EP233 Thermal Cameras, AI, and Comfort: HomeBoost’s Big Idea with Selina Tobaccowala (July 2025)

On this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill Spohn and Eric Kaiser are joined by seasoned tech entrepreneur Selina Tobaccowala, founder of HomeBoost.com, to discuss a new consumer-driven solution that brings energy comfort diagnostics into the modern era. Selina, whose background includes co-founding Evite and serving as President/CTO at SurveyMonkey, now applies her tech and behavioral insights to a space closer to home: energy efficiency and comfort.

Selina shares the inspiration behind HomeBoost, a unique platform that empowers homeowners to scan and diagnose thermal and energy issues in their home using a FLIR thermal camera and guided app. The HomeBoost experience pairs smart tools, a mobile app, and AI plus human auditing to generate actionable home energy assessments — all while remaining accessible and affordable for the average homeowner.

The conversation dives into product design, user testing, partnerships with utilities and contractors, and the launch of a pro version that streamlines report generation for BPI-certified energy assessors. The team also explores broader themes, including the cultural value of skilled trades and how education models from Europe could inspire new respect and opportunity for trade careers in the U.S. The episode closes with a hopeful vision of HomeBoost expanding nationally and scaling its impact — one home, one assessment, and one contractor at a time.

“It’s not about selling energy — it’s about helping people use less of it.” – Selina Tobaccowalla

“We had scientific accuracy, but we hadn’t built a product consumers liked — that took iteration.” – Selina

“AI won’t replace a tradesperson. That’s why we need to value skilled trades more — like they do in Germany.” – Selina

HomeBoost: https://www.homeboost.com/

Selina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinat/

This episode was recorded in July 2025.