Energy Audits & Consultations

 

A home diagnostics test gives you insight into your home’s Thermal Envelope (Building Structure), HVAC Equipment performance and condition of complete air duct system.  This test can help determine the cause of many of your comfort and energy problems.  It also gives you detailed permanent solutions to correct your problems. 

Everything in a home effects and interacts with something else. For example:

 

Would it surprise you to learn that something as simple as closing a bedroom door can cause hot and dirty air from your attic to come pouring into your kitchen? A home diagnostic test and energy audit allows us to see how your home functions as a system, pinpoint problem areas, and recommend treatment.

 

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Diagnostic Test: $349.00

 

Includes:

 

• Pre test Consultation

• Baseline measurements

  • Inspection of Equipment
• Inspection of Insulation
  • Inspection of pressure boundary
• Use of the Infiltrometer™ Blower Door
  • Pinpoint air leakage areas.

• Flow hood diagnostics and air duct leakage

• Post-test consultation and recommendations for Improvement

 

 

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Step 1: Pre-test Consultation

 

The purpose of this is to better understand what your main concerns and needs are, energy efficiency, comfort, healthy indoor air, moisture control, etc. Everyone has different needs and wants for their family and their home so it is important that our technician understand what areas you would like to focus on and address. This process allows us to customize each diagnostic to the individual needs of the homeowners.

 

 

 

Step 2: Temperature and humidity measurement

 

It is very important that we test and record baseline humidity and temperature measurements as these two factors greatly influence comfort and energy usage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Inspection of Equipment

 

The consultant will perform a detailed assessment of your current heating and cooling equipment and air distribution system.  This is an important step of the diagnostic since Heating and Cooling of your home is responsible for approximately 40% of your annual utility bill. The inspection allows the consultant to see if there is any insufficient maintenance, deterioration, and if the system was properly installed.  He will also determine if you have the proper air filtration and/or purification system to meet your family’s needs.

 

 

Step 4: Inspection of Insulation

 

It is extremely important for comfort and energy efficiency that the homes Thermal Barrier (insulation)    be adequate and installed properly. A visual inspection of attic and crawlspace insulation allows our consultant to determine if the proper amount of insulation is in place and installed properly. It also allows for the discovery of hidden flaws such as hollow wall cavities, holes, and/or deterioration that waste both comfort and energy

 

 

 

Step 5: Inspection for breaks in the pressure boundary

 

Breaks in the “pressure boundary” of the home are like highways for hot & cold air, and contaminants to enter the home and energy to exit it. A thorough inspection of the pressure boundary is conducted to ensure it is intact and contiguous.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6: Use of the Infiltrometer™ Blower Door

 

An Infiltrometer™ Blower Door is high tech instrument that measures a home’s air infiltration rate (how much air the home is leaking). Majority of homes throughout America leak but most of those homes leak far too much.  Some signs of a leaky home are cold drafts, clammy air in the summer and excessive dust, however if the home is too tight moisture may become an issue.  You always want some fresh outdoor air coming into your home.  This instrument will also aid in determining where you are pulling air from. If your air duct system is pulling air from a garage, attic, or crawlspace you are bringing all the nasty particulates from those areas (dust, fiberglass, rodent fecal matter, etc) into the living areas of your home, which leads to unhealthy air.

 

Our technician uses the data gathered from this test to determine the exact amount of leakage your home suffers from. REMEMBER, excessive air leakage waste energy and cost money!

 

Step 7: pinpointing air leaks

 

Bad air beware, we will find you. It is important for good indoor air quality that homes have a certain amount of fresh air. Most homes unfortunately get the majority their air from all the wrong places! Attics, Crawlspaces, and Garages are the absolute worst places to pull air from because the air can be dirty, extremely hot, extremely cold, and contain large amounts of contaminants. The use of a smoke puffer while the blower door is running allows us to pinpoint the bad air.    

 

 

 

Step 8: Air hood testing

 

This test works similar to a blood pressure test, it permits the consultant to reveal if there are any hidden blockages or design problems.  Our test equipment will measure precisely how much conditioned air is getting to each room by checking each vent and return

 

 

 

 

 

Step 9:  Recommendations for Improvement Plan

 

After all the necessary testing is completed, the consultant will sit down with you and review the results of your home diagnostic test and energy audit.  He will give you a list of recommended repairs for improvement, point out which repairs are the most urgent,  and discuss which can be do-it-yourself projects.

 

 

 

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Also Available

 

Combustion Appliance Zone or CAZ testing

 

This test is used to confirm that gas appliances located within the homes pressure boundary have adequate combustion air to operate and that carbon monoxide is not leaking into the living space. This test is conducted in a “normal operation mode” as well as a “worst case scenario” mode.  

 

 

Zone pressure diagnostics

 

This is an advanced test that determines room pressurization and de-pressurization throughout the home and how airflow and comfort can be improved.

 

 

Pressure boundary diagnostics

 

This is an advanced test that determines the “tightness” of the pressure boundary between the home and the attic, home and crawlspace, home and unfinished basement, or home and and space located in another pressure zone.

 

 

Heat loss and gain calculations and air duct design

 

Determining exactly what size air conditioning and heating system would benefit a home is a very scientific and complex process. We offer a host of computer aided design services.

 

 

Consultation services:

 

Our staff can help both Contractors and Homeowners before, during, and after any project. We are happy to assist with any questions you may have for a project whether it be energy star construction or a crawlspace renovation.   

 

 

Training and Green speakers:

 

Our seasoned instructors can offer customized green building training programs and seminars for your organization and staff.