Energy Audit

When you have a drafty home, you aren't just losing heat, your losing money. Energy audits and improvements can help you create a home that’s efficient and more comfortable. And can help you see a savings of up to 30% on your energy bills.  

Looking to get up to $2,500 for home improvements?
Free Eyeballing vs. an Official Energy Audit. 

The reason an official energy audit cost money is because expensive diagnostic equipment is required for accurate testing of a home. This equipment ultimately defines if you are eligible for home improvement incentives and or rebate.  A Blower door test as well as thermal imaging must take place to show audit data or no incentives or rebates can be taken advantage of.

If you are getting a "free" audit, do yourself a favor and ask if you will be eligible for credit. Most likely they will need to reschedule more of your time to do a proper test with equipment that will cost a fee after their free eyeballing. Now, don' t get us wrong, eyeballing can fix plenty of things and get you well on your route to saving money, but it won't matter to efficiency vermont when they are handing out the dollars.

RECEIVE UP TO $2,500 IN ENERGY IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVES PER HOUSEHOLD >>

Here is a list of things commonly looked at during just an 'eyeballed' energy audit:

1. Window & door condition
2. Weather stripping
3. Storm Windows or lack of
4. Attic temprature and ventilation
5. Ice hanging from edge of roof 
6. Check for programmable thermostats
7. Look at how house is zoned
8. Filters checked on a regular basis 
9. Furnace maintained and cleaned annually
10. How old the heating system is and how efficient
11. Hot Water Heating source
12. Do not set thermostats back more than 5 degrees at night
13. Basement temperature

An Official Energy Audit 

An official Energy Audit allows for a resident to earn incentives and or rebates for making repairs or improvements to their home to be more energy efficient. What is an official Energy Audit you ask? On top of the 'eyeball' tests, the home is sealed up and a piece of equipment called "the blower door test" is used. The Blower Door has long been recognized as the best designed and supported building airtightness testing system in the world. Then a thermal camera captures where you home is leaking heat, shows the temprature and photographs it.

Here are some of the important services you may receive through an official home energy audit:

• Evaluation of your building tightness and insulation effectiveness using a blower door to measure air leaks.
  
  
• Thermal Scan images to show where there is heat loss with the temperature.
  
  
• Assessment of your heating system efficiency and safety and recommendations for energy-saving lighting and appliances
  
  
• Professional advice on ways to improve the comfort and durability of your home as well as solve moisture and ventilation problems
  
  
• Assistance in prioritizing energy-saving home improvements
  
  
• Access to discount financing for energy-efficient home improvement loans

Efficiency Vermont provides technical assistance and financial incentives to Vermont households and businesses, to help them reduce their energy costs with energy-efficient equipment and lighting and with energy-efficient approaches to construction and renovation. Note: Information provided by Efficiency Vermont. 

More useful information from Efficiency Vermont: FAQ | Steps to Success 

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