Energy Savings & Efficiency

Unlike your standard home inspection or an estimate you receive from your local contractor, a Home Energy Audit is an alternative way to inspect your home with health, safety, comfort, and energy efficiency in mind. The duty of an energy auditor is to evaluate the home’s performance without bias. Although the auditor may work for or directly with a contractor, they are bound by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) to report their findings as if they were a third party. An energy audit can help you decide what home improvements will be most effective and can save you an industry average of up to 50% on your monthly energy bills.

The two most important tests performed during the audit are the gas leak detection and the Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) test. Prior to turning on any gas appliance the auditor will, using a leak detector, inspect all of the accessible gas lines outside and inside your home. The CAZ test is then performed to determine all of your gas appliances are working properly and are not emitting any carbon monoxide.

During your Home Energy Audit, the auditor will walk through and inspect every accessible area of the home inside and out. The auditor will be looking in particular for any areas which appear to have moisture or structural issues. They will also be inspecting the insulation levels throughout your home and the condition of your windows and doors. All this information is critical to properly evaluating your home’s performance. We do not perform home energy audits but we help facilitate audits with local companies we frequently work with.

Oftentimes an auditor will perform what is called the Blower Door Test. This is the most informative and eye-opening test. The auditor will install a frame and large fan in an exterior door (or window if necessary) of your home. The fan will depressurize your home to 50 Pascal. While the home is depressurized, the auditor will walk through the home again with an infrared camera or smoke pen and determine the exact areas of your home the air is infiltrating. When performing the audit, measurements and other information are taken to determine the Building Airflow Standard (BAS) of your home. This number is then compared to the actual blower door number obtained during the test; comparing these two numbers determines how leaky or tight your home is currently. A home that is too tight may have moisture and air quality issues. A home that is too leaky may have reduced energy efficiency and poor comfort issues. And you can walk around with the Auditor during the testing to learn about how your home works together as a system.