GREEN BUILDING ENERGY AUDITS HOME PERFORMANCE RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
Residential Energy Audits: The Benefits and the Process
Why get an Energy Audit? To combat high energy costs
If your home is not optimized for energy efficiency, chances are that you are paying too much to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. With energy costs continuing to rise year after year, this can result in significant expenditures over the life of a house.
Your house is not comfortable.
Is your house chilly in the winter? Too hot in the summer? An energy audit can pinpoint the reasons why, and offer recommendations for improvements that are aligned with your budget.
Your house exhibits ice dams, icicles, or rapid roof snow melt
These are indicators that heat is rapidly escaping from your home. Air sealing, insulation, and proper ventilation can help you retain heat inside your house, improving comfort and lowering your monthly energy bills.
You want to be able to prioritize energy efficiency improvements, but you are not sure where to start.
You want to upgrade to a new heating or cooling system, and you want to understand your options An energy audit can help you determine which HVAC system would best suit your needs. You may find that by investing in energy efficiency measures (such as air sealing and insulation) prior to upgrading your mechanical system, a smaller, less expensive system would be more appropriate for your home.
You want to invest your money in something that offers guaranteed savings Energy improvements will improve your comfort and save you money. It’s hard to find that kind of guaranteed return on investment elsewhere.
You want to improve the quality and/or resale value of your home.
According to a study published in The Appraisal Journal, a home’s value is increased by $20 for every $1 reduction in annual energy savings. In other words, if you saved $1,000, you’d increase your home value by $20,000.
Remember, every house is different with respect to the Would high-efficiency windows be a better investment way it uses energy. Even if your house looks identical to your neighbor’s, it probably performs much differently. than attic insulation or a new boiler for your home? An energy audit can identify which improvements give you the most bang for your buck. www.envinity.com
ph: 814.231.3927
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What does an Energy Audit Entail? 1. Inspection of Mechanical Systems
7. Inspection fees / Discounts
Our baseline fee for the energy audit is $450. The onsite inspection for energy audits typically takes about 3 hours to complete, and we aim to get your report back to you within 10 business days. For audits outside of Centre County, we typically charge $50 per hour for drive time to and from State College. 2. Heating and Cooling Load Calculations Additional fees may apply to customers who wish to After the mechanical systems have been inspected have Envinity submit their projects to utility based, and tested, the inspector then measures all dimensions and features of your home such as walls, statewide, or national incentive programs such as the windows, doors, insulation amounts, etc. This enables First Energy Whole House Program or Keystone HELP through AFC First. the inspector to calculate heating and cooling loads for your home. Because we have an integrated business model that crosses all trades related residential energy efficiency, 3. Diagnostics we can install all of the recommended improvements After all the measurements have been taken, the that are specified through the energy audit. If we are inspector performs diagnostic testing, including a hired to do the energy improvement work, we will blower door test and an infrared scan. The blower discount 10% of the proposal cost up to the cost of door test quantifies air leakage in your home. The the energy audit ($450). We will also re-test the home infrared scan identifies issues with insulation and air when the work is completed to provide you with a leakage. comparative analysis of how much energy has been reduced. 4. Energy Modeling Our certified building analyst tests and inspects all mechanical systems; specifically to look for carbon monoxide production, system efficiency, and draft pressure.
Once all the data has been collected, the inspector models your home using BESTEST approved software. The model allows the inspector to analyze the energy and cost savings associated with various improvement opportunities that are unique to your home.
8. Typical savings
Savings typically vary by client. On average, an Envinity energy audit might identify energy cost savings opportunities between 20%-35%. We have had clients who have saved over 50% of their energy costs as a result of a home energy 5. Costs/benefits report A report is generated from the energy model and the audit. Some clients are even able to pursue a recommended energy improvements are presented net-zero-energy home with estimated costs and projected savings for each item. This ultimately helps the homeowners prioritize by incorporating onsite renewable energy both short- and long-term energy improvements. generation.
6. Follow-up
After reviewing the information, if you have any further questions, a follow-up meeting can be arranged. If you are interested, the inspector can provide a proposal for any energy efficiency improvements that you would like to pursue.
Envinity is an employee-owned company rooted in the comprehensive systems approach to green design, construction, and energy management for residential and commercial clients. Our integrated team of engineers, building scientists, and craftsmen create economic value and restore our environment. Š2012 Envinity, Inc. All rights reserved. Contractor’s Number PA004659
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Envinity, Inc. 331 E. Foster Avenue, State College, PA 16801