Virginia - Professional Energy Audit

Professional Energy Audit

A professional energy audit isn’t free, but it can save you time, energy and money in the long run. Here’s what you need to know:

• A professional home energy audit can take from four to eight hours and may cost between $300 and $500. Be sure to ask for an estimate in writing and what it includes before selecting an auditor.
• Professional assessments are a good option to ensure you’re identifying all potential energy waste in your home — especially those in tough-to-spot or difficult-to-access areas like crawl spaces and attics.
• The auditor will ask you questions about your comfort in the home, like drafty areas, or be able to analyze your energy bill for you.
• They will go room by room through your home taking notes, conducting tests and looking for potential energy savings. The auditor will also test your heating and cooling system to see if it is running well or needs a tune up. A typical assessment may include a blower door test, which tells the auditor how well your house is insulated.
• Any work to implement the auditor’s recommendations for saving energy comes at an additional cost.

While a professional audit can be costly, following through with its recommendations may save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in annual and long-term energy costs.

Be sure to ask if your professional auditor will review and measure the following areas of your home:

• Wall, ceiling and floor insulation
• Square footage and approximate age of your home
• Window and frame type
• Type, model and location of heating/cooling system
• Ductwork, duct insulation and/or any indications of previous duct dealing
• Type of foundation
• Checklist of common air-leakage sites
• Estimated age and efficiency of major appliances
• Amount and type of light fixtures
• Visual indications of condensation
• Exhaust Fans
• Water fixtures
• Combustion equipment and any evidence of flame rollout, blocked chimney or corroded vent connector

Hint: You may be eligible for a discount or rebate for your professional energy assessment through your utility provider or local energy program. Many utility companies and social services organizations also provide income-qualified customers with free or low-cost energy audits. If you qualify, you may also be eligible for financing, incentives and rebates to implement the auditor’s recommendations. Visit our incentives page to explore utility and government credits and rebates.

If you don’t have the budget for a professional audit, get started with our free online Home Energy Test to evaluate your home’s energy efficiency.

- See more at: http://www.virginiaenergysense.org/at-home/professional-energy-audit/#sthash.bNamoAS3.dpuf

http://www.virginiaenergysense.org/at-home/professional-energy-audit/