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Home Energy Audits

The first step to analyzing and improving energy efficiency of your home is an energy audit.

An energy audit looks at all areas of your home to find ways to make it more comfortable, lower energy use, and improve efficiency.

It is a comprehensive assessment of the energy efficiency of your home. It includes:

  • Performing a blower door test to determine the rate of air leakage in your home.

  • Infrared camera testing to assess insulation and find air leaks.

  • Safety testing to ensure there are no gas leaks or carbon monoxide issues.

  • Ensuring proper ventilation to reduce indoor air quality issues.

We are proud participating contractors of the BGE Home Performance Program and offer rebates and services associated with that program. And did you know energy upgrades could increase the resale value of your home?

During a home energy audit, our auditors perform a comprehensive assessment including:

  • Also known as the blower door test, we test the integrity of the shell of the building (also known as the building envelope) to find areas of air leakage that can impact interior comfort as well as drive up energy bills.  Determining your home’s infiltration rate can help us recommend sealing areas where unwanted air and contaminants may be infiltrating your home.  Sealing those areas help with efficiency, comfort, and indoor air quality.

  • Our auditors test the efficiency and performance of your heating equipment and water heater systems to ensure they are vented properly while testing for carbon monoxide.

  • Every audit includes a thermal image diagnostic test that provides conclusive evidence of poor insulation and air leakage.  The image provides visual confirmation of the air leaks that are uncovered during the air infiltration test. We encourage homeowners to observe this test so they can better understand their home’s efficiency.

  • Immediately following the audit, our auditor will provide a verbal summary of our findings. This is followed by a detailed report that outlines recommended actions as well as associated costs, rebates, and return on investment information. This is received roughly seven days after the audit. Our auditor provides in-person explanation of all reports to ensure your questions are answered.

    In addition to the audit report, our team will provide individual estimates for the energy upgrades recommended in the audit. These upgrades are performed in conjunction with our partner company, William D. Wooden Enterprises.

  • Following any energy upgrades performed by GreenWorks Systems, a final energy and health/safety assessment is performed to ensure proper installation and to demonstrate the increased efficiency of your home. The post-install assessment is completed at no additional cost to you.

  • After completion of energy upgrades that are eligible for rebate, GreenWorks Systems will submit all associated material required to ensure you receive your local rebate.

  • Retrotec digital gauge displaying pressure and airflow readings for a blower door test, showing -44.9 Pa pressure and 4336 CFM air flow, Model 5000, connected with a yellow Ethernet cable.

    MANOMETER

  • Infrared thermal image of a room with a reading of 64.4°F, showing temperature variations shown in purple, orange, and yellow hues.

    INFRARED

  • A hand holding a yellow cable connected to an exhaust fan flow meter in a closet with shelves of household products.

    EXHAUST FAN TEST

Frequently Asked Questions


What is an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of the energy efficiency and general health & safety of your home. It is the first step recommended when planning on making improvements to your home. During the audit, we will determine the air tightness of your home, diagnose air leakage issues with infrared inspection, record your insulation levels, and test the efficiency and safety of your HVAC equipment.

For more information about energy audits and the rebate programs in general, please go to:
BGE
Pepco
Delmarva

  • An energy audit is valued at $400. If you have never had an audit performed and your utility is currently providing a rebate program, the cost is $100. BGE and PEPCO both have rebate programs currently.

    An additional fee may be added for homes over 2800 sq ft. The auditor will determine the additional cost (if any) at the time of the audit, and we accept cash, check or credit card.

  • The process can take anywhere from two to five hours depending on the size and complexity of the home. Our auditors generally complete an audit within three hours.

  • No, you are welcome to observe the audit, but you will not be needed for the entirety of the assessment. However, it is a good idea to make our auditors aware of any areas of concern throughout the home. We recommend homeowners be present for the blower door portion of the assessment because that can be the most revealing part of the process.

  • A blower door is a machine used to test the air tightness of a home. The blower door will be installed at an entry door and when turned on will remove air from the home and force air to come in through areas of the home where it should not. During this test we will make observations of these areas of leakage through infrared testing and recommend solutions to seal these areas. This test helps us confirm why certain areas of the home may be uncomfortable and inefficient.

  • Yes. We will be in each room of the home, but the testing performed does not require the home to be empty. The blower door is not very loud; it just sounds like a big fan. We routinely perform audits with young children and dogs/cats in the home.

  • Yes. You will receive a full report of our observations and corresponding recommendations within a week of your audit. The report will include estimated savings associated with our recommendations.

  • During the colder months, please refrain from using wood burning fireplaces for 24 hours prior to the energy audit. The required testing is unable to be performed with an active fire.

  • The audit will take approximately 2 to 3 hours.

  • The auditor will need access to the attic, basement/crawl space, and the heating/cooling system.