How household energy scores are helping home buyers and sellers

Key points

• Household energy scores are gaining traction in Australia, helping buyers gauge running costs and sellers show the value of efficiency upgrades. VALAI, a platform holding property data on more than 14 million homes, generates scores automatically.
• Under a partnership with REA Group, its scores will appear on realestate.com.au profiles as a score out of 10, compared with the suburb benchmark. A 2026 realestate.com.au survey found four in five Australians already have energy efficiency features at home.
• Upfront cost remains the biggest barrier to upgrades, cited by 43% of respondents.