HomeBoost, a home energy platform, today announced its launch out of stealth and the nationwide availability of its inaugural product: BoostBox. A DIY home energy assessment kit, BoostBox empowers homeowners to understand how they can increase their home’s energy efficiency to save on their utility bills and live more comfortably.
Nine of 10 homes in the US today are under-insulated, with significant air leaks, inefficient appliances, and clogged furnace filters amplifying the discomfort many homeowners experience on a daily basis. Coupled with extreme heat and historic inflation, the average home energy bill in the US during Summer 2024 was the highest in ten years and nearly 8% higher than 2023. Some households now spend nearly 20% of their income on heating and cooling their home as a result. Third parties can recommend energy improvements, but are expensive, in short supply, and often leave homeowners unsure about next steps. HomeBoost makes it fast and easy for homeowners to determine how to make their homes more efficient and make a positive long term impact on their budgets for a fraction of the cost.
"Consumer studies show there is a massive appetite among homeowners to make changes that improve the livability of their homes while cutting down on energy bills. The problem is they don’t know where to start," said Selina Tobaccowala, CEO and co-founder of HomeBoost. "HomeBoost enables homeowners to drive the process with confidence while providing unbiased, trusted advice along the way.”
BoostBox is the first DIY home energy assessment kit that amplifies ease-of-use for homeowners with the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision-driven analysis:
- Comparable results, cheaper price tag: Available for $99, BoostBox is approximately 80% cheaper than a home auditor and provides nearly the exact same set of findings.
- Compact, easy-to-use hardware: BoostBox includes a thermal camera that plugs into an iPhone along with a blacklight. The thermal camera helps HomeBoost determine where insulation can be improved, window drafts mitigated, and more, while the blacklight shows which incandescent light bulbs can be replaced with longer lasting LEDs.
- Step-by-step guidance: The HomeBoost mobile app—available for free download on the Apple App Store—walks homeowners through the entire assessment process. They can choose to focus on specific problem areas in 30 minutes or less or conduct a comprehensive scan of their entire home.
- Personalized, actionable insights: HomeBoost’s AI and computer vision engine quickly turns the inputs homeowners share into a detailed report, complete with recommendations on product upgrades, maintenance they can complete themselves, and larger projects that require contractors.
- Optimized for cost savings: Every recommendation outlines the upfront cost, the savings homeowners can expect to gain, and the amount of time to recoup their investment. This is boosted by input on how to maximize local and federal rebates.
Today, HomeBoost’s technology constantly learns from what homeowners share during their assessment and external inputs like utility rates and weather, which speeds the time it takes to provide the knowledge they need to take action. The data HomeBoost is training its model with today will, in the future, become the building block of a robust marketplace where utilities, contractors, and financing partners work together to help homeowners on their path to energy efficiency.
HomeBoost also announced it has secured $4 million in seed funding from True Ventures, Gigascale Capital, and Incite.org. With consumer energy costs continuing to soar across the country, the investment will be used to fuel customer growth, accelerate technological development, and expand the team.
"HomeBoost and its experienced team of serial-entrepreneurs and technologists are combining the power of software-enabled hardware, personalized commerce, and marketplace to help homeowners reduce energy costs and their carbon footprints at large," said Jon Callaghan, co-founder of True Ventures. "This intersection of technology and mission-focused intent excites us, as does the passion of this team. Deciding to invest was a ‘know-it-when-you-see-it moment’ for us."
"The EPA estimates well-insulated and sealed homes can reduce heating and cooling costs by 15%," said Mike Schroepfer, Partner at Gigascale Capital. "By making home energy efficiency data more accessible, HomeBoost helps people find savings, cut their emissions now, and also prepares them for larger electrification projects down the road, like installing heat pumps or solar panels."
To learn more about HomeBoost and to purchase a BoostBox today, visit www.homeboost.com.
About HomeBoost
HomeBoost is a home energy platform founded by longtime consumer product entrepreneurs to provide trusted partnership at every stage of the homeownership journey. Its initial product—BoostBox—gives homeowners the tools and personalized insights they need to improve their home energy efficiency, save money on utility bills, and live more comfortably. Backed by prominent venture capital firms including True Ventures, Gigascale Capital, and Incite.org, HomeBoost was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.homeboost.com.
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