Energy Auditor and Weatherization Audit Resources

During this succession of posts we will encompass all aspects of do it yourself energy auditing and a professional home energy audit.  Some projects can easily be done by a home owner, while others require a certified energy auditor and a green energy contractor. A home owner can easily conduct a do it yourself home energy analysis, aka a home energy audit. During a simple but thorough assessment, anyone can find most issues in most homes. When evaluating your home, keep a journal of locations that have been reviewed and problems you found.

Location of Air Leaks - To be performed by a do it yourselfer and a certified energy auditing professional.

First, form a list of obvious air infiltration. The possible utility savings from a decrease of drafts in a home may range annually by five to thirty percent, leading to increased comfort in a residence. Locate indoor air leaks, such as slits along the baseboard or the edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceiling. Common problem areas include; light switch plates, base boards, door weather stripping, attic hatches, electrical outlets, window frames, window and wall air conditioning units and fireplace dampers. Seal all fractures and holes in the mortar, foundation and siding.  Inspect the structure's exterior caulking located around windows and doors, and check whether exterior storm doors and primary doors seal properly.

Also look for breaches around wires and pipes, foundation seals, pet access doors, and mail slots. Check to inspect if weather stripping and caulking are installed properly, demonstrating no voids or cracks, and are functioning properly.

Inspect doors and windows for leaks. See if you can rattle them, movement normally points towards possible air infiltration. Noticing light around a door or window casing, then there is air infiltration around the door or window. Seal these air leaks with weather stripping or caulking. Check the storm windows for proper fit and that they are functioning properly. Consider changing old doors and windows with modern, high-performance ones. If modern windows or doors are too pricey, you can install low-cost plastic sheets over the windows.

If you are having difficulty finding air leaks, or once you have found all the easy fixes, have a professional energy auditor conduct a full energy audit.  A certified energy auditor will perform a depressurization test utilizing a blower door.  A blower door depressurizes the structure, most professional standards require a negative 50 pascal pressure.  Readings from a blower door require proper training and certification to translate and understand.  We will cover blower door operation in detail in a future post. 

In structures where fossil fuels are used for heating the residence, diagnose if the combustible appliance is properly ducted and has ample air supply. While sealing any home, you must always be mindful of the risk of indoor air quality and combustion appliance backdrafts.Backdrafting can happen when the various combustion appliances and exhaust fans in the building contend for air. Exhaust fans can pull the combustible gases directly into the living areas. This can produce a very risky and harmful state in the building.  Due to likely carbonmonoxide concerns and backdrafting from the combustion applicance zone (CAZ), it is highly advised that a certified energy auditor perform a home performance audit after any major air sealing of a residence.

If you are interested in becoming a home performance energy auditor, check out the 2010 BPI Class and Resnet Class schedules.

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The Krendl #425 will blow in up to twelve hundred pounds of cellulose per hour, 800 lbs of Rockwool and 300 pounds of fiberglass.

Sunken on and off switch offers protection and shelter of electrical mechanisms. Safety guards and hopper bars offer user security. The Krendl 425 insulation machine has a intergrated module design for fast reassembly and disassembly for stress free troubleshooting and care. The Krendl 425 features a removable hopper for rapid and easy entry to the airlock. Two agitators boost the preperation of cellulose, rockwool and fiberglass. Entirely surrounded 1/2 hp fan cooled gear motor with 470 in / lbs of torque for a long life span. Heavy duty, nickel pl...