Energy Assessment

An energy assessment can be a logical first step toward reducing energy waste. Energy advisors perform various tests to determine the best energy savings opportunities and provide suggestions on projects that can address potential health and safety issues including moisture, mold, and radon. Assessments can include a walk-through of the entire home and tests using a blower door, combustion safety equipment and a thermal camera.

Blower Door Test: Air leakage can be assessed with a blower door test. This test measures air flow through the house and is accomplished by either pressuring or depressurizing the structure with a large fan that fits into a doorway. This test can show how airtight or leaky your house is and whether air sealing is recommended. Most Maine homes are three times as leaky as recommended by the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code. While the blower door test is underway, the Energy Advisor may look through the home with a thermal camera to identify sources of air leakage. Identifying and sealing leaks in your home can save hundreds of dollars in energy costs per year.

Combustion Safety Testing: Energy advisors can also conduct combustion safety testing on boilers and furnaces to ensure that they are operating efficiently and venting properly.

Thermal Camera: Thermal (or infrared) cameras allow trained users to identify upgrade opportunities, such as missing insulation.

Indoor Air Quality: An energy advisor might also recommend steps to reduce moisture or improve indoor air quality. These steps can eliminate potential hazards and improve the comfort and longevity of your home.

Recommendations: After conducting an energy audit, an energy advisor may provide you with recommendations to make your home more efficient and comfortable. Some advisors provide extensive reports and computer modeling of your home while others may only provide a checklist of the most important items to address.