Products & Services
Home Energy Ratings
Home energy ratings provide a standard measurement of a home's energy efficiency. Ratings are used for both new and existing homes. In new homes, ratings often verify energy performance for the ENERGY STAR homes program, energy efficient mortgages, and energy code compliance. An energy rating allows a homebuyer to easily compare the energy performance of different homes being considered.
Home energy ratings involve an on-site inspection by a residential energy efficiency professional accredited and certified home energy rater. The energy inspector will examine, measure, and evaluate the factors that affect energy use in your home, e.g., size of the home, efficiency of appliances, insulation, draftiness of rooms, and efficiency of heating and cooling systems (HVAC).
Two Types of Ratings
Projected Ratings: Projected ratings are performed prior to the construction of a home or prior to the installation of energy improvements to an existing house.
Confirmed Ratings: Confirmed ratings are completed using data gathered from an on-site inspection, which includes performance testing the house.
Ratings include:
- Exterior and Interior Inspection
- Mechanical Equipment Analysis
- Blower-door pressure testing
- Duct pressure testing
Information you get in the Home Energy Rating Report: HERS Rating
- Estimated annual energy costs broken down by component
- Air leakage report including house infiltration, duct leakage, and ventilation
- Component consumption report
- Emissions report
- Performance Summary
Optional Information
- Equipment Sizing Summary
- EPACT Tax credit certification
- Energy Code Compliance
- Energy Star Summary
- Improvement Recommendations and Economic Analysis
Home Energy Audits
Homeowners who want to upgrade their home's energy efficiency can use an energy audit to measure the home energy performance and pinpoint specific, cost-effective improvements. Homeowners receive a report listing cost-effective options for improving the homeís energy rating. Similar to a rating the audit involves an onsite evaluation of the homeís energy performance using several diagnostic techniques. Audits donít provide a standard HERS index number and audits are generally less expense.
Audits include:
- Exterior and Interior Inspection Mechanical
- Mechanical system assessment
- Blower-door pressure testing
- Duct pressure testing (if practical)*
Audit Report
- Air leakage report including house infiltration, duct leakage*, and ventilation
- Performance Assessment
- Optimized improvement recommendations
And Remember, With IEM . . . KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!