If you have tried to implement the recommendations of Energy Star but your house is still drafty or you would like to know if you could cut the cost of your energy bills by being more efficient, then give us a call.

For a complete Energy Evaluation we will;

Review of your energy concerns.

Inspect your home’s insulation,with high tech detection tools such as an infrared camera, carbon monoxide detector, and a manometer.

Conduct a blower door test to check for air leakage

Analyze these tests with computerized software.

Provide you with a report that includes the results of the test and suggestions for possible improvements, including their cost-effectiveness.

We can also conduct a lot of these tests as stand alone evaluations.  If your house is drafty, but you know you have good insulation, we can conduct just a blower door test to find the sources of the drafts.

Right Angle Home Inspections is well qualified to perform these energy audits.  We have completed the Building Analyst training from the Building Performance Institute and Infrared Thermography training from the Infraspection Institute. This specialized training adds to the sound building knowledge already obtained from over 25 years of home inspections, repair and/or maintenance experience.

What is included in a Right Angle Home Inspections Energy Audit?  Every client has unique needs.  We will work with you to customize an  Energy Audit that meets your specific needs.  All or some of the below test may be included:

• complete review of your home energy concerns
• infrared thermography scan of home insulation
• blower door test
• computerized analysis of testing results
• discussion of suggested improvements
• written report of any findings
• and much much more

The term “Energy Audit” has taken on a lot of different definitions lately.  It can be a daunting task to figure out what the differences are.  So I am going to share with you what I have learned in my quest for better understanding.

First there is the “Home Energy Tune-Up”.  The training for this is a one or two day course with the second day being optional.  If a Home Inspector is performing a “Home Energy Tune-Up” with a home inspection they estimate between 15 – 30 additional minutes on site to collect the data.  For a stand alone “Home Energy Tune-Up”  they estimate an hour for the average size house.   Some people who provide this service have gone a little further and offer an Infrared scan.  However, they may or may not be a certified Thermographer.  By attending formal infrared training, our Energy Auditors are certified Thermographers, they take high quality, know where to look for problems and know how to read the infrared images.

Two industry leaders provide full evaluations of the home:  Building Performance Institute (BPI) and Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).  Both of these organizations require extensive training, monitoring and continuing education.  People with these certifications are capable of performing everything from the  “Home Tune-Up” PLUS blower door performance testing, insulation evaluations, and calculate air exchanges per hour to ensure a healthy environment.

However, there are a lot of things a home owner can do themselves to tighten their house and make it more comfortable.  A good place to start is the Energy Star website .  They have a lot of tips homeowners can do themselves at a minimal cost.

Have more questions? Please contact us to discuss any questions related to home inspections and energy audits at 414-721-8764