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HCCC's Comprehensive Energy Audits include blower door testing, infrared scanning (outside temperature dependent), insulation inspection, combustion safety inspection and carbon monoxide testing as needed. Call HCCC energy experts at 970-485-3509 or email matt@highcountryconservation.org for pricing and more info. The proceeds from your Energy Audit will be reinvested in HCCC's Energy Programs throughout our community.

DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM
COMMON RECOMMENDATIONS
CONSIDER AN ENERGY AUDIT IF...
WHAT MAKES A QUALIFIED AUDITOR

Residential Energy efficiency and sustainability should start with making intelligent informed decisions. When considering the numerous opportunities for making your home more sustainable you should consider starting with an Energy Audit.

A cold and drafty home, rooms that are too hot or too cold, and high energy bills are all common issues for homeowners. Installing a new heating system, buying replacement windows, or adding more insulation may fix part of the problem, but the path to better results is by implementing an integrated "whole-house" approach that looks at your home as a system. This is what you can expect from an Energy Audit, whole-house perspective from an independent third party inspection specific to your home.

Your Energy Auditor will spend 2-3 hours with you going through your home taking a close look at attics, crawl spaces, basements and mechanical equipment to gain a whole-house perspective of your home. Along the way the auditor will share observations and insights where your home has room for improvement. This time is very much a learning experience for home owners, giving them insight into how there home and its "systems" work together as a whole.

The results of your Energy Audit will be compiled into a comprehensive report that will address issues specific to your home and detail strategies to improve your homes energy performance. This report can be used to map out where to spend money on efficiency upgrades over a short or long period of time.

||Building Energy Audit Equipment Rental

If you are a qualified individual you can rent blower door and infrared camera. HC3 has now begun the much anticipated energy asessment equipment rental program. Equipment in this rental program includes a blower door set with Manometer, CO analyzer, Gas sniffer,and an infrared camera.

Prices:
HC3 will require a brief proficiency test to ensure knowledge of equipment use and a short training if needed- $25 one time fee

Blower door set with Manometer, CO analyzer, Gas sniffer, Infrared camera- $25 per day

HC3 will require an active credit card number (or equivalent) for deposit as insurance against damage or theft.

For more information call HC3 at 970.668.5703. Download the rental contract.


Download an HC3 Energy Audit Program Brochure HERE!

Download a PDF on Infrared Scanning HERE!

|| Diagnosing the Problem

Rather than focusing on a single component, such as single-paned windows, an old heating system, or leaky ductwork, an Energy Audit will assess your entire home and result in recommendations for the most cost effective improvement options that will result in:

  • Energy Audit TooldsConsistent comfort throughout your home
  • Increased efficiency
  • Lower utility costs
  • Better ventilation & humidity control, thus better indoor air quality
  • Reduced impact on the planet

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|| Common Recommendations

Sealing Air Leaks and Adding Insulation
Many air leaks in homes are fairly obvious, such as around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. But others, like those in attics, fireplaces, around chimneys, and through recessed lighting fixtures, are often the more significant sources of energy loss in a home. Sealing air leaks is critical to improving the overall efficiency of your home and will make your heating and cooling system perform better. Along with air sealing, your Auditor may recommend that you add insulation. Many older homes are not well-insulated, and some have no insulation at all. Properly installed insulation in walls, floors, and attics provides for more even temperatures throughout the house and results in a quieter, more comfortable home that is easier to heat.

Sealing Ductwork
Many homes have leaky ductwork and poor air flow, resulting in stuffy and uncomfortable rooms — regardless of the thermostat setting. The Energy Auditor may recommend sealing your home’s ducts with mastic, metal tape or spray-on sealant, and balancing the duct system to optimize air flow to all rooms. Insulating ductwork in attics, crawlspaces, and some basements can also help to ensure that your home will be more comfortable.

Improving Heating Systems
If your furnace or boiler is more than 10 years old, your Auditor may recommend that you replace it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating costs. But when it comes to heating equipment, bigger is not always better. A properly-sized unit will make your home more comfortable by providing more consistent temperatures control.

The Energy Auditor should also test combustion equipment, such as your furnace and hot water heater, to ensure that it is operating and venting properly.

Upgrading Lighting and Appliances
Energy used for lighting, entertainment equipment and appliances can account for half of your home's total utility bill. As a result, the Energy Auditor may recommend ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, electronic equipment, light fixtures, and compact fluorescent bulbs. An energy- and water-efficient hot water heating system may also be recommended.

Energy Audits and Renewable Energy

Once you’ve taken steps to increase your home's efficiency, you may also want to consider adding renewable energy systems, such as solar electric (photovoltaics) or solar hot water, to further reduce your utility bills. By having an Energy Audit performed on your home first you may be able to substantially reduce the size of your renewable energy system.

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|| Consider an Energy Audit if:

  • Your preparing to remodel or add-on to your home.
  • You have excessively high utility bills.
  • Your home has noticeable cold or hot spots.
  • You are interested in adding renewable energy features to your home.
  • Your home experiences frozen pipes.
  • Ice dams build up on the roof of your home.
  • You would like to make your home more efficient and reduce your impact on the planet.
  • Your home has indoor air quality issues such as condensation on the windows, mold or other respiratory toxins.

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|| What Makes a Qualified Auditor?

When considering having someone work on your home it is important to verify they have the experience, skills and training to assure that the work is done safely and to the highest standards.

Choosing an educated and experienced energy auditor to work on your home should be as important as choosing a qualified doctor or auto mechanic.

Hiring a qualified energy auditor will ensure that you get professional, independent advice on how to improve your home without the sales pitch for things you might not need.

An energy auditor should have some formal training and experience in residential construction, building science, energy modeling/analysis, energy rating and implementation of energy improvements.

Qualifications from organizations such as; Residential Energy Service Network (RESNet), Kansas Building Institute (KBI), Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA), Building Performance Institute (BPI), and Energy Star may help determine the individuals level of training.


Questions to ask:

  • Ask what certifications the auditor has.
  • Ask for references from previous audits they've performed.
  • Ask what is involved in an audit and how long it will take.
  • Ask how many audits or ratings the individual has performed and how long they've been in this business.
  • Ask what other services they offer besides auditing.

||Tips to Becoming More Energy Efficient

Energy production and use account for nearly 80% of air pollution, more than 83% of greenhouse gas emissions, and more environmental damage than any other human activity.  Energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way to reduce energy use, costs, pollution, and extend our nation’s energy supplies. 

Did you know that the energy use of two families living in two homes that look exactly alike can vary by 100 percent?  This means that how you use what’s in your home can double (or halve) your energy bill.  The following tips can help you to increase your energy efficiency: 


cfl Energy Efficient Lighting Tips

  • Its obvious, but turn off lights when not in use.  Just one 100-watt bulb left on all night costs about $25 per year
  • Utilize task lighting whenever possible rather than lighting the whole room needlessly. 
  • Invest in compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs).  Although the initial investment is a bit more, by replacing your four most used bulbs with CFLs you can save as much as $185 over the bulbs’ lifetimes.  You can find CFLs at most stores now, locally Bighorn Ace Hardware has a large selection.  Wherever you go to buy your CFLs be sure to look for the Energy Star seal so that you know that it is a quality bulb.  Check out our fact sheet on Efficient Lighting to learn more. 
  • Both CFLs and regular fluorescent tube lighting use 75% less energy than do incandescent bulbs. 


energy star fridge Energy Efficient Fridge/Freezer Tips

  • Set your refrigerators temperature to be between 37-40°
  • Set your freezer temperature to be no lower than 5°
  • Check the seals on your fridge/freezer by closing a dollar bill (or similar sized piece of paper) in the door.  Tug on the bill- if it slides out easily, your seals need to replaced.  If there is a fair amount of resistance, your seals are good, for now- check them annually. 
  • When you are doing your spring cleaning, pull the fridge away from the wall and clean off the coils in the back- a vacuum attachment is the easiest method for cleaning the coils.  Work deliberately and gently so as not to disturb any coils or wiring. 
  • Be sure to leave an inch or two between the back of your fridge and the wall so that air can circulate properly. 
  • Fill your freezer!  Don’t overdo it, you need to leave space for the air to circulate, but an empty freezer is inefficient as frozen food assists in keeping the freezer cold, just like ice in a cooler. 
potEnergy Efficient Cooking Tips
  • Put lids on your pans when you are using the stovetop.  You can greatly reduce the time required to boil water and cook your food. 
  • Fit your pan to the coil size- you are wasting energy by placing a small pan on a larger coil.  Users of gas stove tops should be careful to set the flame size so that the flame is not lapping up the sides of the pan. 
  • Clean off your stove top coils and reflectors regularly so that all heat produced is directed to what you are cooking, not the grease and grime. 
  • Turn the oven or stovetop off prior to cooking being completed- it will remain hot enough to complete cooking without using any additional energy! 
  • Reheat leftovers in the smallest appliance available.  This chart displays the energy use for cooking the same meal using various appliances:
Appliance Used
Energy Used
Cost
Electric Oven
2.0 KWh
30¢
Convection Oven
1.39 KWh
21¢
Toaster Oven
.95 KWh
14¢
Cooktop / Frying Pan
.9 KWh
14¢
Crockpot
.7KWh
11¢
Microwave
.36 KWh


thermostat Energy Efficient Heating Tips

  • Over half of Colorado resident’s energy bills are used to pay for their heating costs.  Turning down the thermostat by even 1 degree can reduce heating costs by about 4%, which represents savings between $45 and $75 depending on the fuel used to heat the home.
  • Close the heating vents in unoccupied rooms and use small space heaters to heat occupied areas. 
  • A Colorado household utilizing a programmable thermostat can save $120-190 a year on home heating bills.
  • And one COOLING TIP for our mountain climate:  Use fans instead of air conditioners.  Did you know that ceiling fans make people feel 4 degrees cooler than the actual temperature?

washer Energy Efficient Appliance Tips

  • When shopping for new appliances, make those that are Energy Star qualified a priority.  Their use can cut annual energy bills by 30 percent, or more than $450 per year.  You can learn more about the Energy Star program at www.energystar.gov
  • Unplug your appliances when they are not in use!  This includes toasters, radios and charging devices, such as those for cell phones.  Even when turned off these items are pulling energy, known as standby losses or ghost loads.  The energy losses from leaving these items plugged in represents a 10-25% increase in cost and energy use.  In fact, each year, Americans spend more money to power home audio and DVD products when turned off than when actually in use.
  • Always wash full loads in a dishwasher – a half load uses just as much energy (and water) as a full load.
  • Set the hot water heater at 120 degrees, and insulate the heater and at least the first 6 to 10 feet of hot water supply pipe with pipe insulation, available at any hardware store.
  • Use cold water to wash your clothes whenever reasonable, which can save your household up to $63 a year. 

WindowWeatherization Tips

  • By sealing the leaks between windows and doors and installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces, Colorado households can reduce energy costs by $230-380 per year.  It is easiest to do this by holding a lit incense stick next to your doors, windows, fixtures and electrical outlets to check for drafts (it is best to do this on a windy day). Or wet your fingertips and run them around the door or window frame—or hold up a tissue and see if it waves. Seal leaks between moving parts (between door or window and its frame) with weather-stripping. Fill leaks between nonmoving parts (between window frame and wall) with long-lasting indoor/outdoor clear caulk.
  • Install storm windows if you only have single-pane windows. If you can’t afford that, consider emporary fixes for your older or leaky windows, such as plastic film kits that create the effect of an interior storm window.

PriusVehicle Efficiency

  • Vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning the engine (4%), cleaning or replacing air filters (10%), keeping tires properly inflated (3%), and obeying the speed limit (7 to 23%).
  • While it looks really cool to have all kinds of gear on top of your car, the extra drag dramatically reduces fuel efficiency. Remove unnecessary gear and roof racks, particularly for long road trips.
  • Save gas by turning off your engine. Click here to find out how useless idling can decrease your gas mileage while contributing to climate change.

|| Energy Efficiency Resources

Xcel Energy's Residential Guide

Governor's Energy Office Comprehensive Energy Site for Residences, Businesses, Contractors


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