As a special favor to my former and future clients, I've partnered with TexEnergy Solutions to SAVE 20% OFF your HOME ENERGY AUDIT and reduce energy consumption by GREEN-O-VATING your current home. Taking steps to save money on monthly utility bills can lead to improving your home’s marketability. A Home Energy Audit is a step in the right direction! A home energy audit will:
1. locate and quantify energy waste and comfort issues in your home,
2. propose and prioritize reasonable, affordable solutions,
3. provide an evaluation of the proposed alternatives, and
4. calculate your payback timeframes and return on investment.
A reputable certified energy auditor will provide documentation every step of the way. Your energy audit will establish a benchmark by considering the current condition of your home and utilizing your recent utility bills. You will learn how your home stacks up against the Energy Star requirements before you perform the improvements and you will be able to quantify which improvements or repairs will have the greatest impact and attach a price-tag to each improvement individually.
Your energy auditor’s diagnostic inspection will probably include, but may not be limited to:
Your attic, insulation, and ductwork. In the heat of the summer, attic temperatures can reach 130 degrees. Leaking and improperly insulated duct systems cause an average loss of 30% of conditioned air in a typical home.
Testing of your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. Nearly half of an average home’s total energy bill is for space heating and cooling. Not only should your HVAC system be in optimum operating condition, it should also be properly sized. Believe it or not, an over-sized system can use energy inefficiently, resulting in unnecessarily high utility bills and high temperature swings during mild weather.
Thermostats. A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to bring a space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, by maintaining the highest or lowest required temperatures for four or five hours a day instead of 24 hours, a programmable thermostat can pay for itself in energy saved within four years.
Windows and doors. Audits will expose air penetration and leakage. A blower door test for air and duct leakage. It’s important to determine the air infiltration rate of a building for several reasons: reduced energy consumption, avoidance of moisture condensation problems and uncomfortable drafts, and analysis of indoor air quality. Airborne contaminants impact allergies, asthma and other illnesses.
Appliances.
Hot water system.
Lighting system and bulbs.
Shower heads and toilets.
Irrigation system and swimming pool/spa, if applicable.
The inspection will help you make an informed decision once you know the cost and the effectiveness of each of the recommended improvements. The payback calculation will give you a reliable estimate of the timeframe for you to recover your costs and begin to achieve a positive return on your investment.
If you would like to take advantage of this offer, call me at 214.528.5888 or send an email to joan@AlexColeRealEstate.com. I'll send you a card to present to TexEnergy Solutions so you can take advantage of this opportunity between now and March 30, 2009.
Posts
