Frequently
Asked Questions about HomeIntel
Questions About HomeIntel
Questions About HEA's Smart Audit
About HomeIntel
What is HomeIntel?
HomeIntel is a new type of
energy efficiency program offered by
PG&E known as "pay for performance". HomeIntel consists of
Smart Audit, our online energy analysis tool and Energy Coach
support.
HEA
manages the program.
HomeIntel is unique because PG&E pays us only for the
measured savings based smart meter data. All California IOUs
(PG&E, SCE, Southern California Gas and SDG&E) are
required to run programs to reduce energy use. In the past,
these programs have been prescriptive, mandating that only
certain actions could be taken to reduce the energy used in a
home. Many times these mandated actions didn't reduce energy use
as much as was estimated and other actions, that could help,
weren't allowed. Paying for measured savings lets us focus on
recommending actions that result in the biggest savings for the
least cost. California ratepayers are getting the actual savings
they pay for with HomeIntel.
Is HomeIntel a PG&E program?
HEA offers HomeIntel on behalf of Pacific
Gas and Electric to it's customers. You can find the reference
on the PG&E
website. Scroll down and select
"Residential" to see the list of programs.
Who can participate in HomeIntel?
Any PG&E customer with a utility account
can participate as long as:
- you have lived in your home for at least 12 months; and
- you do not have a solar PV system installed.
It doesn't matter if you own or rent, or if you live in a single
family home, townhome, condo, apartment or other structure as
long as you have an individual smart meter measuring your energy
use.
How is HomeIntel different?
Most energy efficiency programs focus on heating and air
conditioning. Research shows that an increasingly high
proportion of residential energy is consumed by a home's
always-on load, as described in this NRDC report. Always-on includes
appliances and electronic systems that are consuming energy
all the time even when they aren't being used such as TVs,
set-top boxes, game consoles, hot water recirculation pumps,
etc. Lots of energy is also used by intermittent plug loads
(e.g., refrigerators and pool pumps). The primary focus of
HomeIntel is to quantify energy use in these categories, and
identify simple and cost-effective opportunities to reduce
energy waste.
Are there any restrictions because I'm participating in
HomeIntel?
You may not be able to participate in other
PG&E energy efficiency programs for 5 years. This would
include rebates for appliances or home upgrades. The current
list of rebates is
here. If you would like to take advantage
of another PG&E program you need to contact us and let us
know -
support@hea.com
This sounds limiting, but it's not as restrictive as it appears.
You can still take advantage of energy efficiency programs from
other sources such as Community Choice Energy like Silicon
Valley Clean Energy, Peninsula Clean Energy, Marin Clean Energy,
and any other CCEs in PG&E territory.
How much does it cost to participate in HomeIntel?
Nothing for the Smart Audit account and
Energy Coach support.
Will I have to pay for anything?
Not for the analysis or support, but you may
choose to buy energy saving devices such as smart power strips,
new light bulbs, timers, etc. We may recommend such devices, but
as a rule we do not promote specific brands or services in order
to remain a trusted and unbiased source of energy saving
recommendations.
How do I sign up?
The first step is to locate or create your
free PG&E online account. See instructions at the
PG&E website. Then you're ready to
create your Smart Audit account. Go to the Smart Audit
registration page and enter your PG&E
username and password.
Can I stop participating in HomeIntel?
Yes, just send us an email and let us know
why -
support@hea.com and
we'll remove you from the program. Please let us know why, we're
always trying to learn and make improvements.
About HEA's Smart Audit
What is Smart Audit?
Smart Audit is a web-based app developed by
HEA. Smart Audit
automatically retrieves the smart meter data from your utility
account and performs an analysis to break all your energy use
into 8 categories. You then step through Smart Audit to learn
how energy is used in each category.
Is Smart Audit different from PG&E's online account?
Yes, Smart Audit is an interactive learning
tool that creates an energy profile of your home based on smart
meter data from your PG&E account. You learn about the
unique characteristics of your home by reviewing your home's
energy profile and then receive specific recommendations. Energy
data in your Smart Audit account is updated regularly and you'll
receive monthly emails so you can track your progress saving
energy.
How do you decide which energy-saving solution is right for my
home?
We use your home's unique energy profile to
decide which solutions are best. Your profile is created from
your PG&E data and answering a few 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 an upgrade. But usually heating
and cooling are not the largest energy use categories. Most
homes have high always-on loads, meaning there are devices using
energy even when you think everything is turned off. You can
learn more from this
report by the NRDC. It's usually
inexpensive to reduce this load and makes a big difference in
your energy bill.
What happens when I create a Smart Audit account?
HomeIntel uses a combination of online
analysis and Energy Coaches to help you save energy and money.
You start by creating a Smart Audit account to:
- collect your energy data from PG&E and then prompt you
for basic information about your home, such as: number of
occupants, do you have a pool or an EV, etc.
- perform an analysis to divide energy use into different
categories (seasonal, base loads, variable loads, etc.),
compare them to similar homes in each category, and provide
simple recommendations for reducing your energy use.
- show you some energy-saving recommendations.
- alert an energy coach to reach out to you.
- send you monthly emails showing energy trends so you can
track your progress.
What kinds of recommendations will I see?
Smart Audit 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 Smart Audit is the 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
how energy is being used. You can make smarter decisions about
how to conserve when you know more.
- Some homes have high electric always-on load, so you'll
see recommendations like unplugging unused electronics or
using smart power strips.
- Some homes have high electric variable loads, so you'll
see recommendations like upgrading lighting and electronic
systems.
- Some homes have high heating or cooling energy use, and
they will need further analysis of their heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. But this
isn't as common as most people assume. On average homes in
PG&E territory use 30% or less of their energy for
heating and cooling.
- Some homes may have features like pools, spas, fountains,
or whole-house systems that are using a lot of energy. Smart
Audit and Energy Coaches can help.
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 in your Smart Audit account. An Energy Coach will reach
out to you when you first register. Usually, the 2 of you can
come up with an energy savings plan over email or by phone. But
in homes with unusual energy profiles, the coach may come to
your home to track down the problem. 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 do I need to complete the Smart Audit?
Depending on your level of interest, it will
take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. You will learn as you
go, and there is no need to review all the information in one
sitting. Smart Audit will provide a prioritized list of
recommendations based on your energy profile. It may take some
time for you to perform these energy-saving actions, but many of
these actions can be completed in just a few minutes. Others may
take more time, such as purchasing and installing a smart power
strip or timer. Your Energy Coach can answer questions, provide
further information on more complicated recommendations, and
offer additional energy-saving solutions. If you ever have
questions regarding Smart Audit or implementing recommendations,
you can contact us at
support@hea.com.
Will my data be safe?
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 HEA staff and Energy Coaches will have access
to your information. HEA has passed PG&E's stringent 3rd
party security review annually since 2012 and was a founding
member of DOE's
DataGuard
program.
What information do I need to use Smart Audit?
Nothing! Once you complete the Smart Audit
registration page you will receive an email with a link to your
account and you're ready to go.
How long can I use my Smart Audit account?
If your account is selected for enrollment in
PG&E's Pay for Performance program you will have your Smart
Audit account and access to an Energy Coach for 5 years provided
you don't choose to participate in another PG&E energy
efficiency program. This would include PG&E rebates for
appliances or home upgrades. If you would like to take advantage
of another PG&E program you need to contact us and let us
know -
support@hea.com
What happens if I need help?
Send an email to
info@hea.com. Someone will get
back to you within 24 hours.
HEA manages
HomeIntel;
Revised: 6/18/18.