What is an Energy Assessment?
Overview
An energy assessment, also known as an energy audit, is the first step toward saving on your monthly utility bills. A comprehensive energy asssessment provided by an Energy Alliance-approved Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor is more than a simple walkthrough. Our assessment is a 3-5 hour analysis of your home's air leakage, heating and cooling equipment, utility usage, insulation needs, and mechanical systems.
Blower Door Testing
Our Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors use a blower door test to determine the air tightness of your home and identify air leaks that can cause drafts and higher energy bills. With the blower door running, your assessment professional will walk room by room, inspecting common areas of air infiltration, and answering any questions you might have along the way. Your contractor will perform a complete check of your home's insulation, looking for gaps that may affect your home's performance. In addition, diagnostic tests are performed to ensure your combustion appliances are operating safely and efficiently.
Utility Bill Analysis
To get the most out of your home energy assessment, your contractor will ask for your home's last 12 months of utility usage. By knowing how much energy your home uses, your contractor can see how your home compares to similar homes in the area and develop a cost-effective plan to help lower your utility bills. If you are a Duke Energy customer, you can download your utility data (and pay your bill online) from Online Services for Ohio customers and Online Services for Kentucky customers.
Energy Assessment Report
Your home performance contractor will then develop a list of potential improvements that will help you reduce your monthly utility bills. Your contractor will review you full home energy report with you, explaining what she or he found and dicuss the options for energy improvements. Your home performance contractor will also explain the recommended measures' return on investment - the potential annual energy savings of each improvement measured against its total cost.
Certified Contractors
The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance works in partnership with highly trained, local home energy assessors to evaluate the most cost effective ways for homeowners to save money on their energy bills. Our contractors have undergone rigorous training with the Building Performance Institute, a leading energy efficiency certification nonprofit.
Get Your Energy Assessment Today
For a limited time, the Energy Alliance is reducing the cost of comprehensive energy assessments from a market rate of $400-$500 to only $50* for most homeowners in Hamilton, Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. Additionally , the cost is reimbursable after making $500 or more in home energy improvements!
Sign up to learn about your home's energy use.
* Reduced cost $50 home energy assessment applies to homes under 3,000 square feet. Additional charges apply for larger homes, click here for details.
