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When a home energy audit pays
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by GMS Editor in Featured, Newsflash, ShowOnLatestPanel
By Steve Hargreaves, staff writerJanuary 7, 2010: 4:46 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The government is expected to unveil a new program in the next couple of months that if approved may reimburse homeowners for up to half the cost of making their homes more efficient, but don’t start shopping for new kitchens just yet.
Homeowners will get the most return for the money in simple upgrades like caulking the windows, putting insulation in the attic, and changing the light bulbs – not new windows, refrigerators or dishwashers.
The average American home wastes a lot of energy.
A complete energy retrofit – which could include caulking and insulation as well as new windows, appliances and boiler, could slice a home’s energy consumption in half, according to Lane Burt, manager of building energy policy at Natural Resources Defense Council.
But getting all that work done might run into the tens of thousands of dollars. And any new federal program – which is still being drafted and is not guaranteed to become law – would cap the government reimbursements at $12,000, said Burt.
Homeowners need not despair. There are some simple improvements that are relatively cheap and can pay for themselves quickly.
What to look for
Experts say there are a few things to look for when getting an energy audit and retrofit work done.
First, find a contractor licensed by the Building Performance Institute or the Residential Energy Services Network. These contractors have been trained to first test a home and see how much energy it is losing, then make renovations on all the systems in the building.
As of now there are no incentives in the proposed program for do-it-yourselfers. That’s partly because the program is designed to create jobs by putting out-of-work contractors back on the job. But it’s also done to ensure the work is done right – a house that’s sealed up too tight could rot from mold or trap too much carbon monoxide.
Second, hire an energy contractor using the same diligence you would with any other contractor. Call around for price quotes and check references. If you have any problems report them to your state’s attorney general.
