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1. What is an
energy audit, a condition survey?
Informed Energy Decisions’ type of energy audit is based on a
“condition survey” of your building’s structure,
systems and appliances, using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools as well
as good old fashioned observation, both yours and ours. Unlike the
do-it-yourself clipboard survey offered free and online by many local
utility companies, our energy audit/condition survey inspects the entire
building with special equipment and expert eyes.
We use an infrared scanner, infrared
thermometer, air flow measuring devices, a
blower-door fan that depressurizes the air in the house, low-E detectors
and other tools to help us detect the way air is moving through your
house and how energy is being wasted.
2. How long does
a condition survey take?
The average single family home or condo (under 2500 square feet) takes
about 4 hours to inspect every nook and cranny from crawl space to attic
(but don’t worry, we’re not inspecting for dirty
socks!). We prefer our clients to be with us during the condition
survey so we can point out our findings as we go. Then, with notepad in
hand, we sit down with you for another hour to review the major and minor
problems and put together our Improvement Analysis, a list of solutions
in order of cost and priority.
3. What do I get
from you after the audit?
Before we leave, we’ll give you the Condition Survey, a written
report based on our checklists and notes of findings. We’ll give
you a packet containing a list of contractors that do good work,
information on heating systems, windows, current standards on insulation,
and more. You also have the option, at additional cost, of receiving
within a week or so an Improvement Analysis, a computer-generated report
based on these findings with cost and savings estimates. (We use various
computer-modeling programs depending on the size of the building and the
objectives of the simulation.)
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4. What if I
have more questions after you leave?
We welcome your phone calls or emails to get further clarification. We
can also review a contractor’s bid for work to be done. (Depending
on its complexity there may be an additional charge.)
5. Will you come
back to fix any of the problems?
We’re happy to come back as your construction administrators or
project managers. In that case, we set up an additional contract with you
to outline our new responsibilities. These may include reviewing
architectural and engineering plans, putting out requests for contractor
bids, helping you select contractors and products, inspecting the
work-in-progress, re-testing the building for energy performance when the
work is completed.
6. Should I
replace my windows?
In our Chicagoland climate, windows account for
about 20% of heat loss and 25% of summer heat gain in houses. Replacing
windows can reduce some of the unwanted loss or gain.
But are there alternatives to window
replacement? As a matter of fact, yes! We assess the current condition of
your windows and provide you with suitable options to reduce excessive
heat or cold. Caulking and repairing, double glazing, even putting up
curtains and other improvements are available. (An excellent resource for
selecting window energy improvements is www.homeenergy.org.)
However, we have found that windows
are usually NOT the biggest offenders for drafts and cold zones. (One
very unhappy client came to us after spending $16,000 on new windows only
to have worse drafts than before because the new frames were not
sufficiently air-sealed when installed.) So it's best to investigate
first the source of air leakage throughout the house.
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7. What is
air-sealing and should my house be air-sealed?
Air sealing is the practice of closing off unnecessary bypasses, holes,
open seams and cracks that allow unconditioned and outdoor air to mix
with conditioned air (heated or cooled). Most houses and workplaces merit
air seal work. Among the many tests we perform in our energy audit, the
air leak survey is the most crucial. With it, we pinpoint leaks for
repair, and gauge the overall leakage in your building so that we can
then point out where to control ventilation. Contrary to popular belief,
opening windows is no substitute for fan-forced ventilation.
8. Can my house
be too tight?
Yes, but an air tight house is fine if it has controlled ventilation.
Since there are many choices for ventilation, we help you select the
system that best suits your budget, your home, and your desired comfort
level.
9. Will more
insulation lower my utility bills?
Walls are usually the largest area exposed to cold, so insulation usually
has benefits, but improper installation of insulation is often the
culprit of energy loss. Our infrared scanner can reveal defects in frame
wall insulation—from "settled" or skipped areas to poor
placement and fastening. Masonry walls often have no insulation, though
foam insulation is now available. Avoiding unnecessary or inappropriate
insulation materials can save you much more than our fee.
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10. What about
insulating my attic?
The attic/roof of houses accounts for about 15% of heat loss and 22% of
summer heat gain in older two-story houses in our climate, and often a
higher percentage in single-story houses. Our energy audit can identify
several problems associated with attic insulation: by-pass leaks,
insulation voids, roof heat gain. There are a variety of ways we assist
you to seal by-pass leaks and correct insulation voids, and we can work
with roofers to take care of all three problems while re-roofing or
insulation rehab is in progress.
11. Could
faulty air ducts be causing energy loss in my home?
The average forced air system in houses loses 10% of heat produced by the
furnace, mostly through air leaks. In extreme cases, 40% of the heating
bill is due to hidden duct leaks. Additionally, leaky ducts are a likely
cause of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. We measure duct leakage and assess
hazardous pressure imbalance as part of our standard Condition Survey.
12. Should
floors be insulated?
If your floor gives you ‘cold feet,’ here’s an
opportunity to save money and aggravation. There are many conditions that
can cause this problem, which our infrared scan can quickly identify.
13. Won't a new
furnace solve my heating problems?
Possibly, but without first doing an energy audit of the whole house, you
may be throwing good money after bad. Remember: your house works as a
system; changing one thing can affect the performance of other
components. Sealing all those leaks we're likely to find will make it
possible to reconsider installing new equipment.
If new HVAC equipment is needed, we
help you determine the right size for your building. Many houses, in
fact, have furnace capacities greatly oversized for the building.
That’s not only costlier when purchased, but less efficient to run.
Like having a tiger run the house where a cat would do.
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14. What about
replacing my air conditioner?
It is often better to reduce cooling requirement rather than replace
equipment. Most improvements to reduce heat loss also reduce your cooling
needs. We pay special attention to window orientation, shading and
glazing because direct sun is a big cause of excessive summer heat in
buildings.
15. Should I
replace my water boiler?
If because of age, inefficiency or lack of capacity your current boiler
needs to be replaced, we can advise you on the latest developments in
boilers and tankless water heaters.
16. How much
can I save by upgrading interior lighting?
Compact fluorescent lighting uses about 75% less electricity to produce a
quantity of light equal to the same sized incandescent bulb. New T-8 and
T-5 (slender) fluorescent tubes and electronic ballasts use about 30%
less electricity compared to older 1-1/2" diameter tubes and
magnetic ballasts. You will save money by switching out your old incandescents for compact fluorescents in any fixture
that will accommodate them. The Lighting Research Center
has lots of information on new lighting options, not to mention the
advantages of daylighting (the use of directed
skylights to enhance interior lighting.)
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17. Are my
appliances costing more to use than they should?
Informed Energy Decisions improvement analysis includes detailed guidance
regarding appliance efficiency.
18. Can energy
efficiency upgrades be designed into rehab work?
Once you establish an efficiency goal as a result of our energy audit,
it’s a great idea to incorporate the improvements in the initial
planning for rehab. The good news is that the cost of
efficiency improvements are substantially lower when incorporated into
other work.
Recently-adopted energy codes call for
upgrade to code when any component of a building is replaced. However, it
is in your economic best interest to go 'beyond code,’ when you
consider that the Code merely establishes a minimum acceptable standard
that often falls short of economically optimal performance. We value the
opportunity to work with your professional designer, builder, kitchen
specialist, etc., to put an effective energy package in place.
19. Can you
suggest contractors?
Yes. We work closely with contractors who meet our requirements for
effective installation that also meets durability, safety, and other
performance standards. We support industry standards for energy
performance work, and are the first Illinois firm to meet the Energy
Analyst standards of the Building Performance Institute.
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20. Is steam
heat a good money saving option?
The use of steam heat provides two good opportunities for savings,
especially for multi-family buildings:
1) balanced distribution and improved
control, and
2) conversion
to hot water heating using exiting pipes and radiators.
Though steam heat has its drawbacks,
new steam balancing practices developed in Minnesota show that it is possible to
provide stable temperatures and meet comfort preferences. We offer a
variety of ways to work with professional property management, your Association
Board, on-site maintenance, or a selected heating (HVAC) contractor, to
apply steam balancing.
Conversion of steam heating to hot
water heating has been shown to reduce utility cost by an average of 23%,
though costs vary considerably depending on the details of conversion
work.
21. Could you
inform me a little about alternative energy?
There are many exciting opportunities in this field: solar, windpower, hydrogen and fuel cells, and other
alternative energy technologies. Solar water heating is included in the
Informed Energy Decisions Improvement Analysis. We believe that, at
present, technical mastery of several alternative energy options fall
short of economic feasibility, and that you can best prepare for
alternative energy by realizing the energy performance potential of your
building with standard technologies.
The internet is a tremendous resource
for information about alternative energy. Some information is provided by
enthusiasts and promoters and should be viewed in this context. See our
'Links' section for some web sites that we like.
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22. Could you
inform me a little about supplemental heat?
Supplemental heat includes fireplaces, electric and kerosene space
heaters, and the like.
There is a widespread 'warm feeling'
about sitting by a fireplace on a wintry night, but it is extremely
inefficient in truly heating your home. Supplemental heat can meet
aesthetic and practical comfort needs but is usually costlier to run and
can be dangerous. Arranging the central comfort system to respond to spot
discomfort and special needs is often more economical. We are happy to
discuss your use of supplemental heat, and options to resolve unsafe or
uneconomical use of supplemental heat, in the context of our services.
23. Are you
familiar with geothermal heating/cooling?
Geothermal is a version of electric heating and cooling pulling heat from
the mass of earth surrounding your house in the winter and moving heat
from your house back to the earth in summer. Tapping hot water and using
geothermal systems for air conditioning can make economic sense. We will
be happy to explore use of geothermal energy with you in our Improvement
Analysis.
24. What is the
most overlooked benefit of energy performance?
Home sales value. For decades homeowners and home buyers have been
surveyed about home features they value most. Efficiency consistently
lands near the top of the list. While realtors may agree that location is
more important, we know that given comparable location and features,
buyers pay more for the home with low utility bills. In fact, customary
upgrades such as kitchen remodeling and expansion space cost more than
the resulting gain in sale value. Not so with efficiency improvements.
The financial analysis we provide is key to
understanding this most overlooked value of energy performance.
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25. What if I
have already installed some major efficiency improvements?
Our business is to move your present level of efficiency and comfort to
the level you want. No single improvement will address all of the twenty
ways that energy is used. We encourage all owners to 'benchmark'
efficiency (see www.energystar.gov/benchmark). Benchmarking tells you how
you have progressed with efficiency, and, if it interests you, how your
efficiency compares to others. We always encourage our clients to
benchmark following the installation work they've done with Informed
Energy Decisions.
26. Do I really
have to do anything?
Most owners delay action and/or limit their investment in efficiency
upgrades, so they never know how much they’re missing in terms of
comfort and how much they’re losing in terms of money. It is
unnecessary to accept high utility cost, settle for discomfort, incur the costs of emergency repair, or risk safety
and health problems when you can manage it all safely, knowledgeably and
economically with the help of expert guidance and easy financing.
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27. How much
does energy efficiency cost?
Over time doing nothing is probably the most expensive option you have.
Making large investments in your building’s energy efficiency based
on hunches or the persuasion of product advertising is also a costly
option. Getting a complete energy diagnosis and developing a workable
plan is your most cost-effective option.
We can help you calculate the cost of
making different improvements and compare them to the amount of energy
dollars you will save over time. Spending wisely up front will net you
savings not only on future fuel bills but add value to your home (not to
mention enjoy greater comfort while you live in it).
28. How do I
know that I'll save?
Energy performance field studies have progressed over the past 25 years.
Many studies are covered by Home Energy Magazine, and can be downloaded
free of charge (see www.homeenergy.org). These
studies verify the effectiveness of energy improvements and programs.
29. Can I
finance energy efficiency?
Yes. We’ll show you how to take advantage of preferential lending
terms available for energy improvements. Underwriting terms established
by major secondary lenders, such as Fannie-Mae, provide 0% down payment
financing. Informed Energy Decisions works with lenders who offer energy
improvement loans, and we can provide the lenders the analysis they
require to process your loan.
In many cases, you can achieve utility
savings that are greater than the loan payments for the improvements, so
that the energy improvements will have cost you nothing. Improved
efficiency can also reduce assessments and raise resale value of the
property.
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30. Are there
tax incentives to invest in energy improvements?
Yes, in the year 2006 and 2007, new Federal tax credits are coming into
play for homeowners, builders and commercial building owners. Explaining
those options is part of our report.
31. What does
your Condition Survey cost?
We charge $500 to perform a condition survey of the average single-family
home of less than 2500 square feet. There are additional charges above
2500 square feet or for additional heating and cooling systems. Additional
travel fees may apply for homes outside of Chicago as well as for weekend jobs.
Rates for multi-unit buildings, high-rise condominiums and commercial
buildings are set on a case-by-case basis.
Many of our clients find our fee is
returned to them many times over, by saving on services and equipment
they would have bought had we not advised them with more suitable
products and solutions. "Stop
guessing" is not only our motto, but our assurance
that your money is spent wisely.
One of our clients who implemented all
of our recommendations, and kept careful statistics before and after, cut
his energy costs by 60%. (It doesn't hurt that he teaches statistics!) Of
course, results can vary.
32. I live in a
condo or apartment building. Can you survey my unit alone?
Generally, no. There are a few exceptions involving a unit that was
experiencing conditions unique to that unit. While improvements can
sometimes be made in one unit of a building, we know energy doesn’t
observe real estate boundaries. Remember, air flow has a dynamic through
the whole building, coursing through shared ductwork, floor joists,
walls, shared corridors. Even townhouses in a row, each with individual
heating units, share common construction flaws. It is to your advantage
(and more cost effective per participant) to have the energy detectives
examine the entire building complex.
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33. Am I in
your service area?
Informed Energy Decisions provides services in the greater Chicago metropolitan
area. Travel costs are added for services 25 miles beyond our home base
in the city.
34. What is the
best time to get started?
Always. Although motivation generally peaks when cold weather arrives in
the fall, and again when 'dead of winter' utility bills arrive in
February and March, these are not necessarily the best time to pursue
your own improvements. The insulation companies get booked weeks in
advance (as does Informed Energy Decisions!). The weather is too cold to
make some of the exterior improvements, and there’s no escaping to
the outdoors while renovations are taking place indoors.
Start anytime of year and be assured
that winter will come again and again but….next winter the furnace
can be working less hard while your family stays toasty warm throughout
the house.
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