Evaluating Your Home's Energy Performance

Technology Snapshot & Benefits:

Home energy ratings are performed on new and existing homes to evaluate each home's energy performance. Home energy ratings are performed on new homes to verify energy performance for programs such as Energy Start Qualified homes. Existing homes may benefit from energy ratings by identifying cost-effective energy-efficiency improvements for the home. Additionally, home energy ratings are utilized by many financial institutions to qualify homes for energy-efficient mortgages.

Estimated Cost Savings:

Home energy ratings can identify cost-effective improvements that potentially save homeowners hundreds of dollars each year.

Issues:

Please be careful to assume that your home inspector can perform an energy rating. In fact, many do not.

Installation (Getting It Done):

Energy ratings are performed by Certified Home Energy Raters. Find a list of qualified raters at the Residential Energy Services Network's (RESNET's) online Certified Rater Directory.

Strawbale Homes

Strawbale homes can be comfortable and can manage moisture effectively when designed and constructed properly. They use low embodied energy and low-toxicity building materials which are usually available locally.
Strawbale Homes

Instantaneous Water Heaters

Easy economic savings can accrue from on-demand water heaters. Instead of storing hot water, on-demand heaters produce hot water only when it's needed.
Hot Water Info!

Energy Efficient Windows

Significant economic savings can come from modern windows. Unless recently upgraded, your windows are likely a major source of heat loss.
more... E-Windows

Local Weather:

Programmed Thermostat

saves energy by offering 4 convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings...
more on... Thermostats

Sealing the Home

is important not only for energy savings, but also for protecting your home from the damaging effects of moisture....
more on... Air Leakage

Efficient Appliances

Both immediate and indirect economic savings can come from energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, horizontal-axis washing machines,...
more... Efficient Appliances