What is an Energy Audit with Home Performance Testing?
Fred is testing duct leakage with
a duct pressurization fan and manometer
A home performance energy audit is a comprehensive look at the complete "house as a system" to evaluate how well it is performing. A home performance auditor or contractor will test and examine your home for:
- Insulation levels installed
- Air barrier effectiveness – the air leaks in/out of your home’s shell
- Moisture levels and installed systems for management of moisture
- Ventilation systems to insure quality indoor air
- Carbon Monoxide levels in the house
- Operational safety of carbon monoxide sources (gas stove, furnace, hot water heater)
- Furnace and A/C operating condition.
- Air leakage in the heating/cooling ducts (see photo.)
- Analyze potential pressure balance problems through the home that could cause safety or comfort issues.
Additionally the auditor will analyze your energy bills to calculate your conditioning costs as well as the cost of your electrical base load (lighting, refrigeration, entertainment, etc.)
Recommendations
Once the home performance professional has gathered all of this data from the audit they will be able to identify what is working well and what needs attention. An energy upgrade report with recommendations will result from a home performance audit that will offer you opportunities to improve your energy efficiency, comfort, safety and health by bringing your home into an optimized "house as a system."
