Frequently Asked Questions about signing up for the
Alameda County Home Energy Analyzer

Questions About Who Can Participate

Who can participate in Alameda County's Home Energy Analyzer?

How do I sign up?

I'm not comfortable using a computer or I'm not comfortable using a web-based application. Can I still participate?

Questions About the Home Energy Analyzer

Is Home Energy Analyzer different than PG&E's My Energy?

How do you decide which energy-saving solution is right for my home?

What happens when I sign up for the Home Energy Analyzer?

What kinds of recommendations will you make?

I’ve heard about other energy efficiency assessments. How does Home Energy Analyzer's online assessment differ from those?

Will someone come to my house?

How much time does the online assessment take?

Will my data be safe? Who else will see my information?

What do I need to do to prepare to use the Home Energy Analyzer?

What happens if I need help?

Questions About Who Pays

How much does this analysis cost?

Will I have to pay for anything?

How is the program funded?

Answers to Questions about who can participate


Who can participate in Alameda County's Home Energy Analyzer? 

All Alameda County residents who have both PG&E electric and gas service can participate. To be eligible, you must: Unfortunately, we cannot provide the service for customers of Alameda Municipal Power.

How do I sign up?

The first step is to locate or create your free PG&E online account. See instructions on the PG&E website, or call us for help at 510-891-6554.

I'm not comfortable using a computer or I'm not comfortable using a web-based application. Can I still participate?

The Home Energy Analyzer is designed to provide data that can only be accessed online, so we strongly encourage you to use the online system. We will be happy to provide support. Call us at 510-891-6554.

Answers to Questions about the Home Energy Analyzer

Is Home Energy Analyzer different from PG&E's My Energy?

Yes, Home Energy Analyzer is a different service. Home Energy Analyzer uses the data from your PG&E My Energy Account to do a diagnostic analysis of your home's energy use, and provides custom recommendations for you on the best ways to reduce your energy waste.

How do you decide which energy-saving solution is right for my home?

We use your Home Energy Profile to help decide which solutions are best. Your Home Energy Profile is created from PG&E utility bill information and some simple questions about your home. In some cases the solution is obvious: if more than 50% of your yearly energy use is for heating and cooling, your home will probably benefit from upgrading your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment, insulation, or windows. In that case, a Home Upgrade Advisor will contact you with information on the statewide Energy Upgrade California program. However, other homes in Alameda County may be using more energy in the base load, variable load, or pool categories, in which case we will provide you with recommendations and savings information specific to these areas. If you have higher than average base load usage, a program adviser may follow up by phone to provide you with specific energy-saving solutions for your home.

What happens when I sign up for the Home Energy Analyzer?

Unlike other assessments, where energy experts come to your house and investigate, most interactions for this analysis will occur online, at a secure website managed by Home Energy Analytics.
  1. The Home Energy Analyzer collects your energy use data from PG&E and then asks you to provide basic information about your home, such as size, age, number of occupants, thermostat settings, etc.
  2. The Home Energy Analyzer performs an analysis to segment energy use into different categories (seasonal, base loads, variable loads, etc.), compare your energy usage to that of similar homes, and provide simple recommendations for reducing your energy use.
  3. You select the energy-saving recommendations you will implement — and implement them!
  4. Based on your energy usage profile, a program advisor may contact you to offer further energy-saving solutions.
  5. You will receive monthly emails analyzing your energy trends, enabling you to track how much energy you’re saving.

What kinds of recommendations will you make?

Your online energy-saving recommendations will vary depending on your home and energy usage patterns. Energy use varies considerably from home to home based on many factors. A key benefit of this program is its ability to break down your energy use into categories and provide a chart of the different categories (also called a “Home Energy Profile”), so you’ll know where your energy is being used. You can make smarter decisions about how to conserve energy when you know where your energy is going.

I’ve heard about other energy efficiency assessments. How does Home Energy Analyzer's online assessment differ from those?

There are many kinds of energy efficiency assessments available and we know it can be confusing. Research shows that an increasingly high proportion of residential energy use goes toward base loads (appliances and electronic systems that are drawing power all the time, even when they aren’t being used, like TVs, set-top boxes, and hot water recirculation pumps). Lots of energy also goes toward intermittent plug loads (e.g., refrigerators and pool pumps). The primary focus of a Home Energy Analyzer assessment is to analyze energy use in these categories and identify simple and cost-effective opportunities to reduce this electric waste.

Other assessments you may have heard of focus primarily on identifying opportunities to improve heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, based on in-home inspections and highly technical diagnostics like blower-door tests, duct blasters, and thermal imaging. These assessments make sense if a majority of the home’s energy goes toward heating and cooling, or if you have significant comfort issues in your home. If our software finds that your home is a good candidate for this type of advanced audit, we will refer you to the statewide Energy Upgrade California program.

Will someone come to my house?

Not necessarily. Unlike other audits where energy efficiency experts need to explore your house from crawlspace to attic, most interactions for this audit will occur online at a secure website managed by HEA.com. You may also hear from a Home Energy Advisor from Energy Upgrade California by phone or email to provide you with additional energy-saving solutions, who can come to your house, with your permission, to give you specific advice. Ultimately, our goal is to help you save energy and money through easy and inexpensive actions that you can take on your own.

How much time does the online audit take?

Depending on the complexity of your home, the online assessment may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. You will learn as you go, and there is no need to answer all questions in one sitting. Through the assessment, you will be provided with a prioritized list of recommendations based on your energy usage breakdown. Of course, it will also take some time for you to perform these energy-saving actions. Many of these actions can be completed in just a few minutes, but others may take more time, such as purchasing and installing a device. A program advisor will be available to answer questions, provide further information on more complicated recommendations, and offer additional energy-saving solutions. If you ever have questions regarding your Home Energy Profile or implementing your recommendations, you can contact info@HomeEnergyAnalyzer.org. After you finish your assessment you will receive monthly emails that help you track your energy use and savings.

Will my data be safe? Who else will see my information?

Your data will be held in strict confidence on a secure server and will only be used to help you reduce your energy use. Only those directly involved in the assessment process will have access to your answers. The PG&E login information you've provided does not give Home Energy Analyzer access to your bill payment information, so even if you have registered a bank or credit card with PG&E for automatic payments, we have no access to it.

Because this is a pilot program, StopWaste (Alameda County’s Waste Management Agency, the program implementer) will receive summarized results at various stages. However, all personally-identifiable information (name, address, etc.) will be kept confidential.

What do I need to do to prepare to use the Home Energy Analyzer?

Nothing! Once you’ve enrolled in the program you will receive an email with a link to your Home Energy Analyzer account where you will enter the information requested.

What happens if I need help?

You can get help from a program staff member by phone at 510-891-6554 OR by email at info@HomeEnergyAnalyzer.org.

How much does an assessment cost?

Home Energy Analyzer is free to Alameda County residents with both PG&E gas and electric service.

Will I have to pay for anything?

No. You won’t have to pay for the assessment, but you may choose to pay for costs associated with recommended energy-saving actions that you decide to undertake, such as buying a smart power strip to manage your entertainment center or computer and peripherals, or paying for parts and labor to install a timer on your hot water recirculation pump.

How is the program funded?

Administered by StopWaste, Home Energy Analyzer is funded primarily by a grant from Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The online tool is powered by Home Energy Analytics.

HEA supplies the software for the Home Energy Analyzer service;
Revised: 10/17/13.