What to Expect from Our Home Energy Audit
| A home energy audit is
the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to
evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy
efficient. An audit will show you problems, that when corrected, will
save you money in your utility bills over time. During the audit,
we will pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Finding air leaks
is the most important process during an audit. With our Blower Door
we will be able to locate where your air leaks are and determine how
to seal them. If your home has a HVAC system, we can determine if
there are any leaks in the duct system. A leaky HVAC system in an
unconditioned space (unheated attic or basement) can drive utility
bills up and efficiency down significantly. An in-depth inspection
of windows, doors and insulations will be completed to determine their
adequacies or deficiencies. Appliances can be checked for efficiency,
and monthly & annual costs. We also will determine the efficiency
of your home's heating and cooling systems. After the audit is completed; photographs and an in depth report offering clear outlines of areas needing improvements will be given. We can follow up with a cost analysis of the improvements, and provide the work needed. With over 25 years experience building, renovating and weatherizing homes, we have proven capabilities, resources and subcontractors in place to bring your home to the efficiency level you desire |
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| How a Blower Door Works | ||
| A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts
into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house,
lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure
then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. Blower doors
consist of a frame and flexible panel that you can place in a doorway,
a variable-speed fan, and a manometer (pressure gauge) to measure
the pressure differences inside and outside the home. We may use a
smoker or smoke pencil to detect air leaks, yet most often air leaks
can be heard, felt or seen. With this test we will determine the air
infiltration or building tightness. These are some reasons for establishing the proper building tightness: |
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| • | Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage | |
| • | Avoiding moisture condensation problems | |
| • | Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold air leaking in from the outdoors | |
| • | Making sure that the home's air quality is not too contaminated by indoor air pollution | |
| Preparing for an Energy Audit | ||
| Before the energy audit date, make a list
of any existing problems such as condensation and uncomfortable or
drafty rooms. Locate copies or a summary of the home's yearly energy
bills. We will use this information to establish what to look for
during the audit, how to make improvements and the savings that will
be made. Your input may help uncover some simple ways to reduce your household's energy consumption. You are welcome to walk through your home with us as we work, and ask questions. |
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