Frequently Asked Questions
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A: There are many varieties of Home Energy Audits. They can include an analysis of utility bills, testing of a home with air infiltration (air leakage) measurement equipment like a Blower Door, InfraRed Thermography and can have a variety of report formats. Energy Effiiciency Associates offer comprehensive energy audits.
A: Having someone who understands in detail how energy is used in a home can help reduce home enegy bills and identify issues that make you uncomfortable in your home. Issues such as the underlying causes of drafts, cold walls, floors and even cold bathtubs can be identified. Energy efficiency improvements to address comfort problems result in energy savings as well.
A: During the audit you will receive answers to questions you might have about the procedures used. The results of the audit can be given in a written report which includes the findings, a list of possible energy efficiency improvements, a strategy for making those improvements happen most cost effectively, and the expected benefits.
A: The features of your home (either from plans or from an existing building) which are important to energy use are entered into a home energy modeling computer program. This program allows a wide variety of reports to be generated that describe how energy is used in your home, where it is lost and even where it is gained (for example, by sun shining in your windows). You can compare your existing home with proposed changes and see what effect it has on energy use. Find out how much energy you can save with addtional insulation, air sealing and see why those new windows you expect to save a lot of energy may save little or none if they are not properly installed. Learn why air infiltration may be costing you more than the amount of insulation in your attic, a very common occurance.
A: The home energy modeling software is from Architectural Energy Services. It is the same software used by the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) which is used by the US EPA and Department of Energy's EnergyStar for Homes to award builders rebates for energy efficient homes, as well as for the Leading Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the leading green building standard. This is audit quality, investment grade computer modeling.
A: The way people use a home greatly impacts the actual amount of energy consumed. The complexities of a building site, soil conditions and weather all have an impact. So the exact amount of energy cannot be predicted by the computer model. The computer model is in most cases an excellent predictor of energy use changes (i.e. adding insulation, air sealing, more efficient furnace or hot water heater, new windows, etc.) In addition we use the results of statistical analysis of large numbers of houses which have had energy efficienicy changes actualy made, and the resulting changes in utility bills analyzed to validate and interpret the results of the computer model. Just as with a car, your milage may vary.
A: For all but the simplest projects, energy modeling can pay for itself many times over, not only in energy savings, but in comfort. And this payment is in the form of tax free savings. Taking advantage of the flexibility offered by new construction or renovation maximizes the return on investment of energy efficiency improvements. Home Energy Models allow a homeowner to develop a strategic plan to make their home more energy efficient over time, as projects are addressed with an eye toward energy savings.