Video Check-ups for Home Improvement and Resilience

This briefing discusses the emergence of 'vid-checks'—live video-call assessments for home energy, air quality, and resilience—as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It outlines the process, benefits for residents and providers, and the limitations of remote assessments compared to in-person audits.

• The 'vid-check' process involves a homeowner scheduling a visit, a consultant conducting a guided walk-through via video to gather information and identify needs, and the delivery of a final report. While it lacks diagnostic tools like blower-doors or thermal imaging, it allows consultants to see necessary components and input data into assessment software such as Home Energy Score.
• Video assessments offer several advantages for residents, including increased convenience, lower costs, and improved privacy for those hesitant to let strangers into their homes. Additionally, the format encourages resident agency and education, as homeowners must be active participants in the process rather than passive observers.
• For service providers, video assessments reduce operational costs by eliminating travel time and reducing the impact of cancellations or no-shows. They also provide a mechanism for businesses to maintain revenue and retain staff during pandemic-related lockdowns while building a pipeline of future work.
• Several companies are implementing these services: Energy New England pivoted to serve municipal utilities; Abode Energy utilized pre-developed tools and data solutions to enhance resident engagement; and CLEAResult is piloting high-tech features including remote laser pointers, object recognition, and optical character recognition.
• The service has notable limitations, including accessibility issues for residents with mobility disabilities who cannot access attics or floors, potential technical failures due to bandwidth or battery issues, and a potentially lower success rate in closing sales compared to in-person visits.

APA

RMI (2020). Video Check-ups for Home Improvement and Resilience. https://rmi.org/resources/video-check-ups-for-home-improvement-and-resilience/

Chicago

RMI. Video Check-ups for Home Improvement and Resilience. 2020. https://rmi.org/resources/video-check-ups-for-home-improvement-and-resilience/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Video Check-ups for Home Improvement and Resilience |date=1 May 2020 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/video-check-ups-for-home-improvement-and-resilience/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2020video, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Video Check-ups for Home Improvement and Resilience}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/video-check-ups-for-home-improvement-and-resilience/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }