Residential Energy Assessments & ENERGY STAR                                                            

Existing Homes

Marietta Inspection Services, LLC is now offering Residential Energy Assessments.  An energy assessment serves as an essential starting point for increasing your home’s performance, energy efficiency and overall value.  Trained as a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater by the Southface Energy Institute, our inspector performs a thorough analysis of your home to establish a baseline on a standardized scale.  Then potential improvements are computer modeled to determine feasibility and estimate return on investment (ROI).  Much like a standard home inspection, the length of time it takes to perform the assessment and pricing varies based on several house-specific factors.  If you are considering a home assessment, please give us a call.  We’d be happy to answer any questions, explain the process more thoroughly and provide a quote.


                       

   Blower Door                        Duct Blaster                            DG700


Your Home, Energy Efficiency and the Assessment

With increased awareness of green building practices combined with multiple tax incentives available to homeowners, is a great time to have an assessment done of your home to determine if you can save some green by making your home more energy efficient.  Did you know that utility bills for an energy efficient home are typically 20-30% less than the average home?  Also, when properly addressed, energy efficient homes have better indoor air quality which, studies have shown, translates to healthier occupants.

 

Some other interesting facts:

 

  • A typical home looses 20-30% of the air that flows through its duct system.
  • Department of Energy (DOE) studies show that about 40% of a typical home’s energy is lost due to air infiltration.
  • As a whole, The United States consumes nearly a million dollars worth of energy every minute, 24 hours a day every day of the year!
  • The residential building sector accounts for about 21% of the total US energy consumption.

 

Whether you own a new or an older home there are often many strategies available for reducing your overall energy consumption and improving the comfort of your home.  In addition, there are now many tax credits available from the Federal Government that allow you to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your overall cost to do the improvements.  Our goal is to identify low and/or no-cost ways for you to improve the overall energy efficiency of your home while simultaneously improving comfort, indoor air quality and reducing your carbon footprint.

 

As mentioned above, an energy assessment serves as an essential starting point for increasing your home’s performance and energy efficiency.    The assessment looks at your entire home as one system.  Each of the individual parts must function together in the most efficient way possible to provide you with the most comfort, the best indoor air quality at the highest efficiency.  For example, excessive air changes or leakage between damp crawl spaces and unconditioned attic spaces not only makes your climate control (HVAC) system work harder and use more energy, it also has a huge impact on the quality of air within the home. 

 

During the assessment a certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) professional trained in building science will systematically evaluate your home using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.   Dimensional data of the building and windows along with information on building construction, layout, insulation levels and HVAC specifications is gathered.  In addition, the homeowner is asked to provide utility data and details of issues/concerns.  All information collected is entered into an energy rating software program where the home is rated on a standardized scale.  “What if” simulation is performed to determine the most cost effective upgrades or retrofits.  A legitimate baseline is established, improvements and estimated costs are identified and most importantly an estimated return on investment (ROI) can be determined.

 

We look forward to helping you.  To request additional information about our residential energy assessment program feel free to give us a call at 404-518-5525 or complete the information form under the contact us tab on this web site.

 If you would like more information regarding residential energy efficiency please visit the websites below.

_________________________________________________________________

New Homes - ENERGY STAR
      

 

We are proud to provide rating services to qualify new homes for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are substantially more energy efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Even in states with more rigorous energy codes, the U.S. EPA ensures that ENERGY STAR remains the symbol for truly energy-efficient performance. These homes are good for businesses, consumers, and the environment.

Benefits of owning an ENERGY STAR qualified new home include:

A Label Backed by the Government

All ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are certified to meet EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency. This exemplary performance is verified by an independent third party.

Lower Utility Costs

Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified new homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and hot water heating. Homeowners can expect to save about $200–$400 annually on their utility bills.

More Comfortable/Quieter Homes

The energy-efficient features of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes keep out excessive heat, cold, and noise, and ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms-making these homes more comfortable to live in.

Helping to Create a Better Future

By purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified new home, you are joining millions of consumers who have changed to ENERGY STAR, helping our nation reduce our energy needs and building a cleaner environment for the future.

Features of our ENERGY STAR qualified new homes include:

  • Effective Insulation — Properly installed insulation that meets or exceeds national code requirements helps achieve even temperatures throughout the house while using less energy. The result is lower utility costs and a quieter, more comfortable home.
  • High-Performance Windows — Advanced window coatings help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. They also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furniture.
  • Tight Construction and Tight Ducts — Attention to detail by sealing all holes, cracks, and seams in ducts and construction assemblies helps eliminate drafts, moisture, dust, pests, and pollen. This improves comfort and the quality of indoor air, while lowering maintenance costs.
  • Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment — More efficient and properly sized heating and cooling systems use less energy, which reduces utility bills. These systems also turn on and off less frequently, removing more humidity and providing better comfort.

For more information on ENERGY STAR qualified new homes feel free to give us a call at 404-518-5525 or complete the information form under the contact us tab on this web site.

Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at http://www.energystar.gov/.

Or visit these helpful links for Residential Energy Efficiency:

Southface Energy Institute - http://www.southface.org
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) - http://www.natresnet.org
Tax Incentives for Alternative Energy and Energy Efficiency - White Paper
Federal, State and Local Tax Incentives - http://www.dsireusa.org
Energy Star - http://www.energystar.gov/

 

 

 

 

Copyright . Marietta Inspection Services, LLC. All rights reserved.