Details about Energy Audits
Get the right Service with the proper equipment: A Home Efficiency Consultant will help you determine which testing equipment and applicable services are needed for your Home Energy Audit. When properly done, a Home Energy Audit is one of the most cost effective ways to save money on your utility bill. It will also help you create a healthier and safer home environment. If you want an energy audit please use our free service that will put you in contact with a reputable and professional Home Efficiency Consultant.
Generally there are two types of services, Energy Audits and Home Efficiency Checkups. These will range in prices from about $350-$700 for the Energy Audit and between $150-$350 for the Home Efficiency Checkup. You will usually be able to recoup these costs within the first year, by saving on your utility bills. The survey will generally cover your current energy consumption, areas within your home that can be easily fixed in order to produce additional savings, as well as recommendations to increase the overall health of your home.
How Does it Work?
Blower Door: For Energy Audits, the blower door test is one of the fundamental tools to investigate your homes energy efficiency. With a powerful fan, the blower door is placed in the opening of your front door and blows out in order to create an effective vacuum within your house. A airflow sensor is then able to identify air leaks. Why this is so important is because air leaks are one of the biggest strains to your heating or cooling system. As air leaks through your house, your system needs to make up for the additional loss. By repairing such air leaks, your cooling or heating system will have to run less, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
Thermal Imaging: Thermal energy detection tools, are used by audit technicians in order to see gaps and holes in the insulation inside your walls. If conducted in winter, patches of warmth on exterior walls are places of weak insulation. In summer hot spots that develop in the interior are signs of energy loss. These spaces are basically walls that cause money to flow out your home.
Energy Audits and Checkups will also include: Results from the Energy audit related to poor insulation and any deficiencies in your heating and cooling system, will give you the opportunity to specifically see where the most cost effective repairs can be made. A return on investment(ROI) calculation for the recommendation will give the right tools to see what works best for you and within your budget. Not only will you learn what you should pay for each suggestion, but you will also know exactly how long it will take for you to pay off the repairs. Most auditors will either offer to repair the deficiencies themselves or refer you to a qualified installer
