Energy Audits
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How Home Energy Tune-uP® Can Help Homeowners and Home Buyers
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What is Home Energy Tune-uP®?
Home Energy Tune-uP® is a program that makes home energy efficiency improvements available and affordable to all homeowners. Affordable because most improvements will save more on your energy bills than they will cost when financed. I will examine and measure all energy-related parts of the house, answering over 100 questions in the Tune-uP data collection process. This information is then analyzed using over 1000 calculations in order to estimate the savings and costs of each measure. The Tune-uP Report also provides information which may be used for financing. There are currently over 500 Tune-uP inspectors available in 43 states.
Why Should I Have a Tune-uP?
A Tune-uP will help you put your home in top operating condition, and
■ Make your home more comfortable–warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer;
■ Reduce your energy costs by an average of 25%;
■ Increase the value of your home;
■ Improve the environment.
What Does Tune-uP® Provide?
■ Information on which improvements are best for your home–based on an inspection by a certified Energy Inspector.
■ Investment grade savings and cost estimates for each improvement–calculated with the Tune-uP software.
■ Assistance in finding contractors and suppliers–a contractor database.
■ Technical information–direct telephone access to our energy experts.
■ Financing Help–now available with the FHA Streamlined (K) loan and conventional lenders.
■ Energy Education–TuneuP includes a number of recommendations that are either difficult to estimate, such as lights, or that are only found in a few homes, such as skylights. Also included in the Report is a list of maintenance tasks tailored to your home.
Why Every Homebuyer
When buying an older home, upgrading the energy features of the home with a Tune-uP is a source of revenue. The cost of the improvements can be rolled into your mortgage and can be paid for each month from your energy savings. Tune-uP is the only energy audit that identifies the group of improvements whose monthly energy savings exceed the monthly cost when financed.
Step 1 - INSPECTION - Our certified energy inspector will exam, measure, and evaluate factors that effect energy usage in your home, e.g., the size of the home, efficiency of appliances, insulation, draftiness of rooms, and efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
Step 2 - DETAILED ANALYSIS - Specialized software produces a report which shows savings and cost for energy efficiency improvements and provides tips on ways to save more energy and reduce energy bills. The report shows which energy-efficiency improvements would reduce energy costs and make your home more comfortable. The analysis takes into account regional variables such as local weather, implementation costs, and fuel prices. The report contains estimates of savings, costs and payback for each energy efficient recommendation.
Step 3 - IMPLEMENTATION - HSS Property Inspection does not have any financial interest in the improvements recommended. We do nor refer contractors or receive any finder’s fees for any part of this process other than the initial fee for the survey and report. We do offer suggestions to help you find a qualified contractor.
Step 4 - FINANCING - The report lists the improvements, that when financed, will save more than they cost. You can find more information about FHA's "Streamlined (k) Limited Repair Program", from your Financer, by which home owners & home buyers can finance up to an additional $35,000 into their mortgage for energy-efficiency improvements identified by their Inspector. Fannie Mae also has a program called "Fannie Mae Energy Loan" for $1,000 up to $20,000. Also look at your local utility company; many times they have programs that help with credits and rebates.
With ever-rising energy prices, home owners are trying to find ways to make their homes more energy efficient. Some options might include:
- having an energy audit or inspection of their home to help pinpoint energy dollars that could be saved
- installing energy efficient appliances - like Energy Star rated appliances
- upgrading to energy efficient windows or installing window treatments (like solar film or shades)
- adding solar energy technology to their homes
- lowering/raising thermostat temperatures to use less energy
- installing more energy efficient heating or cooling systems
- switching to alternative fuel sources or green power sources
- finding help from their utilities to pay their bills
A Home Energy Tune-uP® or a HERS Rating?
Rating the energy efficiency of homes has been used primarily by home builders who want to market their new homes as being energy efficient. This rating system has not been readily adopted by owners of existing homes and their REALTORS® because older homes are less energy efficient than new ones, and therefore get lower grades. The majority of older homes would score somewhere between 40 and 70, depending on their age, whereas a home built today should score at least 80. If the home scores 86 or higher, it is considered an Energy Star rated home.
Tune-uP, developed by CMC Energy Services , was designed specifically for owners of older homes who want to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes, rather than grade them. With a more detailed Report, quick access to low-cost financing, a low price tag, and more inspectors to do the energy audits, Tune-uP is an excellent choice for owners or buyers of older homes, whereas rating remains the choice for builders of new homes.
The Home Energy Tune-uP® Report
Your key to a more comfortable home with lower energy bills
- An Inventory of all energy using systems and appliances, including condition and replacement dates.
- Cost effective recommended upgrades. < each for savings energy>
- Estimated cost of installation for each recommendation.
- Identifying the group of recommendations whose energy savings exceed the cost when financed.
- Financing options.
- An explanation of each recommendation.
- A discussion of low-cost or no cost improvements.
- Resources to help find contractors and suppliers for implementation.
Contact HSS Property Inspection and Consulting with any questions or to schedul an Energy Audit. E-mail, Cell phone 419-203-2481, office 419-968-2862 and leave a message or click on the button below to have me call you.
