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To combat high energy costsIf your home is not optimized for energy efficiency, chances are that you are paying too much to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. With energy costs continuing to rise year after year, this can result in significant expenditures over the life of a house.

Your house is not comfortable.Is your house chilly in the winter? Too hot in the summer? An energy audit can pinpoint the reasons why, and offer recommendations for improvements that are aligned with your budget.

Your house exhibits ice dams, icicles, or rapid roof snow meltThese are indicators that heat is rapidly escaping from your home. Air sealing, insulation, and proper ventilation can help you retain heat inside your house, improving comfort and lowering your monthly energy bills.

You want to be able to prioritize energy efficiency improvements, but you are not sure where to start.Would high-efficiency windows be a better investment than attic insulation or a new boiler for your home? An energy audit can identify which improvements give you the most bang for your buck.

You want to upgrade to a new heating or cooling system, and you want to understand your optionsAn energy audit can help you determine which HVAC system would best suit your needs. You may find that by investing in energy efficiency measures (such as air sealing and insulation) prior to upgrading your mechanical system, a smaller, less expensive system would be more appropriate for your home.

You want to invest your money in something that offers guaranteed savingsEnergy improvements will improve your comfort and save you money. It’s hard to find that kind of guaranteed return on investment elsewhere.

You want to improve the quality and/or resale value of your home.According to a study published in The Appraisal Journal, a home’s value is increased by $20 for every $1 reduction in annual energy savings. In other words, if you saved $1,000, you’d increase your home value by $20,000.

Remember, every house is different with respect to the way it uses energy. Even if your house looks identical to your neighbor’s, it probably performs much differently.

GREEN BUILDING

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

ENERGY AUDITSHOME PERFORMANCE

Residential Energy Audits: The Benefits and the Process

Why get an Energy Audit?

Page 2 Envinity, Inc. 331 E. Foster Avenue, State College, PA 16801

1. Inspection of Mechanical SystemsOur certified building analyst tests and inspects all mechanical systems; specifically to look for carbon monoxide production, system efficiency, and draft pressure.

2. Heating and Cooling Load CalculationsAfter the mechanical systems have been inspected and tested, the inspector then measures all dimensions and features of your home such as walls, windows, doors, insulation amounts, etc. This enables the inspector to calculate heating and cooling loads for your home.

3. DiagnosticsAfter all the measurements have been taken, the inspector performs diagnostic testing, including a blower door test and an infrared scan. The blower door test quantifies air leakage in your home. The infrared scan identifies issues with insulation and air leakage.

4. Energy ModelingOnce all the data has been collected, the inspector models your home using BESTEST approved software. The model allows the inspector to analyze the energy and cost savings associated with various improvement opportunities that are unique to your home.

5. Costs/benefits reportA report is generated from the energy model and the recommended energy improvements are presented with estimated costs and projected savings for each item. This ultimately helps the homeowners prioritize both short- and long-term energy improvements.

6. Follow-upAfter reviewing the information, if you have any further questions, a follow-up meeting can be arranged. If you are interested, the inspector can provide a proposal for any energy efficiency improvements that you would like to pursue.

Envinity is an employee-owned company rooted in the comprehensive systems approach to green design, construction, and energy management for residential and commercial clients. Our integrated team of engineers, building scientists, and craftsmen create economic value and restore our environment.

7. Inspection fees / DiscountsOur baseline fee for the energy audit is $450. The onsite inspection for energy audits typically takes about 3 hours to complete, and we aim to get your report back to you within 10 business days. For audits outside of Centre County, we typically charge $50 per hour for drive time to and from State College. Additional fees may apply to customers who wish to have Envinity submit their projects to utility based, statewide, or national incentive programs such as the First Energy Whole House Program or Keystone HELP through AFC First.

Because we have an integrated business model that crosses all trades related residential energy efficiency, we can install all of the recommended improvements that are specified through the energy audit. If we are hired to do the energy improvement work, we will discount 10% of the proposal cost up to the cost of the energy audit ($450). We will also re-test the home when the work is completed to provide you with a comparative analysis of how much energy has been reduced.

8. Typical savingsSavings typically vary by client. On average, an Envinity energy audit might identify energy cost savings opportunities between 20%-35%. We have had clients who have saved over 50% of their energy costs as a result of a home energy audit. Some clients are even able to pursue a net-zero-energy home by incorporating on-site renewable energy generation.

What does an Energy Audit Entail?

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