ENERGY AUDITS
The only home that doesn't need an energy audit...just had one!

When was the last time your house had a check-up?  Ever?  While most of us won’t bat an eye to see a doctor if we aren’t feeling well, few of us consider the same solution for a home that is ill.  And the average American home consumes MORE than 1 ½ times as much energy as necessary!  How well does your house perform?

Did you know that the national average of today’s furnace and air conditioning systems operate at only 57% of the equipments’ STATED efficiency*?  If you have an 80% efficient furnace, you are getting approximately only 45% of every dollar you spend to run it in winter or summer for air conditioning.  Talk about waste!

Even if the outside appearance is pristine, every home loses energy through the complicated systems that are used to construct it.  While this does not mean your home is of poor quality, it does mean that the vast majority of architects, builders, remodelers and contractors aren’t trained in building science and how to keep the precious energy you pay for inside the box. 
So what’s in it for you?

•    Increased comfort
•    Lower utility bills
•    Longer lasting mechanical equipment and building components
•    Reduced carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions
•    Tax incentives and favorable financing
•    Improved indoor air quality and more!

What kind of energy savings can I expect? 

Part of that will depend on your current energy use and available budget for energy improvements.  It is not uncommon for clients to reduce their energy consumption by 20-40% or more but results will vary based on the level of implementation from the Action Plan.  Leaky homes usually see the greatest benefit strictly based on the potential for improvement.  While achieving a 50% reduction in air leakage is rare but does happen,  most homeowners can expect to “tighten” their home up by 25-35% with guided air-sealing and/or insulating efforts. 

*according to the National Comfort Institute, 2008, in a study of over 1000 HVAC systems across America.

Tax incentive links:

2009 Tax Credits for Energy Improvments
Chicagoland Natural Gas Savings Program Rebates
Property Tax Exemptions for Solar Energy
Department of Energy Statewide News Seach

Give us a call.  The pain can stop sooner than you think…