A Home Performance Energy Audit- Part 1

January 8, 2012

What is a Home Performance Energy Audit?

An AccuGreen Home Performance Energy Audit is customized report that identifies the particular needs of your home based on the analysis of an AccuGreen Home Performance Energy Auditor. The information that AccuGreen Home Performance gathers is entered into computer software that helps us determine the most cost-effective measures you can take to make your home more efficient and comfortable. We then provide you with a report that outlines that analysis, prioritizes recommended home repairs, and helps you determine the best improvements for your home.

AccuGreen Home Performance Energy Auditors have successfully completed a comprehensive skills evaluation in home performance diagnostics and have been accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a nationally recognized organization for building science technology that sets the standards for assessing and improving the energy performance of homes.

Gathering Information: What we look for and what we measure

Can you spot any Thermal Bypasses?

The first step in a Home Performance Energy Audit is a walk around your home. Our Energy Auditor will look for any moisture, structural or safety issues. We note the place of any cantilevers (overhangs), crawlspaces, attached porches or 3 season rooms that may be a thermal bypass. We also identify any exterior air sealing opportunities (such as an unsealed hose bib, or cracks in a foundation), and any thermal bridges (any area that allows heat transfer from the living space to the exterior of your home).

After an exterior walk-around, our Energy Auditor will then move to the interior of your home. To accurately model your home, precise measurements are required. In addition to the actual dimensions of your home, we measure all windows, doors and skylights. An AccuGreen Home Performance Energy Auditor will always look for and inspect the following:

Health and Safety issues, including fire and electrical hazards
Indoor air contaminant sources
Moisture related problems
Insulation type, amount and effectiveness
Air Sealing opportunities in the Thermal and Pressure Boundaries

An AccuGreen Home Performance Energy Auditor will also ask you about any “trouble spots” in your home. A cold or drafty room, moisture problems, or any other issue should be mentioned. After all, no one knows your home like you do!

Contact Us today about an Home Performance Energy Audit for your home.

Part 2 of “A Home Performance Energy Audit” will cover the Combustion Appliance Zone testing.

2 comments

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Home performance energy auditor

A lot of good information here. I have one question. Just out of curiosity, do you normally air seal the building so tight that you then have to add mechanical ventilation? Thanks. bob

Armando

Hello Bob, and Thank You for checking out our site! To answer your question, we need a bit more explanation. Typically, the homes we see have airflow that are much higher than the BAS (Building Airflow Standard) as calculated per BPI requirements. At AccuGreen Home Performance, while we always try to get the building as tight as possible, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration: Access to areas that we can air seal, the client’s budget, atmospherically vented furnaces/water heaters, etc. With a proper blower door test during the Energy Audit, we can usually estimate what the final airflow numbers will be, and make realistic recommendations on mechanical ventilation before we begin work (no one likes to see an increase in price on their project last minute). In an ideal situation, here in cold New Jersey (at least when it isn’t 60 degrees in January), we would have homes air sealed very tight and always install mechanical ventilation. Air Sealing still provides some of the best bang-for-your-buck when completing Home Performance projects!!!