YES, YOU CAN USE LESS ENERGY & BE MORE COMFORTABLE

Fall is here and cold weather will soon follow.  This is the time of year when we all start thinking about how much energy we are going to use between now and next Spring.  Are you going to wait another year and put up with that draft that is robbing your home of valuable energy?  Are you going to tolerate that bedroom that is always cold and just use a space heater to keep it warm?  Are you tired of paying $2,000 or more per year for propane?  You don't have to.
Give us a call.  We have the experience and equipment to find out why your home is uncomfortable and the recommendations for action to take to get those utility bills down, possibly lower that you even expected.

                 ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS / HOME BUYERS

                       Is an AIR LEAKAGE ANALYSIS what Your Home needs?

Do you have concerns about your home's energy usage but don't want to invest the money to have a full blown energy audit?  Would you like to know if the home you are buying is going to be energy efficient?  If so, then an Air Leakage Analysis may be just what you're looking for.  With this test, we use the Infrared Camera and the Blower Door.  It only takes about a third of the time that a Home Performance Energy Audit does and is about half the cost.  We will scan your walls and ceilings with the Infrared Camera to see where there is air leakage and missing or lacking insulation.  The Blower Door works in conjunction with the camera to find air leaks that otherwise you would not see.  A Thermal Imaging Report and Recommendations for improvements will be provided a few days after the audit.
Whether you currently own a home or are in the market to buy a home, an Air Leakage Analysis is just what you need to get an idea of the deficiencies that lurk in your home.  By finding and repairing these problem areas, you can reduce your heating/cooling costs by 10% or more!
                     Give us a call to schedule yours today!
                                       

Why Should You Choose Us for Your Home Performance Energy Audit?

I'm sure many of you have seen home energy audits advertised for free, or maybe for a low price of $99.  Yes, it does look attractive, especially in this economy.  We are all looking for the best deal we can get.  Remember the old saying, "You get what you pay for"?  It applies to energy audits also.  The companies making these claims have a product to sell you.  Some of us need these products, but we want to purchase them on our terms.
If you are looking for an honest opinion from a Home Energy Professional who is not selling a product, you have come to the right place.  The Blower Door test will reveal the amount of air that is leaking into/out of your house.  The Infrared Camera captures where the air is leaking and where the insulation is/is not.  The Duct Leakage Tester will show us how much conditioned air is leaking out of your forced-air duct system.  
We will sit down with you before the inspection begins and listen to the concerns you have with your home.  We will analyze your home's heating/cooling system, lighting, appliances and insulation levels.  After the audit, we will then enter all the data collected into energy-analyzing software and provide you with a comprehensive, unbiased and completely detailed report of how your home is performing.
You will receive a complete thermal imaging report showing where there is air infiltration, missing or lacking insulation, duct leakage, etc.
We will also provide you with a list of recommendations, most of which you can do yourself, of what can be done to improve your home's energy efficiency, which in turn will bring down your utility bills, reduce waste, make your home more comfortable and increase its value.
Our goal is to find where the problems are in your home and provide you with a plan to correct them.  We are committed to giving you the best possible service, the most detailed reports and ongoing energy-related consultation. 
The best part about choosing Home Efficiency Solutions as is often the case, your Home Performance Energy Audit will pay for itself within a year, if you are committed to making the recommended energy improvements.
So if you're tired of high utility bills, cold rooms in your home and wondering where that draft is coming from, don't put it off any longer.  Give us a call to set up your Home Performance Energy Audit or just to ask some questions. You won't be disappointed.

 New or old, all houses have issues. They have problems in their construction that waste energy, affect comfort and expedite deterioration. Older homes constructed years ago were not built with energy efficiency in mind, much less health. Most of them had no insulation, or very little. Many contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead and vermiculite to this day. 
A perception exists among consumers that all new homes are energy efficient. Most have been built to the minimum, which is all the building code requires. Insulation is installed in a sloppy manner, with voids and compression which lowers R-values. In some areas of these homes, there is no insulation at all. Windows, doors and HVAC ductwork leak air. Supply and return ductwork is not properly constructed. Many systems have "panned" returns, which use the framing cavity as part of the return duct system.  These are very leaky and do not allow your system to properly pressurize. 
Maybe your home has a brick facing, hardboard siding, stucco, stone, vinyl siding, cement siding, etc.  It doesn't matter.  The majority have a wood frame, but they all leak air.  They leak in areas that were over-looked in the past.  The band board (where framing meets foundation) is another area of air leakage.  Air, along with any existing outdoor pollutants, is drawn in the house here as well as around old basement windows and vents.  The air is then drawn through the home and up through areas such as around recessed lights, attic hatches, around chimneys, etc.  You see, your house has what is called "stack effect".  It acts like a chimney.  The taller the house, the larger the effect.  When the leaks around the lower portion of the house are found and sealed, the less air will leak at the top of the house.
So here are some questions for you - Are you tired of paying high utility bills?  Are you wondering why your bills are so much higher than your neighbor's?  Do you know where that draft is coming from?  Did you purchase a home without having an energy audit done first?  Are you frustrated because the comfort level of your home does not seem balanced?  If you are able to make your home, the most important financial investment you will ever make, more energy efficient, healthy and comfortable, why not?  Give me a call and I can find exactly where the air leakage and inefficiencies are and discuss with you how they can be corrected.

HOMEOWNERS

 This survey is a visual inspection of the energy features of your home and documentation of its general condition, including envelope features and ages, equipment types, characteristics and ages, and, appliance and lighting characteristics. Where available, this evaluation shall include a review of utility use and billing history. The Diagnostic Home Energy Evaluation requires the use of a Blower Door (tests the leakiness of the house), Duct Leakage test (tests the leakiness of the forced air duct system,when applicable), an Infrared Camera or other test equipment.

A home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans (i.e. new construction or gut rehab only) and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index. Upon completion of the plan review, the rater will work with the builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines. The rater then conducts onsite inspections, typically including a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the duct system). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home.

We are proud to provide rating services to qualify new homes for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are substantially more energy efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Even in states with more rigorous energy codes, the U.S. EPA ensures that ENERGY STAR remains the symbol for truly energy-efficient performance. These homes are good for businesses, consumers, and the environment.

There are two types of ratings:

• Projected ratings - Ratings performed prior to the construction of a home or prior to the installation of energy improvements to an existing home.
• Confirmed ratings - Ratings completed using data gathered from an on-site inspection, which could include performance testing of the home.

 
Benefits of owning an ENERGY STAR qualified new home include:

A Label Backed by the Government

All ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are certified to meet EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency. This exemplary performance is verified by an independent third party.

Lower Utility Costs

Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified new homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and hot water heating. Homeowners can expect to save about $200–$400 annually on their utility bills.

More Comfortable/Quieter Homes

The energy-efficient features of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes keep out excessive heat, cold, and noise, and ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms-making these homes more comfortable to live in.

Helping to Create a Better Future

By purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified new home, you are joining millions of consumers who have changed to ENERGY STAR, helping our nation reduce our energy needs and building a cleaner environment for the future.

Features of our ENERGY STAR qualified new homes include:

• Effective Insulation — Properly installed insulation that meets or exceeds national code requirements helps achieve even temperatures throughout the house while using less energy. The result is lower utility costs and a quieter, more comfortable home.
• High-Performance Windows — Advanced window coatings help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. They also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furniture.
• Tight Construction and Tight Ducts — Attention to detail by sealing all holes, cracks, and seams in ducts and construction assemblies helps eliminate drafts, moisture, dust, pests, and pollen. This improves comfort and the quality of indoor air, while lowering maintenance costs.
• Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment — More efficient and properly sized heating and cooling systems use less energy, which reduces utility bills. These systems also turn on and off less frequently, removing more humidity and providing better comfort. 

Home Efficiency Solutions LLC is a proud partner of ENERGY STAR.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at the links below.

       www.energystar.gov          

PLEASE REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE.  THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO.

Click the recycle symbol to get more information and to see recycling center locations in Berkeley County, WV