A home energy inspection is the first step to saving big on your energy bills!
With growing concerns about the environment and rising energy costs, more and more people are looking for ways to make their homes more energy efficient, while
saving money in the process.
Also called a home energy audit, this inspection diagnoses the energy deficiencies in the home, and identifies ways to improve the house's energy consumption.
If the recommendations for improvement are carried out, the result is big energy savings for the homeowner.
Home Energy Performance Testing Options:
1st level; we offer a Free Home Inspection. This is where we come out to your home and do a physical inspection of insulation levels in the attic and crawl space or basement. We look for “air-sealing” opportunities along with duct work sealing in these same areas.
2nd level; same inspection, plus we bring our infrared camera to help discover low insulation levels, poor insulation alignment and non-visible air-intrusion sites.
3rd level; we offer pressure testing with a blower door and duct blaster. These are diagnostic fans and meters that measure how much air infiltration/ex-filtration is in the building. We also do the same as both inspections above. We follow-up with a report of the findings and make an itemized list of the recommended repairs.
4th level; is our full energy audit with all of the above plus computer modeling of your home. We will collect and enter data from all your appliances, testing results and actual insulation levels and then we will make changes to the computer model to determine which changes increase energy efficiency of the home.
5th level; For New Construction only, Earth Craft and Energy Star certifications. This is for new home builders building new homes. A one day training seminar is required and membership with Earth Craft is required. Call for more details or visit www.earthcraftvirginia.org.
What Happens During a Home Energy Inspection?
There are different levels of home energy audits. The basic audit is typically a visual inspection of things such as insulation, appliances, windows, and the HVAC system. It's more of an assessment of what types of products are used in the home as opposed to how well they are performing. The auditor usually takes pictures and records information about the size of the building and the assumed efficiencies of the items above.
The more thorough audit involves using diagnostic equipment such as blower-door testers and air duct blasters.
These tools measure air filtration in the home and identify air leaks in the duct work.
Infrared thermographs are also often used to determine if a wall or attic floor is insulated and how well that insulation is performing.
The more thorough, scientific audit is beneficial because it gives a big picture, balanced assessment, and takes into account how each element affects another.
"Energy 101: Home Energy Assessment"
Another important benefit to the scientific audit is that you are able to re-test after you've made the recommended improvements. This allows you to measure the success of the improvements that you've made.
For more information on home energy inspections, contact us.
The Drying Co. and ThermalTec Insulation
P.O. Box 637, Toano, Virginia 23168
Williamsburg / Peninsula Area - (757) 566-8622
New Kent / Richmond Area - (804) 316-9949
