How is a home performance test different from the Internet energy surveys and audits performed by the utility company?
Utility inspections and Internet energy surveys are a great place to start in lowering your energy bills. These types of inspections can alert you to obvious problems in your home such as drafty doors and windows and improper thermostat settings. Sometimes they will even send you free CFL light bulbs, showerheads and faucet aerators. However, these remedies are not a whole-house approach and do not quantitatively measure what is working and — more importantly — not working within your home. There is no substitute for a trained expert who has the knowledge of building science and equipment to accurately measure what is happening within your home. We perform many tests designed to understand how your home functions as a system. The bottom line is, if you are not happy with the results of an Internet or utility audit, then it is time for a home performance test.
