Have You Been Considering a Home Energy Audit?

Have you been considering a home energy audit? A professional audit will provide a clear plan for getting your home more efficient, help you avoid spending money on potentially useless modifications, increase your ROI on the changes you implement and solve those comfort issues you’ve been living with since you moved in.




It’s worth noting that your auditor should be a certified HERS Rater by the Residential Energy Services Network and/or a Building Analyst certified by The Building Performance Institute. They should also have professional references and be able to provide samples of their reports.




An energy audit is an in-depth, unobtrusive (no removing drywall) survey of your home. It should be thorough and examine all the components in your home and how they all work together.




Your home is a system, so if you change one item in your home, i.e. the windows, it may have an effect on the other parts of the home. Similarly, if you change another element in your home, i.e. HVAC system, the net effect may be small until other issues are corrected. A good energy auditor comprehends this concept and understands the interconnection of his recommendations for your home.




A typical energy audit includes an initial interview to determine your motivation, goals and budget. It will most likely include a blower door test to measure the air leakage in your home and may also include an infrared scan to identify anomalies in your home’s shell.




Your audit should also address any comfort issues you’re experiencing, as they are directly related to efficiency issues. It should also attempt to solve any moisture issues, since moisture issues can force your air conditioners to work harder and sometimes signal a hidden mold issue. Lastly, your audit should address your home’s Indoor Air Quality and potential carbon monoxide threats.

After your audit, you should receive a report that not only addresses the aforementioned tests and concerns, but also provides a list of action steps to make your home efficient and healthy.

As always, we welcome your questions, commnets and feedback regarding home energy audits and green remodeling.

The Staff at Landis Construction Corporation

(202) 726-3777