It is happy news that more and more people are choosing to order an energy audit of their home. By correcting issues identified in the course of an audit, homeowners can save a lot of money on utility bills while also improving the comfort of their homes and reducing their carbon footprint.
Unfortunately, with the popularity of energy audits comes the potential for deception. Nothing has energized this potential as much as the new Missouri Senate Bill authorizing income tax deductions for energy audits and related improvements.
While the bill clearly states that audits must be performed by an individual certified by the State of Missouri to perform Home Energy Audits, that has not stopped unqualified people from hopping on the bandwagon.
Here are a few tips for selecting an auditor for your home...
1) Make sure they are certified by the State Of Missouri. This certification assures you of two big things...
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That the individual has extensive training in building science and has passed written and field tests.
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That the work performed will be eligible for a tax dedeuction.
2) Make sure that the energy auditor will be performing a "full" audit of your home. Just because they have a certification doesn't mean that they will use all of the tools and invest all of the time necessary to give you the full value of an audit.
Ask if the auditor will be conducting a "Blower Door" test. This test is required under the protocol endorsed by the state and is an important part of getting a good result. If the auditor does not intend to employ a blower door then you are not getting a
complete energy audit.
Ask if the auditor will will using a thermal imaging camera. While not required under the Missouri protocol, thermal imaging is a huge "value added" procedure that helps the auditor provide you with the most specific and valid information.
Ask if the auditor will be conducting a combustion safety test. Required by the state protocol, a combustion safety test assure you that your combustion appliances (furnace, water heater, etc) are venting their exhaust gases properly to keep your family safe.
Also, ask how much experience the auditor has. While training and testing is important, experience is also a key factor. You really want to find someone that has completed at least 25 or 30 audits to make sure they have adequate field experience.
Or, just call Home Green Home. Our auditors are certified by the state and by the Building Performance Institute. Also, we're members of the federal government's "Home Performance with Energy Star" program and also partner with the Missouri Botanical Garden's Earthways Center.
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