COMMONWEALTH SUSTAINABILITY WORKS
GREEN BUILDING + SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES + STRATEGIC PLANNING

RESIDENTIAL ENERGY AUDIT SERVICES

• Prices current as of August, 2008.
• Search for energy auditors closer to home at Energy Audit Directory

Walk-Through Energy Audit – $200
This involves a 1.5–2.5 hour inspection to identify improvements that will lower energy costs and increase occupants’ comfort and health. I encourage home-owners to join me on this tour to better understand the problems and opportunities encountered. We’ll explore the entire house to investigate insulation, air-sealing, HVAC, water heating, appliances, windows, lighting, etc. Afterwards, I provide a detailed report describing procedures to improve performance, prioritizing the options, providing resources for more learning, and sometimes recommending companies to do the work.

Whole House and Duct System Pressurization Tests – $100 each (plus walk-through audit fee)
The overall draftiness – or “unintended infiltration” – of a house is measured by the blower door test. Drafts affect a home’s heating/cooling costs as much as any single other factor. The testing equipment also is used to locate these leaks.

A duct blaster test measures the amount of air that a duct system looses to the outside of the house. If all of a home’s ductwork is installed within conditioned space this test may not be warranted. For homes with ducts in attics or vented crawlspaces, studies indicate that average leakage to the outside is greater than 15%. Leakage of greater than 30% is not uncommon. This is clearly a great waste of money.

These tests are powerful tools for identifying serious problems that may be hidden from a visual inspection – and this may change priorities for remedial work. They also generate hard numbers that identify a house as performing well or poorly compared to other houses. For houses with more than one HVAC system to be tested, add $75 for each additional system.

Energy Modeling – $350
Using software approved by the US Dept. of Energy, I create a virtual model of the house that establishes its relative efficiency (HERS index). I then use the model to compare the effectiveness of different energy strategies for a home – such as upgrading windows, improving insulation, upgrading HVAC equipment, upgrading appliances, etc. With local utility rates included, the software also shows the potential cost savings achieved by these strategies. Energy models can be created for existing houses – or can be based on plans for new houses. For existing houses, an audit and blower door and duct blaster tests are required inputs. The software can produce reports to qualify borrowers for energy efficient mortgages. Add $.05 per square foot of conditioned space for houses of more than 3500 square feet.

Plan Review for New Homes & Additions – $200
An audit for an un-built home – so you can build it right the first time! The report will provide detailed recommendations for you and your contractor.

All work performed by Andrew Grigsby, Certified Home Energy Rater, LEED®AP