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| 1) What is an energy audit? | 1) An energy audit is an examination of an existing building to determine its existing energy usage characteristics with the usual purpose of determining a prioritized list of possible improvements or Energy Conservation Measures. An Energy Audit can be provided three defined levels for a home: 1. Energy Survey (On-Line and In-Home) 2. Diagnostic Survey 3. Comprehensive Energy Audit For a detailed PDF file specifying scope of an Energy Audit click here. |
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| 2) What is a home energy rating? | 2) An unbiased indication of a home’s relative energy performance based on consistent inspection procedures, operating assumptions, climate data and calculation methods in accordance with the “National Energy Rating Technical Standards” by RESNET. The result is a "HERS Rating" which compares a home's energy usage versus a "standard" home of the same size and in the same climate, built to current energy codes. This rating is used is all common green home certification systems. For example the be awarded ENERGY STAR for Homes in the Park City area a home's HERS Rating needs to be 80 or less (i.e., uses 80% or less energy than the standard home would). | |
| 3) Can my existing home be ENERGY STAR rated? | 3) The ENERGY STAR for Homes, Built-Green, and LEED for Homes programs are all limited to new home construction (or gut remodels). An existing home can still be rated and get a HERS Rating certificate indicating the homes energy efficiency. | |
| 4) Does a thermal imaging camera really show energy losses? | 4) A thermal imaging camera is a valuable tool in analyzing heat flows in a building. The camera is not sensitive to visible light, but only to temperature. If it is cold outside an image of poor insulation in a wall will show cold (blue) compared to normally insulated areas. Commonly the building space is pressurised using a Blower Door fan system during testing so that air leaks will show in images where the cold air is leaking to the indoors space. These images then allow educated decisions on energy conservation measures such as space sealing, insulation retrofit and other building modifications. | |