What to expect during a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment

The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment may take three to five hours. We do charge a fee on a sliding scale for the assessment. During the assessment, we will test and visually inspect every part of your home. We will give you a full report detailing what improvements should be made in your house. Items that will improve the energy efficiency of the house will be prioritized into levels according to their energy savings. Additional items for improving indoor air quality may also be recommended based on the results of the assessment.


A Home Performance assessment is fully comprehensive.
Items that are checked during every assessment include:

Insulation levels for all building components.
Window types.
Air leakage pathways with the blower door test.
Efficiencies of heating, cooling, and water heating equipment.
Duct system effectiveness with flow hood or a duct blaster test.
Ventilation systems (dryer, kitchen range, bath exhausts).
Moisture management components (crawlspace vapor barrier, gutters, yard slope).
Test for the possibility of back-drafting when gas-burning appliances are inside house.


Typical improvements recommended by
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR include:

Adding insulation.
Air sealing the house.
Sealing or replacing the duct system.
Replacing heating and cooling equipment.
Improving windows.
Installing or repairing dehumidification and ventilation systems.
Addressing moisture issues in the crawlspace or basement.

Typical benefits from having completed the recommended improvements
of the Home Performance with Energy Star:

Improved indoor air quality.
Reduced frequency of filter replacement.
HVAC units run more efficiently and last longer.
Reduced utility bills.
Tax credit for many new appliances and equipment.
Tax rebates for percentages of improvement costs.
Increased resale values.

http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/10/19/n_ef_insulating_homes.cnnmoney/