1. What is an energy audit?
An energy audit is a whole-building assessment of energy consumption, building comfort, and health and safety. Diagnostics are used as a scientific basis for analysis; some of the commonly performed diagnostics include air leakage testing, combustion safety and analysis, and infrared scanning. An important part of an energy audit is a building walk-through and interviews with the occupants to understand more fully the living conditions in the building and help pinpoint specific problems. Building modeling software is used to determine cost-effective recommendations and a report is prepared to explain the proposed recommendations and the benefits of specific upgrades.
2. What is a blower door?
A blower door is a diagnostic tool designed to measure the airtightness of buildings and to help locate air leakage sources. A blower door consists of a calibrated fan and a pressure-sensing device to measure the air pressure created by the fan flow. The combination of pressure and fan-flow measurements are used to determine the building airtightness. The airtightness of a building is useful knowledge when trying to increase energy conservation, decrease indoor air pollution, or control building pressures.
3. What are combustion safety tests?
Combustion safety tests include gas testing, carbon monoxide testing, and draft and spillage (these tests make sure the combustion byproducts are safely exiting the building).
4. What are typical upgrades?
Typical upgrades include airsealing, insulation, heating, cooling and hot water systems, lighting, ventilation system balancing, and duct modifications.
5. I just replaced the windows and furnace, why would I get an energy audit?
Windows and furnaces are only a piece of the overall building comfort and efficiency, oftentimes the items with the longest return on investment. Upgrading these items without a full audit may have negligible impact. Without ensuring the building is properly isolated from outside elements (often achieved with airsealing and insulation) even the most efficient windows and heating systems will not be effective.
Energy auditors consider specific loads that a building has and size heating systems appropriately; too frequently are building problems identified as ?y building never gets warm in the winter and the HVAC technician recommends increasing the size of the heating system but the source of the problem is never identified. Energy auditors understand the whole-building works as a system and upgrades must be implemented strategically for optimal benefit. Windows are often a very expensive way to achieve minor improvement. A much better approach is to find the ?ow-hanging fruit and take advantage of low-cost, high-return solutions.
6. Are there rebates to help pay for the upgrades?
As energy conservation becomes more important there are many programs available to help pay for the upgrades. The incentives are constantly evolving, however for every building sector residential, commercial, municipal, etc. there is assistance including rebates and tax credits. Please contact us to find out more about incentives for your specific building and location.
7. Is there anything I can do to start being more energy efficient before my energy audit?
1) It is cost-effective to upgrade any appliances that are 10 years old (even if they are Energy Star) to a new Energy Star appliance.
2) Turn off lights when not in use and upgrade lighting to CFL? or LED?.
3) Plug electronics into power strips and shut-off the power strip when the devices are not in use. Many electronic devices have ?hantom loads caused by the digital screens and colorful lights that draw power when not in use.
4) Insulate hot water pipes.
5) Turn thermostat down 2 degrees during heating season and up 2 degrees during cooling season and use ceiling fans to help circulate conditioned air.
8. Why would I hire someone to do the energy audit?
An energy auditor comes in with a trained eye to look for specific upgrade opportunities. The training a certified auditor has had will help locate opportunities the average person cannot. Certified energy auditors also use diagnostic equipment to help maintain proper safety requirements; for example, the use of a blower door will let you know if the house requires mechanical ventilation and the combustion safety testing will make sure that all combustion byproducts are exiting the house properly.
9. What is the return on investment for the energy upgrades?
This will vary depending on what the upgrades are and how much energy is currently being wasted. Generally lighting, airsealing, and insulation opportunities have a 20-40% return (2-4 year payback) and replacing heating, cooling, windows and doors will have a 10-20% return (5-10 year payback). These are averages, each building is different and these estimates don? take into consideration incentives or increasing utility rates.
10. I have a rental property and tenants pay the utility bills. Why would I get an energy audit?
An energy efficient building will be much more marketable to future tenants or buyers.
If you have any other questions give us a call at (800) 827-5806
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