Other services sometimes provided by a professional energy audit firm include:
The term has been used to describe actions ranging from simple reviews of your energy bills, to complete professional energy analysis. Energy Audits of Chicagoland provides a complete, professional energy analysis of your home, examining only the areas you need.
Buyer Beware!
Even among energy audit firms, the actions that make up an “energy audit” vary greatly. Energy auditing is a relatively new industry, and as such is still unregulated. Therefore, unfortunately, in most states (including Illinois) no training whatsoever is required to call oneself an energy auditor. Lately organizations have popped up around the nation that offer a “certification” in energy auditing. Most are simple one-day classes, advocating simple inspections, without the use of diagnostic equipment. This level of audit often can lead a homeowner down the wrong path: wasting money to solve an issue that does not truly exist, or completely missing an opportunity to save big money or solve a comfort issue.
Fortunately, the building science industry has recognized two organizations whose training and certification procedures are far superior to others: the Residential Services Network (RESNET) and the Building Performance Institute (BPI). In the few U.S. states that require certification, the procedures of these organizations were chosen to establish state requirements. Be sure your energy auditor is a certified RESNET or BPI provider.
The Energy Audit Process
An energy audit usually take less than a full day and does not disrupt most home activities.
Analysis generally included in a complete, professional energy audit include: