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HomeBoost app aims to help households cut utility bills
HomeBoost was created to address gap by enabling users to perform their home energy assessments
HomeBoost, a new consumer-focused startup, is aiming to help homeowners reduce rising utility bills by giving them clearer insight into how their homes use energy.
The company was co-founded by Selina Tobaccowala, a former president and CTO of SurveyMonkey, after a personal experience sparked her interest in sustainability.
The idea for HomeBoost emerged when Tobaccowala noticed her daughter placing reminder notes around the house urging family members to turn off lights.
Having recently sold her fitness startup Gixo to OpenFit, Tobaccowala began exploring whether there was a more effective way to help families lower their energy use beyond small behavioral changes.
Without a background in climate science or hardware engineering, Tobaccowala leaned into her strengths in data collection and user research.
She conducted extensive customer surveys and discovered a common frustration: many households were aware they were spending more on utilities than their neighbors but lacked clear guidance on how to reduce costs.
HomeBoost was created to address that gap by enabling users to perform their own home energy assessments.
The process starts with a mailed BoostBox, a compact kit that includes an infrared camera, a blacklight, and access to the HomeBoost mobile app.
As users move through their homes, the infrared camera highlights areas where heat or cold air is escaping, while the blacklight helps identify inefficient lighting.
The app analyses the collected data and generates a customized report outlining the most cost-effective upgrades.
These recommendations include potential rebates and incentives based on the user’s location, helping homeowners prioritize improvements with the biggest financial impact.
While many utility companies offer energy audits, Tobaccowala said the quality and consistency of those services can vary widely. HomeBoost aims to provide a more standardised, accessible alternative that puts control directly in consumers’ hands.