About The Energy Audit
A Comprehensive long Island "Green" Home Energy Audit is the only sure way to save up to 40% on your homes Heating and Cooling costs while assuring that no unsafe conditions are inadvertently created. During a Comprehensive Home Energy Audit, your homes energy usage is evaluated and recommendations are made on improving energy efficiency.
Fresh snow is what we call the "poor man's infrared". This picture vividly shows some serious Home Performance issues with this Long Island home. To the left and above the snow on the main roof are attic spaces with serious air leakage from the conditioned (heated and cooled) rooms below. The right side shows a fairly well insulated cathedral ceiling with 5 high hats laid out in the "five" pattern on a dice, and heating ducts running in the ceiling to the left and right. Murtha's highly proficient team of BPI certified Building analysts' are training to "see" these types of conditions when fresh snow doesn't easily give them away.
It all starts with fast and efficient building modeling using a combination of proprietary and Utility provided software. Our "Green" technicians will accurately measure and model your home in our software and forecast Energy savings which is based on your homes usage patterns. (Please have a minimum of 1 full year of LIPA electric, National Grid gas or other utility bills handy for us at your audit).
Measurements will be taken on your home, and proper ventilation requirements based on your homes area, volume and number of occupants will be determined. The actual ventilation will then be calculated by measuring your homes air flow with a blower door. This is the only way to accurately prescribe the proper amount of air sealing required. Under no conditions should a home be insulated without first addressing air leakage and required ventilation issues.
When we are finished, you get a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Home performance Audit Report, a detailed proposal which clearly outlines all proposed measures and an analysis of the cost effectiveness of the work proposed. This helps you make an educated decision on what is right for your home. Once finished, accurate records of your audit are transferred to our database so when you call us with questions, the answers are at our fingertips.
Unfortunately, the term "E
nergy Audit " is completely unregulated, and "Free Energy Audits" usually means nothing more than a free insulation estimate. Many of our customers qualify for free Utility or municipality sponsored (LIPA, National Grid and Long Island Green Homes)Comprehensive Energy Audits and all our customers are credited 10% of the project price up to the $395.00 Comprehensive Energy Audit fee. This easily allows our clients to get a Long Island energy audit, free!
A Comprehensive Home Energy Audit should take approximately 3-4 hours depending on the size of your home. The "free" variety usually takes less than 1 hour and includes an inspection of the homes insulation.
When requesting an Energy Audit, you need to be aware of the difference between a Long island Comprehensive Home Energy Audit and a free, Long Island Green insulation estimate.
On Long Island, both LIPA and National Grid REQUIRE a comprehensive Home Energy Audit done by a BPI accredited Long island contractor who participates in their program. You will NOT be entitled to any rebates from our Long Island utilities if you do not get a Comprehensive Home Energy Audit. if you are looking to save "green", getting every incentive or rebate you are entitled to is imperative.
We have noticed some "Green" long Island Energy Audit companies offering "Power Savers" or "Power factor correction" units, which are small boxes that get hooked up to the electrical panel box and claim to reduce electrical usage by 10%. Although such devices (On a larger scale) are useful in saving industrial users on their electric bill, Long island residential customers will not see any difference. Official ENERGY STAR® Position on Residential Power Savers.
Contact Us today or Request a Comprehensive Home Energy Audit On-Line. A Comprehensive Long island Home Energy Audit and implementation of the energy saving "Green" recommendations can save you up to 40% on your heating and cooling costs.
What is included in a Comprehensive Energy Audit?
1. Modeling your Long Island home in our proprietary and industry provided audit software.
2. Determine the ventilation requirements of your home, as well as inspection of any existing ventilation to assure it is properly vented to the exterior.
3. Inspection of the insulation to identify energy robbing deficiencies.
4. Combustion safety and efficiency testing according to BPI Standards.
5. Carbon Monoxide level testing.
6. Blower door testing to determine how leaky your home is.
7. A LIPA Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Home Performance audit report.
8. A detailed proposal, including any proposed work, how much the cost is, how much is subject to rebate or incentive and what your final cost will be.
Additionally, the following services may be a part of specific energy audit programs or offered at a competitive rate.
1. CFL Light bulbs (LIPA Home Performance Direct)
2. Infrared camera testing.
3. Duct blaster duct leakage testing.
A blower door combined with accurately calculating the amount of airflow required in a building are critical factors in doing a Comprehensive Long Island Energy Audit. If your energy auditor is not doing this, you are receiving a free insulation estimate, not an Energy Audit.
Long Island Green homes is a nationally recognized municipally sponsored Energy audit program. The Long Island Green Homes may be coming to your Long Island Town!