The Four Steps:
~ Energy Efficiency
Audits ~
(Page Two)
Go To Page One
Step1:
The INSPECTION
- In order to reduce your utility bills, we must first find out all of the places where you are wasting energy in your home.
- A home energy
inspection (energy audit) is necessary to accomplish this. This
energy audit should be done by an independent, certified energy
inspector. "Independent" meaning one who has no financial
interest in the improvements
recommended. In other words, he will not be the person or company
who is hired to make the modifications.
- The energy inspector will measure,
examine, and evaluate the items that influence the energy useage
in your home. This includes things like the size of your home,
the insulations, the efficiency of your appliances, room drafts,
and the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems
(HVAC).
- One place that almost every family can saves
lots and lots of energy is by replacing their hot water heater with a
modern tankless on-demand unit. I did this in my own home and it
immediately dropped my electric bills by more than $20 per month.
Read about it here on my water heater page.
Step
2: The DETAILED ANALYSIS
- The data that is gathered during the
energy inspection is then analyzed using some specialized software. This software then produces a
comprehensive report
that shows which energy-efficiency improvements would
lower your energy costs. The report
is tailored to the house being evaluated, and takes into account
regional variables such as the local weather
patterns, fuel/electricity prices, and how much it would cost to
make the recommended modification to the home.
- The report also lists accurate
estimates of the
dollar amount savings and costs for each energy-efficiency
recommendation.
It also describes just how long it will take for the modification
to pay for itself in the form of lower utility bills. The report
specifically identifies which improvements that, if financed, will save
more money on your utility bills than it costs to install. These
are the home improvements that
everyone can make since they require no out-of-pocket cost if they are
financed.
- The "Recommendations"
section of the report enables contractors to provide cost
estimates
to you in advance, without making a visit to your home. This
section also lists additional ways to save power in Idaho by listing
item-related no-cost
and/or low-cost improvements that you can take. Although this
sample report does not show it, your audit report from OxBow comes
complete with infrared digital imagery and interpretive analysis.
See
a Sample Energy Audit Report (without Infrared Photos)
Step
3: The IMPLEMENTATION
You can make the
modifications yourself, or you can hire the work out. If your
choice is to hire a contractor, all you have to do is enter your zip
code and the type of service you are interested in,
and you will be able to access qualified contractors near your home.
You also have the
option of submitting a bid to contractors.com. If you choose this
option, up to four local
contractors will contact you to provide estimates for your project. Find a
Contractor
The contractors.com web site service provides the following:
- A list of qualified contractors in your area
- The ability to review contractor profiles
- Testimonials of these contractors provided by past clients
- Hot links to the various contractor web sites
- Obtain free
estimates from contractors by submitting your project
NATE
Certified contractors that specialize in heating and cooling. www.natex.org
Angie’s List
Not available in all areas yet, but
their coverage is growing. Angie's List is an online, fee-based
membership database that contains contractors who
have been hired by homeowners. The homeowners then post their
opinion (review) of that contractor's work, price, professionalism and
other factors. www.angieslist.com
CMC Energy Services
CMC is one of America's oldest energy savvy companies... they will
provide a technical expert to advise you and answer your questions
about your home energy audit/inspection that was performed on your
home. Feel free to call their energy expert at (866) 843-5500.
More resources are available at: Energy
Tips & Energy Loans and Incentives
Step 4: The FINANCING
Home improvements that save energy are unique because
they reduce your energy bills... thereby increasing
disposable income. An example: If insulating your hot water
heater costs you, let's say $30 to complete... but doing so
reduces your energy bill by $5 per month... then this simple act will
pay for itself in only 6 months. Every month thereafter, it is
literally putting an extra $5 in your pocket.
Often,
the
best and easiest way to go is to simply finance your energy improvement
recommendations as part of your mortgage or as part of a home
improvement loan. You then have the advantage of low monthly
payments due
to a 30-year or a 15-year repayment terms and at a relatively low
interest rate. Another huge advantage is the interest
that is then deductible from your income tax!
The improvements recommended in the "Improvements that Save More
than they Cost"
section of your energy audit report will
automatically qualify for financing, since each recommendation
increases the value of
the house without reducing disposable income. In other words, the
monthly cost of financing the modifications will cost less than the
amount of dollars saved when it comes time to pay your monthly utility
bills!
- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has what is called the "Streamlined
(k) Limited Repair Program".
The purpose of this program is to assist homeowners in making
uncomplicated improvements to a home that do not require
plans, consultants, engineers or architects. This program
includes
the numerous energy-efficiency improvements such as:
> Modernizing of heating and cooling
systems and water heaters
> Weatherization, to include
insulation, weather sealing & window replacement
> Purchase and installation of energy efficient appliances to
include refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers
The FHA Streamlined (k) also has:
- No minimum monetary threshold for repair costs
- A maximum mortgage amount of $35,000 for
repair costs
- Flexibility. It can be issued by any FHA lender.
- Ease. The Streamlined (k) does not require a rating.
- Some lenders offer the
unsecured Fannie Mae Energy Loan in amounts of between
$1,000 to $20,000. This particular energy loan normally has a 10-year term. It's interest rates are generally better
than those offered by contractors or suppliers, although it is not normally as good as
the FHA Streamlined (K) loan.
- Some gas
utilities and electric companies offer financing as well. This is
intended for their consumers to make energy efficiency
improvements in their homes. Many of them also offer rebates for
the installation of energy efficient appliances and
heating and cooling systems. Check your gas and electric company
websites for more
information about financing and rebates that may be available.
- One more resource
for rebates and financing assistance:
Energy Star Rebate Locator
Energy Loans and Other
Incentives
Nationally Available
EnergyStarLoans.com
USDA - Energy Initiatives
Proudly
Serving the Following Counties:
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Valley, and Washington
Oxbow Home Inspections
• PO Box 4296 Boise, ID 83711 • 208.781.0605
"Dappy" Jones: Owner/Inspector • E-Mail:
dappy.jones@oxbowinspections.com
© 2007- 2008 Oxbow Home
Inspections and Radon Testing, LLC
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