riverside CA Home Energy Score California (statewide) ↗ Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and Earth Advantage; funded by PG&E, SDG&E, SoCalGas and SCE ratepayers under the CPUC Assessor’s price less a $250 rebate
Open · limits apply open (statewide program page live; no closing date stated)
San Francisco CA Home Energy Score California / BayREN Home Energy Score rebate ↗ Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and Earth Advantage; funded by PG&E, SDG&E, SoCalGas and SCE ratepayers under the CPUC Assessor’s price less a $250 rebate
Open · limits apply open (statewide program page live; no closing date stated)
Detroit MI Consumers Energy Free Home Energy Analysis ↗ Consumers Energy (online scheduling runs through a CLEAResult-hosted store) Free
Open Listed as available as of 2026-10-12. No dates or funding status are given.
Seattle WA PSE In-Home Energy Assessment ↗ Puget Sound Energy Free
Open
Minneapolis–St. Paul MN · WI Home Energy Squad (Energy Planner and Energy Saver visits) ↗ Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, delivered by Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) in Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington and Dakota (without CenterPoint gas) counties and by ICF elsewhere $70–$100 · free in Minneapolis while funds last
Open · limits apply Open year-round as of 2026-10-12. Minneapolis's free-visit funding is 'while funds last'.
Tampa FL Tampa Electric free in-home energy audit ↗ Tampa Electric Free
Open open (no end date published)
San Diego CA SDREN Home Energy Savings ↗ San Diego Regional Energy Network (administered by San Diego Community Power and the County of San Diego; ratepayer-funded under the CPUC) Price not published
Open open (interest list and interest form active)
Denver CO Xcel Energy Home Energy Squad (Colorado): Squad, Squad Plus and Virtual visits ↗ Xcel Energy, delivered by CLEAResult Free for a limited time · Squad Plus $100
Open · limits apply Open as of 2026-10-12. The $50-free and $100 Squad Plus prices are 'for a limited time' with no end date given.
Orlando FL OUC free home energy and water audit ↗ Orlando Utilities Commission Free
Open open (no end date published)
Charlotte NC · SC Duke Energy Home Energy House Call ↗ Duke Energy Carolinas Free
Open open (promoted by Duke on 2026-03-06, 2026-06-06 and 2026-07-27)
Baltimore MD Quick Home Energy Check-up ↗ BGE (EmPOWER Maryland), through BGE-authorized contractors Free
Open · limits apply Open until the 2026 cut-off: 'The last day to receive a Quick Home Energy Check-up for 2026 will be on November 30, 2026. Please request your appointment no later than November 6, 2026.' Continuation into 2027 awaits a PSC decision.
St. Louis MO · IL Ameren Missouri CommunitySavers single-family (income-eligible), with Spire ↗ Ameren Missouri in partnership with Spire Income-qualified Free
Open Open. 'The program operates through December 31, 2026; however, incentives are dependent on available funds.'
San Antonio TX CPS Energy No-Cost Home Energy Assessment (in-home) ↗ CPS Energy (STEP), delivered by a CPS Energy Home Energy Advisor through program implementer CLEAResult Free
Open Open. Listed 'In stock' at $0 with an active booking flow on 2026-10-12.
Austin TX Austin Energy Home Energy Savings: no-cost in-home energy assessment ↗ Austin Energy, through Austin Energy participating contractors Free
Open · limits apply Open; 'Funding is limited and available only to Austin Energy customers on a first-come, first-served basis.' The page's last-reviewed stamp is 09/02/2025, yet it carries newer text (0% loan 'now through September 30, 2027').
Portland OR · WA Portland Home Energy Score (required at listing) ↗ City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability; helpdesk run by Earth Advantage (hesinfo@earthadvantage.org, 503-278-5347); assessments by independent authorized Home Energy Assessors Set by each assessor
Open in force (program and helpdesk active)

Statuses and prices are as each program published them on October 12, 2026. Every program’s price.

Step 2

Hiring an auditor? Check the credential

Several organizations certify home energy auditors. Most of these credentials were on DOE’s list of recognized programs for the (now ended) audit tax credit, and several are accepted for FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage and for DOE’s Home Energy Score. Look the person up in the official directory, not just the company’s website.

RESNET HERS Rater (Home Energy Rater)

Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET); certification is issued by a RESNET-accredited Rating Provider

Inspects and tests homes and produces a HERS Index score under RESNET standards (reference home = 100, net-zero = 0); onsite tests typically include blower door and duct leakage testing. Most often used for new construction, ENERGY STAR and code compliance, but recognized for 25C audits (2024-2025), FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages and Home Energy Score assessor eligibility. Candidates pass a national online exam and complete five supervised ratings.

The finder lists RESNET member rating companies and is not a complete list of raters; individual certification can be checked at https://www.hersindex.com/rater-verification/.

Find one ↗

Sources: RESNET — HERS Raters (how raters are certified) ↗ · RESNET HERS Index — Find a HERS Rater (member rating companies) ↗ · RESNET HERS Index — Verify a rater's certification ↗ · DOE — Recognized Home Energy Auditor Qualified Certification Programs for 25C ↗ · HUD — FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (Update 18, last revised Aug. 12, 2026): Energy Efficient Mortgages, Weatherization, 203(k) ↗

BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P)

Building Performance Institute (BPI)

Advanced whole-home credential that builds on the Building Analyst Technician (BA-T): analyzes energy-modeling data, evaluates building systems and delivers prioritized recommendations for comfort, efficiency and indoor air quality. DOE-recognized for 25C audits and the state contractor-training grants; accepted for FHA EEM assessments. Recertify every three years.

BPI's locator searches contractors (optionally BPI GoldStar companies) by ZIP; BPI also runs a homeowner site, https://www.bpihomeowner.org/.

Find one ↗

Sources: BPI — Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) ↗ · BPI — Locator Tool (Find a Contractor by ZIP) ↗ · DOE — Recognized Home Energy Auditor Qualified Certification Programs for 25C ↗ · HUD — FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (Update 18, last revised Aug. 12, 2026): Energy Efficient Mortgages, Weatherization, 203(k) ↗

BPI Home Energy Professional (HEP) Energy Auditor

Building Performance Institute (BPI); BPI says the HEP credentials are backed by DOE and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR)

Evaluates a home's energy efficiency, health and safety with diagnostic tools and modeling software and writes a prioritized scope of work. Requires education/experience prerequisites, an online exam and an in-person field exam (combustion safety and CO testing are gated items). New written and field exams launched Feb. 28, 2026; recertify every five years. DOE-recognized for 25C audits; accepted for FHA EEM; named as an example certification for DOE contractor-training grants.

Find one ↗

Sources: BPI — Home Energy Professional Energy Auditor ↗ · BPI — Locator Tool (Find a Contractor by ZIP) ↗ · DOE — Recognized Home Energy Auditor Qualified Certification Programs for 25C ↗ · HUD — FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (Update 18, last revised Aug. 12, 2026): Energy Efficient Mortgages, Weatherization, 203(k) ↗

BPI Home Energy Professional (HEP) Quality Control Inspector, Crew Leader and Retrofit Installer Technician

Building Performance Institute (BPI)

The QCI verifies retrofit work against work plans and standards, runs diagnostic inspections and specifies corrective actions (requires an active Energy Auditor certification; new written exam Feb. 28, 2026). Crew Leader and Retrofit Installer Technician cover supervising and installing air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, ventilation and similar upgrades.

Find one ↗

Sources: BPI — Home Energy Professional Quality Control Inspector ↗ · BPI — All certifications (incl. Crew Leader, Retrofit Installer Technician) ↗ · BPI — Locator Tool (Find a Contractor by ZIP) ↗

DOE Home Energy Score Certified Assessor

U.S. Department of Energy program, delivered through Home Energy Score Partners

Produces DOE Home Energy Scores (1-10) during a short walk-through, alone or bundled with an audit or home inspection. Must already hold an accepted credential (BPI, RESNET, ASHI, InterNACHI, AEE, ICC, LEED, NATE, CalCERTS/CHEERS and others), join a partner, pass the 8-12 hour simulation training and exam, and score a first home with a mentor; 5% of homes are re-scored for quality assurance.

Portland, Oregon uses its own authorized-assessor list (Earth Advantage).

Find one ↗

Sources: DOE Home Energy Score — Become an Assessor (required credentials) ↗ · DOE Home Energy Score — Get a Score / Find an Assessor / Partner map ↗

California HERS Raters (CalCERTS, CHEERS)

CalCERTS Inc. and California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services (CHEERS)

California field verification and home energy rating; DOE lists 'CalCERTS Inc. Whole House Home Energy Audit' and 'CHEERS HERS Rater' as qualified programs for the 25C audit credit; both are accepted for Home Energy Score assessors.

Provider directories not verified.

Sources: DOE — Recognized Home Energy Auditor Qualified Certification Programs for 25C ↗ · DOE Home Energy Score — Become an Assessor (required credentials) ↗

Other DOE-recognized auditor certifications

ASHRAE (Building Energy Assessment Professional); Building Science Institute (Energy Code Compliance Specialist, ENERGY STAR Verifier, Zero Energy Ready Home Verifier); Energy Management Association (Energy Management Professional)

Listed by DOE as qualified certification programs for the 25C home energy audit credit (2024-2025).

Also accepted for Home Energy Score assessors: ASHI Certified Inspector and InterNACHI Home Energy Inspector (home inspector routes).

Sources: DOE — Recognized Home Energy Auditor Qualified Certification Programs for 25C ↗ · DOE Home Energy Score — Become an Assessor (required credentials) ↗

For radon, lead and other home health tests

These need different specialists. Radon testers and fixers are credentialed through NRPP or NRSB, and 20 states plus DC require a state license or a mandated credential for radon work, so the state’s list governs there. Lead paint inspectors and lead-safe renovation firms must be certified by EPA or an authorized state.

NRPP: find a radon professional ↗ · NRSB: find a radon professional ↗ · EPA lead professional locator ↗ · The testing guide

What to ask before you book

  1. Which credential do you hold, and under what name can I look it up? Check it yourself: RESNET rater verification ↗, BPI locator ↗, DOE Home Energy Score assessors ↗.
  2. Will you run a blower door test and an infrared scan? DOE says many professional assessments include both. The blower door is the test that measures how leaky the house is. Blower door test · Infrared scan
  3. Will you test my gas appliances for safe venting and carbon monoxide? Combustion safety and CO testing are required parts of BPI’s Home Energy Professional field exam. It matters most before air sealing a home with natural-draft equipment. Combustion safety
  4. What will I get in writing? A report that ranks the upgrades for your house. A BPI Home Energy Professional writes a prioritized scope of work; a Home Energy Score comes with recommendations that pay back within 10 years.
  5. What does it cost, and does my utility pay part of it? Some do: Georgia Power rebates half of an assessment up to $150, Xcel Energy in Colorado rebates 60% (up to $100–$200) with a registered auditor, and SRP in Phoenix takes $100 off with a BPI-certified contractor. What audits cost
  6. Will this assessment count for the rebates I want? Many programs pay only through their own assessment or contractor network. Georgia’s Home Efficiency Rebates require a program-approved contractor, and Mass Save’s insulation rebates follow a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment.
  7. Do you also sell or install what you recommend? It doesn’t rule anyone out, but you should know where the advice comes from before you sign for upgrades.

Red flags

Anyone selling the federal tax credits

The 25C and 25D credits don’t cover work done after December 31, 2025, including the $150 audit credit. Some pages are out of date: our research found utility, city and partner pages in Los Angeles, Chicago, South Florida and San Antonio still pointing people to the old credits.

IRS ↗ · What ended

A “free audit” from a company that sells upgrades

Free and discounted assessments come through utilities, state programs and weatherization agencies. A free visit from a window, insulation, HVAC or solar company is a sales appointment unless your utility or state program sends it. Ask what will be measured and what you get in writing.

Promises of state rebates that haven’t launched

Many states haven’t launched the federal Home Energy Rebates, and they aren’t retroactive: Washington says you must be approved before buying, and Texas says projects finished before launch are unlikely to qualify. Check the state’s own page.

Status by state

Pressure to switch fuels “for the federal rebate”

Since DOE’s May 29, 2026 rules, the federal appliance rebates no longer pay for switching from gas, oil or propane to electric equipment. Some utility and state programs still do, so ask which program would pay and get it in writing.

The 2026 rules

A fee to apply for energy bill help

HHS says LIHEAP doesn’t give grants directly to individuals and doesn’t charge a fee. It asks people to report such offers to the HHS fraud hotline, 1-800-447-8477.

HHS: LIHEAP ↗

Metro guides

Every program, price and rebate we found for each metro, with official links.

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

Common questions

Do I need a certified auditor?

For a utility or state program, no: the program sends its own trained staff or participating contractors. Some programs and loans do require a credential. FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage needs an assessment by a BPI Building Analyst Professional, a BPI Home Energy Professional Energy Auditor, a RESNET Home Energy Rater or a state or locally qualified auditor, with a report no more than 120 days old. Freddie Mac’s GreenCHOICE mortgage needs a HERS report, a DOE Home Energy Score report or a comparable audit when the improvements total more than $6,500. SRP’s $100 audit discount in Phoenix requires a BPI-certified contractor, and Xcel Energy’s audit rebate in Colorado requires a registered audit contractor.

What’s the difference between a HERS rating and a Home Energy Score?

A HERS rating comes from a RESNET HERS Rater, who tests the home (typically a blower door and duct leakage test) and scores it against a modeled reference home built to the 2006 energy code: 100 is that reference, lower is better and 0 is net zero. It is used most for new homes, ENERGY STAR and code compliance. The DOE Home Energy Score rates a home 1 to 10 from about 40 data points collected in a walk-through of under an hour, ignores how the occupants live, and comes with cost-effective upgrade recommendations. Portland, Oregon requires a Home Energy Score before most homes are listed for sale.

How do I check an auditor’s certification?

RESNET lets you verify an individual HERS Rater’s certification on its rater-verification page; its find-a-rater tool lists member rating companies and is not a complete list. BPI’s locator searches certified contractors by ZIP code. DOE’s Home Energy Score site has a ZIP-code Find an Assessor tool. For radon, check the NRPP or NRSB directories and, in states that license radon work, the state’s own list. For lead paint, use EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Professional Locator or your state program.

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