5
things to look for in a Home Energy Auditor
Many people realize that one of the first things to do when looking to make
your home more energy efficient is to get a home energy audit. A home energy
audit performed by a qualified home energy professional will tell a
homeowner how much energy his or her house is losing, where that energy is
being lost, and what needs to be fixed in order to make the home more energy
efficient. With an average cost of between $300 and $500, most homeowners
will recoup their money on energy bills within a year. With energy prices on
the rise and a national emphasis on conserving energy and money, getting an
energy audit is one of the smartest things a homeowner can do to go green.
That said, not all home energy audits are the same, and to get the most
value for your money you need to find the best home energy contractor you
can to perform the audit. Here are five qualities that an energy auditor
needs to have to earn your business:
1. He or she needs to be RESNET-HERs certified. This means that the auditor
has taken an intensive course given by The
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) and
has passed the test that will qualify him or her to rate a home on the Home
Energy Rating System (HERs). If you are building a home, a RESNET-HERs rater
can also verify that your home meets the standards of the EPA’s Energy Star
program.
2.
He or she is a BPI
(Building Performance Institute) analyst.
This is especially important if you have any combustible appliances or if
your home is not a new home. BPI Analysts look at safety and air quality,
among other things, and combustible appliances may create hazards if you
weatherize and tighten your home based on an energy audit. A BPI analyst
understands how a home’s systems work together.
3.
He or she, at minimum, conducts a blower door test with the aid of an
infrared camera as well as a duct blaster test. The blower door test
indicates how airtight your home is, the infrared camera shows where leaks
are occurring, and the duct blaster test shows any leaks in your HVAC
system, which is one of the most common places homes lose energy.
4.
He or she is willing to go into your attic and crawl space to find out
exactly what is going on in those areas. It is not enough to do a blower
door test and duct blaster test – a good energy auditor goes to the places
where most homeowners are losing energy and does a real inspection.
5.
And, as with all good contractors, a good home energy auditor is willing to
answer questions, return phone calls, is prompt, and is polite and
professional. Every energy audit should include a follow-up report that
explains exactly where the problem areas are in your home.
To
search for a certified home energy auditor, visit
the Energy Star website, where you can look up professionals
by state.
(Photo of Mark Bashista, Home Energy Auditor with Home
Performance NC. Photo by the author.)
Author:
Adrienne Bashista
Adrienne Bashista is an Examiner from
Raleigh. You can see Adrienne's articles onAdrienne's
Home Page.