CONSIDER AN ENERGY AUDIT
By Cara McDonald / Photo by Carter Photographics / Infrared Photos Courtesy of Imagin3 Energy Solutions

With the blower door in place, Dave Clingman takes infrared photos to capture where air is leaking out of the house.

There may be several obvious clues that your home needs an energy audit and some energy efficiency improvements. Perhaps there are rooms that are too cold to enjoy in the winter or you’ve noticed condensation around the windows.

Another indicator is the buildup of ice dams along eaves caused by heat escaping through the roof and melting snow that refreezes at the edges. Electric heat tape may put a temporary “band-aid” on the problem, but the extra electricity needed could jack up your already high utility bills and not solve the source of the problem.

“Most of us live in homes that are not energy efficient,” says energy consultant Dave Clingman, founder of IMAGIN3 Energy Solutions. “People are looking at their bills these days and reconsidering their home’s efficiency, and how to bring those bills down.”

Bringing a less efficient or older home up to speed can seem daunting, but Clingman says an audit helps identify many energy-saving opportunities, some of which are simple and inexpensive. “Quite often there’s not only low-hanging fruit, there’s fruit on the ground – things like changing light bulbs to CFLs, insulating your water heater, air sealing and weather stripping your doors.”

Infrared of a recessed can light while the blower door is running. The blue is all of the cold air that is infiltrating, and the warm air at the ceiling has direct airway to escape to the attic/roof.

But an energy audit goes far more in depth than the swapping out of bulbs. A basic audit, which costs $250, involves a walkthrough by Clingman, who analyzes past energy bills and uses infrared photography to pinpoint where air is leaking out of the home. A list of innovative solutions is then drawn up, suggesting eco- and economically-friendly actions for the homeowner. Usually, adding sufficient insulation under the roof and sealing leaks in windows and around doors can eliminate much of the heat loss.

A comprehensive audit starts at $350, and includes a 15- to 20-page report with prioritized solutions listed in order of complexity, necessity, energy savings and return on investment that respond to the homeowner’s current and future energy needs. The report also includes information on government incentives and rebates for energy efficient upgrades.

Clingman analyzes the building shell, insulation, crawlspace/foundation and attic, and the mechanical system and settings. He uses pressure diagnostic tools such as a blower door to depressurize the house. This amplifies the air infiltration in areas such as outlets, doors, recessed can lights, rim joists and attic hatches. These areas can be pin-pointed by simply using your hand as well as the use of infrared imagery.

Infrared image of the exterior of a home taken during an energy audit, showing heat loss on a cold day with red/yellow being the warm/hot air (conduction to outside).

“I am like the house doctor that prescribes the medicine – the next step is the performance upgrade and weatherization work,” explains Clingman. Some of the items can be done by the homeowner but there are also many gifted contractors in the county. Imagin3 can help get the work done and verify that the application is done properly. The idea is, of course, that the price of the audit will quickly pay for itself in energy savings.

A better understanding of efficiency, durability and comfort, feeds the proper design, scope of work, budget and details. For clients involved in building a new home or business, Imagin3 provides professional green building consultation from the blueprint stage to the last brushstroke of paint. Imagin3 models the home from the construction documents to anticipate the energy consumption prior to it being built. This is the best time to make the needed changes.

The building is tested and inspected at the time of insulation (pre-drywall) to insure it has an excellent thermal envelope. It then receives a HERS number (Home Energy Rating Scale, a lower number means less energy use). A HERS score of 100 is a code built home, and 85 is ENERGY STAR. The progressive builders here in Grand County are building in the 50s and 60s, which means they are being built using 40 to 50 percent less energy than that of a code-built home!

Infrared image of air leakage found at corners and top plates. Any transitional area commonly has air infiltration/exfiltration.

Initially, “efficiency first” suggestions are made, and then other independent, renewable energy systems available are examined with the final goal of zero net energy consumption (HERS 0, a home producing as much energy as it uses). The ultimate goal is to achieve an ENERGY STAR rating on a newly built home, which is a certification that the home will always carry to prove it was built more efficiently for the homeowner and re-sale value. These energy efficient homes make a positive impact on our earth, our environment and our county.

Imagin3 believes that eco-friendly buildings are not a luxury; they are a serious social responsibility. In this Rocky Mountain climate that sees only 30 frost-free days per year, preventing energy loss from a home is even more critical.

Green-minded building and energy-related improvements will not only save the homeowner money over a lifetime of use, they will provide more comfort and durability over time. Reducing a home’s carbon footprint through efficiency can lead to a cleaner, safer planet for generations to come.

READ MORE STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE:
• Green Parade: Rendezvous Home Provides a Healthy Happy Retreat
• Green Parade: Smart Growth at Grand Park
• Green Parade: A Brighter Shade Of Grassroots Green
• Restaurant: Morales Farms on the Menu
• Summer 2010 Articles