Cut Your Utility Bills: HomeBoost Shows You How
▼ Summary
– Selina Tobaccowala founded HomeBoost after her daughter’s sustainability notes and her own surveys revealed consumers were frustrated by high utility bills but unsure how to reduce them.
– HomeBoost provides a DIY home energy assessment kit called a BoostBox, which includes an infrared camera and blacklight to identify energy leaks and inefficient lighting.
– The company’s app generates a personalized report suggesting cost-effective upgrades and available rebates, positioning it as a cheaper and faster alternative to traditional energy audits.
– HomeBoost partners with utilities, which often subsidize the $99 cost for customers, and has also developed a professional version of its app for energy auditors.
– The startup aims to align consumer, utility, and contractor interests to lower bills and benefit the climate, and is testing a feature to connect homeowners with contractors for recommended upgrades.
Selina Tobaccowala’s journey into home energy efficiency began with a simple, everyday observation. Her daughter started leaving handwritten reminders around their house, urging the family to turn off lights and conserve power. This personal nudge coincided with a professional crossroads for Tobaccowala, who had recently sold her fitness startup. She felt drawn to the sustainability sector but, lacking a background in climate science or hardware, needed a familiar entry point. Her extensive experience with surveys, from her time as president and CTO of SurveyMonkey, provided the perfect foundation. She embarked on a massive consumer research project, uncovering a widespread frustration: homeowners received alerts about high energy bills compared to neighbors but felt completely stuck on what practical steps to take next.
This insight led directly to the creation of HomeBoost, a company designed to demystify home energy assessments. The process is straightforward. After signing up, customers receive a compact BoostBox in the mail. This kit contains an infrared camera and a blacklight, paired with a guided mobile app. Users walk through their homes, using the infrared camera to visually identify drafts and thermal leaks where conditioned air escapes. The blacklight helps pinpoint which light fixtures are inefficient and prime for an upgrade to LEDs. The app then compiles this data into a personalized report, highlighting the most cost-effective improvements and available local rebates to offset upgrade costs.
While many utility companies offer similar audit services, Tobaccowala found their quality inconsistent. Feedback from consumers often revealed that these assessments felt more like sales pitches for expensive HVAC systems rather than genuine, holistic consultations. HomeBoost positions itself as a more affordable and empowering alternative. For a flat fee of $99, roughly a quarter of the cost of a traditional in-person audit, homeowners gain clarity and control. Furthermore, the startup partners directly with utilities to reduce or eliminate this cost for customers. Partnerships with providers like Central Hudson and Omaha Public Power District mean many users pay little to nothing, especially if they borrow the kit from a participating public library.
Recognizing that some homeowners prefer professional help, HomeBoost has also developed a version of its app for certified energy auditors. This tool streamines their workflow, allowing them to survey homes, compile data, and generate reports more efficiently, ultimately serving more clients. To close the loop between assessment and action, the company is piloting a contractor-matching feature. This connects homeowners with vetted professionals who can execute the recommended upgrades, giving contractors valuable project insights before they even visit a home.
The broader vision for HomeBoost extends beyond individual savings. By creating a streamlined ecosystem that aligns the interests of homeowners, utility providers, and contractors, the platform aims to drive meaningful reductions in residential energy consumption. Lower utility bills translate directly into a smaller carbon footprint, creating a powerful win-win scenario. Tobaccowala believes this alignment is key to making a tangible impact, turning everyday frustration over energy bills into actionable steps for both financial and environmental benefit.
(Source: TechCrunch)
