Test my house? It won't pass...........

This is often a typical response for homeowner's regarding our energy audit services.  They realize that their house needs so many things done that it is simply overwelming to even consider testing and starting on the road to energy efficiency. These are exactly the folks that need our services where we will do comprehensive testing, including a through inspection with a written report on which projects are the most cost effective to acccomplish.

Planning and scheduling are primary actions on the road to energy efficiency and often the more the building is wasting energy, the ":low hanging fruit" to pick are the jobs which would be the simplist and least expensive to do.  We will tell you how to do them is you are a do it yourselfer or you will have the knowledge to correctly guide your contractor and get the work finally finished.  Energy efficiency is a process that consists of a number of jobs, often small items before the big job is accomplished.  For example to insulate an attic; if your contractor just wants to blow in or add insulation without considering the clearance to chimneys, recessed lighting fixtures, electrical wiring, attic ventilation and bathroom moisture control they don't have the sophistication to do the job properly. 

Basic rule:  Air Seal before you insulate.  Some things are difficult or impossible to do out of sequence.  Try running bath vent piping in 2 feet of insulation.  We have seen fiberglass insulation acting as an air filter, catching the dirt from large amounts of air traveiling through internal passages in wall and floors wasting up to 20% of the buildings energy and creating cold drafty areas.  Bath vents dumped into the soffit areas or attics, oh the horror stories inflicted on homes by contractors that did in think about the effects or understand basic issues.

Some items can be done cost effectively during projects, when remodeling projects are planned or underway, it can be relatively inexpensive to upgrade and fix existing problems   Putting on a new roof, lots to  consider regarding insulation locationa and ventilation.  Often it is a little more art (a feel for the situation) and creative thinking than it is black and white science.  Consider the conventional use of crawlspace vents.  They have caused lots of rot and moisture issues bringing in warm humid air into cool spaces where it will condense.   Moisture is the enemy of all building.  Get it out, keep it out.

Our comprehensive report will guide you in the best direction for you to plan the path for safety, durability and energy efficiency for your home.  Start now, you should not wait for winter to arrive to plan the best fix.  Sure is easier to caulk and seal when it is not winter.  It's typical human nature to procrastinate but you did that last year, how about some forward thinking, winter is always on the way!

By the way, we do a number of comprehensive weatherization projects, typically for our Utility Customers, your home may be a candidate. You will reward yourself for many years with energy savings and piece of mind and wonder why this simple work was not done a long time ago.