Home Energy Audits

Your North Star Energy Consulting consultant is equipped to do a variety of diagnostic tests and the testing for each property is tailored to the specific conditions of the building and the concerns of the owner. A basic whole house evaluation will typically include visual inspection of insulation levels; condition and installation of exhaust equipment, space and water heating equipment; blower door testing; infrared camera scanning (as temperatures allow); ventilation equipment testing; carbon monoxide testing of gas appliances; worst case depressurization testing; exhaust draft testing of gas appliances. As circumstances require, duct leakage testing and zone pressure diagnostic testing may also be needed. A typical assessment requires 3-3.5 hours. The homeowner is highly encouraged to participate since it is a very educational process.

Free Audits Are Not a Good Deal

Beware of contractors offering free or low cost energy audits.  First of all it is not really free.  You will be paying for the service in the form of high prices for the energy improvements you have done.   Second, all this type of “audit” really is a sophisticated sales pitch with more fancy “bells and whistles”  being put on for the benefit of selling you things you may not really need.  The only way you can get the straight story is to have an audit done by a “conflict free” consultant who does not work for a contractor.