Save on Utility Bills With HomeBoost's New App
Tired of puzzling over sky-high utility bills with no clear fix? HomeBoost's new mobile app delivers personalized, step-by-step guidance to lower your energy costs—without installing hardware or hiring an auditor. Founded by former SurveyMonkey executive Selina Tobaccowala, the platform transforms confusing consumption data into simple actions anyone can take today. You'll finally understand why your bill spiked and exactly how to bring it down next month.
Credit: HomeBoost
From Post-It Notes to Purpose-Driven Innovation
The spark for HomeBoost came not from a boardroom, but from sticky notes scattered across a family refrigerator. Tobaccowala's young daughter had begun leaving handwritten reminders around their home: "Turn off the lights!" and "Close the fridge!" It was a child's earnest attempt to curb waste—but it highlighted a universal frustration.
After selling her fitness startup Gixo to OpenFit, Tobaccowala was seeking her next venture with real-world impact. Climate action felt urgent, yet overwhelming. Without a background in engineering or environmental science, she leaned into her superpower: understanding human behavior through data. Those post-it notes weren't just cute—they revealed a gap between wanting to save energy and knowing how.
The Survey That Exposed a Silent Crisis
Tobaccowala didn't guess at solutions. She surveyed thousands of households—a method honed during her tenure as president and CTO of SurveyMonkey. What emerged was a pattern of quiet desperation.
People received utility alerts comparing their usage to "similar homes" but felt paralyzed. "They'd get that email saying, 'You used 20% more than your neighbors,' and just shrug," Tobaccowala explained. "No one told them why—was it the old fridge? Drafty windows? Leaving the AC on while traveling?" Without clear cause-and-effect, motivation evaporated. Guilt replaced action.
This insight became HomeBoost's north star: demystify energy waste through guided self-assessment. Not judgment. Not vague tips. But a digital coach that walks you through your own home, room by room.
How HomeBoost Turns Confusion Into Action
Unlike apps that merely track spending, HomeBoost functions as an interactive energy detective. After linking your utility accounts (with bank-level encryption), the app analyzes 12–24 months of usage patterns alongside local weather data. Then, it generates a customized audit checklist.
Imagine opening the app to see: "Your evening electricity spike correlates with HVAC runtime. Try this 90-second test tonight." You're prompted to adjust your thermostat by two degrees while the app monitors real-time consumption shifts. Instant feedback replaces guesswork. Other assessments might guide you to:
- Check refrigerator door seals with a dollar bill test
- Identify "vampire" electronics draining power on standby
- Evaluate window insulation using your phone's thermal camera (on supported devices)
Each completed task earns progress badges and projects your annual savings—often $200–$500 for minimal effort. The psychology is intentional: small wins build momentum toward larger upgrades like heat pumps or solar.
Why DIY Energy Audits Finally Work
Traditional home energy audits cost $300–$600 and require scheduling a specialist. Most renters can't justify the investment; many homeowners delay indefinitely. HomeBoost removes those barriers.
The app adapts to your living situation. Renters receive landlord-friendly recommendations (like smart power strips) that don't require renovations. Homeowners get prioritized upgrade paths with estimated ROI timelines. Crucially, it avoids shaming language. Instead of "You waste energy," it states: "Homes like yours typically save 15% by addressing attic insulation—a 45-minute DIY project."
This approach aligns with 2026's shift toward actionable sustainability tools. Consumers no longer want carbon footprint calculators that leave them feeling helpless. They demand clear, immediate steps with visible results—and HomeBoost delivers precisely that.
Building Trust Through Transparent Methodology
Tobaccowala partnered with energy engineers from national labs to validate the app's diagnostic logic. Every recommendation cites peer-reviewed studies on residential efficiency—accessible via a "Why This Works" toggle.
The team also addressed privacy concerns head-on. Unlike smart thermostats that constantly monitor habits, HomeBoost processes data on-device whenever possible. Utility data is anonymized for aggregate trend analysis (opt-in only). This transparency has resonated: early beta users reported 89% trust in the app's suggestions—remarkable for a financial/health-adjacent tool.
Recognition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
HomeBoost's practical innovation earned it a coveted spot in Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Judges highlighted its elegant solution to a decades-old problem: the disconnect between energy awareness and behavioral change.
During demos, attendees consistently completed three assessments within minutes—proof that the interface lowers activation energy. One investor noted, "This isn't another dashboard showing scary graphs. It's a pathway. That's why people stick with it."
Post-event, waitlists surged by 400%, signaling pent-up demand for tools that bridge intention and action in climate-conscious living.
The Ripple Effect Beyond Your Wallet
Saving $35 monthly matters—but HomeBoost's deeper value lies in shifting mindsets. Users report discussing energy habits at dinner tables, with kids competing to spot "waste zones" in their homes. That cultural shift is where real change begins.
Residential buildings contribute nearly 20% of U.S. carbon emissions. If just 10% of households reduced consumption by 10%, it would equal taking 5 million cars off the road annually. HomeBoost scales this impact by making conservation feel achievable, not ascetic.
Tobaccowala puts it simply: "We're not asking people to live in the dark. We're helping them stop paying for energy they never even used."
Getting Started Takes Less Than Five Minutes
Ready to try it? HomeBoost is available now on iOS and Android. After downloading:
- Connect your electricity/gas provider (200+ utilities supported)
- Complete a 3-minute home profile (size, age, occupants)
- Receive your first personalized assessment
No credit card required. The core features remain free indefinitely—a deliberate choice to maximize accessibility. Premium tiers ($3/month) offer advanced forecasting and contractor vetting for major upgrades, but the foundational savings guidance costs nothing.
The Future of Frictionless Conservation
HomeBoost plans to integrate with smart home ecosystems later this year, allowing automatic adjustments when savings opportunities arise—like shifting laundry cycles to off-peak hours. But Tobaccowala insists automation will augment, not replace, user agency. "People should understand why their thermostat adjusted," she says. "Knowledge builds lasting habits."
As utility rates climb amid grid modernization efforts, tools like HomeBoost transition from "nice-to-have" to essential household infrastructure. They transform passive bill-payers into active energy managers—armed with clarity, not confusion.
That daughter's post-it notes started a movement. Now, anyone can replace guilt with guidance—and finally turn down the lights knowing exactly what difference it makes.
