Energy Assessments for Home Buyers
Buying a Home? The Hidden Cost of Energy Efficiency
Home buying can be overwhelming. Each process is daunting. Financing, home searching, transactions each need your full attention. But once escrow opens, attention will focus on the condition of the property starting with a home inspection.
Overlooking a home's energy efficiency can be costly. Real estate professionals don’t address it. Here's the problem, the new homeowner will have to live through all seasons before the recognize the two major energy deficiencies: Comfort issues & high utility bills.
Comfort Culprits
It's all about the home's envelope: Exterior siding, windows, doors, foundation & roof. Homes built before 1978 may lack insulation in walls, single pane windows, drafty and inefficient heating/cooling systems.
Insulation
The biggest culprit is the lack of insulation in walls and ceilings. Insulation is required in walls, attic and crawlspace since 1978. Today higher insulation requirements mandate larger wall size. Improved insulation is clearly the most cost effective way of increasing energy efficiency.
Windows
Single-pane has two issues that contribute to poor energy efficiency. Windows are poor insulators. The more you have, the harder it is to condition the interior area to create comfort. The 2nd issue is single-pane windows has moderate air leakage that contributes to a drafty home. This is wasteful when your heating & cooling your home. It also create health and safety issues contributing to indoor air quality issues.
Comfort is further exacerbated in hot geographic zones as heat is absorbed and stored. I’ve had numerous clients wonder why their home is still uncomfortable well into the night.
Drafty Homes
Another improvement over the years is making homes more airtight. The culprits in the past have been doors and windows. Draftiness not only contributes heating & cooling inefficiencies, it can create moisture issues, unhealthy indoor air quality concerns and safety issues. Homes today must follow air tightness guidelines.
Heating & Cooling Systems
Duct system is an important component to your overall comfort system. In an effort to keep costs down, duct systems are not replaced. Old rigid duct systems have moderate leakage averaging 30%. I've measured 45% leakage! Think about that when you're running your air conditioner. Duct leakage will also contribute to negative pressure inside your come creating health & safety concerns.
Overlooking a home's energy efficiency can be costly. Real estate professionals don’t address it. Here's the problem, the new homeowner will have to live through all seasons before the recognize the two major energy deficiencies: Comfort issues & high utility bills.
Comfort Culprits
It's all about the home's envelope: Exterior siding, windows, doors, foundation & roof. Homes built before 1978 may lack insulation in walls, single pane windows, drafty and inefficient heating/cooling systems.
Insulation
The biggest culprit is the lack of insulation in walls and ceilings. Insulation is required in walls, attic and crawlspace since 1978. Today higher insulation requirements mandate larger wall size. Improved insulation is clearly the most cost effective way of increasing energy efficiency.
Windows
Single-pane has two issues that contribute to poor energy efficiency. Windows are poor insulators. The more you have, the harder it is to condition the interior area to create comfort. The 2nd issue is single-pane windows has moderate air leakage that contributes to a drafty home. This is wasteful when your heating & cooling your home. It also create health and safety issues contributing to indoor air quality issues.
Comfort is further exacerbated in hot geographic zones as heat is absorbed and stored. I’ve had numerous clients wonder why their home is still uncomfortable well into the night.
Drafty Homes
Another improvement over the years is making homes more airtight. The culprits in the past have been doors and windows. Draftiness not only contributes heating & cooling inefficiencies, it can create moisture issues, unhealthy indoor air quality concerns and safety issues. Homes today must follow air tightness guidelines.
Heating & Cooling Systems
Duct system is an important component to your overall comfort system. In an effort to keep costs down, duct systems are not replaced. Old rigid duct systems have moderate leakage averaging 30%. I've measured 45% leakage! Think about that when you're running your air conditioner. Duct leakage will also contribute to negative pressure inside your come creating health & safety concerns.
High Utility Bills
The biggest contributor to seasonal high utility bills in Southern California is air conditioning. So its logical to have your AC system operating optimally & efficiently. Newer systems are over 40% more efficient than older models prior to 2004.
TOU - Time of Use rates
All Calif. utility companies have announced conversion to Time-Of-Use (TOU) billing. In San Diego, this means your billing will change up to 4 times in a 24 hour period. This will result in a higher monthly energy costs. This will force utility payers to now monitor not only how they are using energy but when. This escalates the need to understand your homes energy efficiency.
It's important to understand your new home's energy efficiency. The insulation, windows, orientation will have an impact of how hard your AC will need to work to provide sleep-at-night comfort and affordably.
It's important to understand your new home's energy efficiency. The insulation, windows, orientation will have an impact of how hard your AC will need to work to provide sleep-at-night comfort and affordably.
The biggest contributor to seasonal high utility bills in Southern California is air conditioning. So its logical to have your AC system operating optimally & efficiently. Newer systems are over 40% more efficient than older models prior to 2004.
TOU - Time of Use rates
All Calif. utility companies have announced conversion to Time-Of-Use (TOU) billing. In San Diego, this means your billing will change up to 4 times in a 24 hour period. This will result in a higher monthly energy costs. This will force utility payers to now monitor not only how they are using energy but when. This escalates the need to understand your homes energy efficiency.
It's important to understand your new home's energy efficiency. The insulation, windows, orientation will have an impact of how hard your AC will need to work to provide sleep-at-night comfort and affordably.
It's important to understand your new home's energy efficiency. The insulation, windows, orientation will have an impact of how hard your AC will need to work to provide sleep-at-night comfort and affordably.
We Can Help
Inspection Perfection includes an energy assessment with every home inspection. As certified energy assessors, we can identify the red flags that contribute to poor energy efficiency. Each condition identifies impact & recommend practical improvements to improve efficiency and next steps.
There can be good news. The energy assessment can recognize improved energy efficient features of a home. The home will be more comfortable and lowers energy bills. Homes may have upgraded HVAC, dual-pane windows and energy-star appliances. Or you may be buying a newer home built to higher energy standards. Our assessment will identify all the features that make the home energy efficient. You'll enjoy a comfortable at lower utility rates.
This will only add another benefit for your new home purchase that is not recognized by the realtor, lender or appraiser.
Inspection Perfection includes an energy assessment with every home inspection. As certified energy assessors, we can identify the red flags that contribute to poor energy efficiency. Each condition identifies impact & recommend practical improvements to improve efficiency and next steps.
There can be good news. The energy assessment can recognize improved energy efficient features of a home. The home will be more comfortable and lowers energy bills. Homes may have upgraded HVAC, dual-pane windows and energy-star appliances. Or you may be buying a newer home built to higher energy standards. Our assessment will identify all the features that make the home energy efficient. You'll enjoy a comfortable at lower utility rates.
This will only add another benefit for your new home purchase that is not recognized by the realtor, lender or appraiser.
Order your Next Home Inspection with an Energy Assessment
Now you can include an energy assessment with your next home inspection. At no extra cost. The report is easy to read. It offers impact and recommendations of all the home's building component that determines it's energy efficiency. You're better prepared for all seasons for comfort and less surprised for your cyclical utility bills.
As a new homeowner, you're more informed on the most important financial decision you'll make in your lifetime.
Now you can include an energy assessment with your next home inspection. At no extra cost. The report is easy to read. It offers impact and recommendations of all the home's building component that determines it's energy efficiency. You're better prepared for all seasons for comfort and less surprised for your cyclical utility bills.
As a new homeowner, you're more informed on the most important financial decision you'll make in your lifetime.
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Schedule your Home Inspection with an energy assessment today.
Call (888) 552-4677 or Online |
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