I know the big craze these days is investing in solar panels for your home or business to save money on your electric bill and to jump on the bandwagon to start reducing your carbon footprint. Trust me I’m one of those people who are chomping at the bit. But I think it might be prudent to spend a little bit of money on a home energy efficiency audit prior to making a significant investment in solar panels. Let me explain……
First, you can sign up for a free on line audit with your utility company and get a very sketchy general idea of whether or not you can make any immediate low cost changes. Mostly you’ll be encouraged to replace your appliances with energy star products, change light bulbs to cfl’s and seal doors and windows. The good news is by checking out your utilities website your find appliance rebates.
If you are really adamant about buying solar energy panels, having a professional energy audit is advisable. Two years ago I received a quote for installing solar panels in my home which is 2,600 square feet. $30,000 later I choked and glumly decided to not proceed with the project as the ROI was too long.
Spending approximately $400 for a professional energy audit will generally provide specific details that may surprise you. An energy auditor will do a room-by-room examination of the residence, as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills.
A few questions to ask your auditor in advance are if they will be conducting a blower door test, and if they will include a thermographic scan. Some audit companies may also provide a PFT air filtration measurement but it is rarely offered. Some other equipment they may bring may included infared cameras, furnace efficiency meters and surface thermometers
To make the most use of the energy auditors time and experience do a little preparation in advance.
1) Have copies of at least 12 months of your utility bills so they can look at trends and patterns in your usage.
2) Note any existing problems you have such as condensation and uncomfortable and drafty rooms.
3) Let them know if anyone is home during the daytime
4) What is your average thermostat setting for summer and winter
5) How many people live in the house
6) Do you use every room?
Upon completion of you home energy efficiency audit your auditor may make recommendations such as a solar attic fan, foam insulation, or energy efficient windows to name a few. If you decide to make your house more energy efficient prior to installing solar energy panels you might discover the price of installation may go down as you will not need the solar panels to generate as much energy.
The following website provides a list of qualified contractors that perform energy audits throughout California. The California Building Performance Contractors Association (CBPCA) Find a qualified contractor by calling 888-352-2722 (in Northern California) or 888-357-1777 (in Southern California).
Their Green Home contractors are highly trained in advanced building techniques and building science theory. Every Green Home contractor must demonstrate a high level of competence both in the field and in their understanding of building science before qualifying for the CBPCA Green Home Energy Upgrade program.
