The two things that drive most people to thinking they need new windows / doors or air conditioning / heating are high energy bills and comfort issues.  Do you need new windows, more insulation, solar panels, new HVAC systems, etc.  In other words, should I spend $5000 or $10,000 to $15,000.  If you call a window company or HVAC company (especially the ones that offer you a “free” energy audit), what do you think their findings will show?  Most likely it will support whatever they are selling.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be have an independent expert that could not only tell you what was specifically wrong with your home, but also tell you how to fix it?  That person is none other than a Certified Energy Auditor.

A certified energy auditor uses the latest in diagnostic technology to test your home for air leakage, duct leakage, air quality, insufficient or oversized HVAC equipment (usually oversized), proper insulation quality and quantity, lighting, the quality and fit of doors and windows, and anything else related to the building envelope (the conditioned living space).  Once the results from the audit are compiled, recommendations that are specific to your home can be made.  This allows you to invest in the repairs or upgrades that will give you the most improvement for your money.  What we often find is that replacing windows / doors and HVAC systems are lower down the list.  Often a little air sealing, duct sealing, and insulation improvements are all that is needed and compared to the other option, a lot cheaper too.

As a good friend of mine once said, “Don’t throw money at the problem, throw knowledge; it’s a lot cheaper”.

Jon L.