Directionally accurate when inputs are reasonable. The bot uses climate-zone heating degree days, your tariff data, and standard equipment efficiency tables, so the estimate is close to what an in-home audit would project. The bot makes its assumptions visible (climate zone, COP, equipment age) so the homeowner can flag any wrong inputs. A formal audit will tighten the number.

From a rebate CPT you maintain. Programs change yearly (sometimes more often), so storing them in WordPress lets marketing or program-ops staff update incentives without developer involvement. Each rebate entry carries postcode eligibility, equipment type, max amount, and a link to the program page so the homeowner can verify.

Yes. Tariff data lives on the service-area page in wp_postmeta, with separate fields for winter and summer rates if your service area has time-of-use pricing. The bot reads the current postcode's tariff and uses it in the savings calculation. Updates are a WordPress edit, not a code change.

The bot falls back to climate-zone averages by home size and heating type, with a clear note that the estimate would tighten if they checked a recent bill. This keeps the conversation moving instead of stalling at the most common information gap, which is one of the main reasons traditional audit forms fail.

Yes. If you operate a contractor network, store installer profiles in a CPT with service-area coverage. After the audit, the bot offers two or three installers serving the homeowner's postcode, with availability and certification badges. Handoff to the installer's booking flow happens via the lead-capture hook.

Most utility programs require audit estimates to be presented as indicative rather than guaranteed. The system prompt enforces that, and the bot quotes 'estimated' before every dollar figure. Conversation logs include the climate zone and tariff used, so program administrators can audit the estimates downstream.

The bot routes complex homes to a follow-up with a human auditor. Multi-zone HVAC, mixed-fuel setups, or homes with district heating fall outside the simple calculator's reliable range. The bot recognises these signals in the conversation and offers a calendar link to a real auditor instead of guessing.

The lead-capture hook pushes the homeowner's inputs, computed estimates, rebate eligibility, and the full transcript to your CRM or audit dispatch tool. The auditor walks into the home visit already knowing the climate zone, equipment age, baseline tariff, and indicative savings, which makes the visit faster and the close rate higher.