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Energy Performance Assessment (Energy Audit)
WHAT IS AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT?
An Energy Performance Assessment is our version of a
Home
Energy Audit. This
is the first step to assess how much energy your home or business consumes
and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home or business
more energy efficient, by performing a room by room examination of a structure
as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills. Our energy audit
or “Energy Performance Assessment” (EPA) uses building
science to help us evaluate and create a comprehensive plan that will increase
your home’s energy efficiency and comfort via a
Home
Energy Audit, lower your utility bills, reduce
your carbon footprint, improve the indoor air quality and extend your structure’s
durability. It’s so much more than a clipboard audit that some companies
simply call a "Home Energy Audit”.
At Golden State Energy Consultants, we use a variety of techniques and equipment
to determine the energy efficiency of a structure. Our Energy Performance
Assessment uses equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent
of leaks in the building envelope, Duct testers which can determine the
efficiency and condition of the HVAC duct system and infrared cameras, which
reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
PREPARING FOR AN ENERGY AUDIT
Before Golden State Energy Consultants visits your home or office, make
a list of any existing problems or concerns. Have copies or a summary of
your yearly energy bills. (Your utility company can get these for you.)
Your energy inspector will use this information to establish what to look
for during the
Home Energy Audit. The inspector first examines the outside of
the home or office to determine the size of the structure and its features
(i.e., wall area, number and size of windows). Then we will analyze the
occupant’s behavior. .
- Is anyone home during working hours?
- What is the average thermostat setting for summer and winter?
- How many people live or work here?
- Is every room in use?
Your answers may help uncover some simple ways to reduce your home or office energy consumption. Be sure to walk through with your energy inspector as they work, and ask questions.
When Should You Have a Home Energy Audit Performed?
Here are the Top Ten Reasons that every homeowner should keep in mind:
- Before you sell your home
- Before you buy a home
- Before installing solar or renewable energy systems
- Before replacing your heating or AC system
- Before you renovate your home
- In order to increase your home’s value
- To lower utility bills for the life of your home
- If your home has comfort issues
- If there are ventilation or health problems
- If you wish to improve the environment
Let a certified energy inspector at Golden
State Energy Consultants guide you toward optimizing your homes energy usage
should any of these situations apply to you. Contact
Us
Find the latest rebates and tax incentives for energy improvements and products
in your area.
If your home is over seven years old, have your ducts professionally tested by a certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) technician. Duct testing is also advisable whenever heating and air conditioning units undergo a diagnostic tune-up.
Title 24 Compliance
If you need Title 24 energy compliance documentation, you have come to the right place. Whether you have a residential or commercial project, we have the knowledge and expertise to provide the most cost effective solutions for any project of any size.
Home energy auditors use blower door tests to help determine a home's airtightness. These are some reasons for establishing the proper building tightness:(1) Reducing energy consumption due to air leakage.
Infrared Scanning
Thermography measures surface temperatures by using an Infrared camera. This tool see’s light that is in the heat spectrum. Images on the camera show the temperature variations of the building’s skin, ranging from lighter colors for warm regions to darker colors for cooler areas.