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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Why is Residential Energy Professionals, LLC the right choice for me?
Residential Energy Professionals, LLC is certified through RESNET, Residential Energy Services Network, to provide a full range of professional energy consulting services that are recognized by various Federal and State Agencies such as EnergyStar. Additionally, Jim Del Grosso is a registered architect with 30 years of experience and is an accredited professional with LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
What are the qualifications that I should be looking for in selecting a firm to conduct an energy audit of my home?
As a homeowner you want to be sure that the firm you select brings the experience and knowledge of residential construction plus the latest tools and technologies that will be used to evaluate and provide you with recommendations for improvements. These tools include blower door, duct blaster, infrared camera and energy modeling software that provides you with a comprehensive profile of your home.
If I hire Residential Energy Professionals, LLC, will you collaborate with my architect and builder that I have already selected, to achieve a highly energy efficient home for me and my family?
Whether you are planning a major addition/renovation to your existing home or are about to begin planning a new home, Residential Energy Professionals, LLC can review your plans, collaborate design ideas with your architect and builder and physically model the home from plans and test the finished product prior to drywall installation to ensure you that the design and construction represents the energy efficient goals established at the outset.
I’m reading a lot lately on “green buildings.” Is the energy audit required in order for me to attain USGBC, U.S. Green Building Council, and LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification?
Currently USGBC is piloting a program for residential construction and LEED certification. It is expected that this LEED for Homes Green Building rating System when introduced in 2008 will assess and label new or newly constructed homes. Substantial or “gut” renovation projects will be included. Partially renovated homes cannot be rated under LEED for homes. An energy audit conducted by a certified energy green rater will be required for LEED certification along with software analysis and performance testing.
Can I qualify for special interest mortgages or rebate programs if I hire Residential Energy Professionals, LLC?
Although there are not any special interest mortgages available for energy efficient homes, there are Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM’s) and Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM’s) that would qualify the borrower for a larger loan than they would normally be given, as long as the additional amount is used to improve or upgrade the home to greater energy efficiency. Check with your Real Estate Professional or Lending institution for more information.
Are your services expensive?
Residential Energy Professionals, LLC will meet with you for a free consultation to define the scope of services that are best for you. We will follow up that meeting with a written proposal that describes the scope of services discussed and a detailed breakdown of the fee and expenses. We have competitively priced our services to be consistent with other providers, and to ensure that we are giving you the best service using the latest tools and equipment.
How do I go about finding a qualified contractor to make the necessary improvements?
Residential Energy Professionals, LLC is not affiliated with any builders or contractors. We are strictly a consulting firm. However, we can provide you with a list of builders and contractors that have energy performance qualifications. If during the construction/remodeling phase, you would like us to visit the project on occasion and prepare a report of our observations and recommendations to be sure the contractor is following best practices, we can offer that service to you as well.
Is the testing of the house and ductwork harmful or destructive?
Conducting a performance test on an existing home can be done in a few hours using a blower door, duct blaster and infrared camera. These instruments will not cause any damage to the home and during the test will not be harmful to the occupants. Preparation of the home for testing only takes a few minutes but does require that during the test all gas appliances (hot water heater, furnace, air conditioner, cooking appliance) be off or in a pilot mode. This would be the only inconvenience to the homeowner.
Can Residential Energy Professionals, LLC assist me with state or federal rebate programs?
Yes, Residential Energy Professionals, LLC is certified through RESNET, Residential Energy Services Network which is recognized by various federal and state programs such as EnergyStar.
I am living in a home that is drafty in winter and tough to keep cool in summer. Do I need a complete energy audit to find out what can be done?
No, in fact conducting a visual inspection of the home and a performance test using the blower door, duct blaster and infrared camera, Residential Energy Professionals, LLC can prepare a written report with findings and recommendations that you can use to solicit bids from contractors. In some cases the improvements can even be done simply by the homeowner without the need for hiring a contractor.
As an Architect I am well aware of the Energy Code requirements in my State. How can Residential Energy Professionals, LLC be of service to me.
Residential Energy Professionals, LLC can assist the architect during the early concept phase as ideas, layouts and materials of construction are being considered. We will collaborate with you on best practices for energy efficient design. As the plans and details become more developed, an energy model using RemRate software (proprietary through RESNET) is performed with the actual dimensions, R-values, U-values, HVAC manufacturer’s name plate data, construction characteristics and materials. That model will determine if the design meets the adopted energy code in your state. In some cases you as the architect working with the homeowner want the home to perform better than the code. This model will rate the homes performance. As construction progresses, we can perform site visits and submit visual observations and recommendations on the contractors performance. Prior to drywall installation we can run a performance test on the home with the blower door, duct blaster, infrared camera and using the modeling software produce a comprehensive report that calculates the actual energy consumption for the home and rates its performance.
As a builder I would like to qualify for EnergyStar ratings. Can Residential Energy Professionals, LLC assist me?
Yes, in order for the builder to qualify as an EnergyStar homebuilder it is necessary to provide evidence of a comprehensive energy audit based on the actual finished home. To ensure that the home meets the stringent requirements of EnergyStar it is necessary for you to conduct a complete energy audit and submit a report confirming the physical performance of the home. Since Residential Energy Professionals, LLC is certified as a HERS rater through RESNET, we are qualified to perform that test and the results will be recognized by EnergyStar.
As a Real Estate Professional in a tight sellers market, how can Residential Energy Professionals, LLC help?
In this very difficult sellers market we can provide a performance test of the home and depending on the results can certify that it meets the current energy code, or performs better or worse than the code. We can provide a list of improvements, some that can be done by the homeowner themselves, others by qualified contractors. These improvements may not be that costly to achieve but will differentiate the property by its improved indoor air quality, comfort and energy savings. The buyer will be assured of a healthier, more comfortable, more durable, and more energy efficient home that produces real savings in utility costs each month.
Assisting buyers, you can suggest an energy audit prior to move-in so that recommendations to improve the health, comfort and energy consumption can be made before all the furniture and belongings are moved in, making it more disruptive to homeowner to access basements and attics in order to upgrade & seal the thermal envelope of the home.
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