Pearl began with a simple but powerful insight: the features that make homes safer, more comfortable, and less costly to own were invisible in real estate transactions. Buyers couldn’t see them, agents couldn’t value them, and sellers couldn’t capture their worth.
Co-founders Cynthia Adams and Robin LeBaron approached this problem from very different worlds—Cynthia from residential property development and home-performance initiatives, Robin from affordable housing and federal research—but they shared the same vision: to make home performance improvements financially rewarding for homeowners.
Pearl’s solution starts by empowering buyers with the data they need, then supports homeowners through every phase of the journey—from purchase to improvement to resale. The result is a housing market that’s clearer, fairer, and more rewarding for everyone.
Today, Pearl’s standards are recognized by the ENERGY STAR® program, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Association of REALTORS®, and are even incorporated into federal legislation. The outcome is a win-win: buyers make smarter choices, homeowners build equity while improving their living conditions, and the real estate market gains a new level of transparency.