A Green Home Club Investigation
THE BASEMENT FILES
In a 2017 analysis, federal researchers ranked one upgrade first for statewide annual bill-savings potential in Minnesota’s single-family detached homes. State guidance tells homeowners it is usually not a good idea to do it from the inside. Xcel Energy's insulation rebates exclude it.
Read The Basement Files →A Better Home Energy Retrofit Starts With A Plan
What should happen first?
Air sealing, insulation, moisture, ventilation, and safety before a new heat pump.
What can wait?
Phase upgrades by budget, equipment life, and contractor availability.
What must be verified?
Electrical panel, ducts, air leakage, moisture, and envelope conditions.
See How a Retrofit Plan Comes Together
Pick the demo that fits you. It's free, and you don't need an account.
For Homeowners
Walk the Home Yourself
Follow a sample home from attic to basement: what to look at, what to photograph, and what to fix first.
- Spot safety, air sealing, and insulation priorities
- Check the envelope before anyone sizes a heat pump
- Go into contractor meetings with the right questions
Sample home already loaded.
For Professionals
Turn an Audit into a Workscope
Start from a sample Home Energy Score report and see it become phased priorities and a scope contractors can price.
- Pull home facts from HEScore PDFs
- Phase work by budget, incentives, and rebates
- Produce a clear contractor workscope with cost references
Home Energy Score already loaded.
Learn the 3-Step Retrofit Process →
How it works
Score → Explore → Renew the Core
Start with what is known about the home. Explore the right improvements and their order. Then work with qualified professionals to move the project forward.
Understand
Score
Understand the home
Use the mobile phone Facts Catcher and do a walkthrough to gather Home Facts. Another option is to upload a Home Energy Score, or other previous energy assessment. The Green Home Predictor will produce a working snapshot.
- Record what is already known.
- Flag what still needs confirmation.
- Identify what should be checked next.
Options and planning
Explore
Build a practical plan
Click workscope and let the Predictor rank possible improvements, but you decide what should happen first, and identify what can wait. Consider likely costs, available incentives, and the questions contractors still need to answer.
- Put improvements in the right order.
- Identify the trades and checks needed.
- Prepare the project for contractor pricing.
Green Home Predictor outputs
Take action
Renew the Core
Move the project forward
Bring in the right contractors and specialists to confirm conditions, finalize the scope, complete the work, and verify the results.
- Confirm site conditions and the final scope.
- Confirm equipment, pricing, and responsibilities.
- Install, test, and verify the completed work.
Walking Room-to-Room? Use the GHP Facts Catcher
Capture notes, photos, and equipment nameplates on your phone as you inspect the house. No app download or account required.
Open Mobile Facts Catcher →Need help identifying components?
Visual guidelines for insulation depth, foundation types, and mechanical systems.
Browse the GHP Field Guide →
