I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results appeared in my
inbox.

I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was that my
average electrical usage was slightly below that of similar-sized homes.

Mostly, this audit was a summary of what should have been blindingly
obvious. For example:
* What direction the building faced.
* Who manufactured the two A/C compressor units. One was listed as
"unknown," in spite of the letters "RUUD" six-inches tall on the side of the
unit.
* The building is a "detached single family". ("Detached" from what?)
* Primary heating fuel is natural gas.
* Home has accessible attic.

What I DIDN'T find out:
* Do any of the windows need re-caulking?
* Would insulating the attic folding stair (via an "attic tent" or
equivalent) produce a discernible difference? If so, how much?
* Where, in the attic, does the insulation need to be improved?

HeyBub wrote:
I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results appeared in my
inbox.

I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was that my
average electrical usage was slightly below that of similar-sized homes.

Mostly, this audit was a summary of what should have been blindingly
obvious. For example:
* What direction the building faced.
* Who manufactured the two A/C compressor units. One was listed as
"unknown," in spite of the letters "RUUD" six-inches tall on the side of the
unit.
* The building is a "detached single family". ("Detached" from what?)
* Primary heating fuel is natural gas.
* Home has accessible attic.

What I DIDN'T find out:
* Do any of the windows need re-caulking?
* Would insulating the attic folding stair (via an "attic tent" or
equivalent) produce a discernible difference? If so, how much?
* Where, in the attic, does the insulation need to be improved?


Hi,
Detached means free standing single house. Have you done a IR image
scan? Did they mount a blower in place of your front entry door and
pressurize the house to check air leaks?
These are things to be done to know what is going on energy audit.
Also did they check your toilets? Laundry equipment, dish washer,etc.

replying to HeyBub , passerby wrote:
heybub wrote:

I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results appeared in
my
inbox.
I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was that my
average electrical usage was slightly below that of similar-sized homes.

No thermal imaging was used? I thought this would be the only reason to
hire someone else to look at it. Other than things that you can only see
in infrared, like you say, you pretty much know about your house and its
deficiencies more than anyone (no matter how experienced) who just showed
up ten minutes ago.

Did you actually have to pay or was it a freebie?


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On Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:00:35 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:

I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was that my
average electrical usage was slightly below that of similar-sized homes.

Did the company offer a reach around? Get any change refund back?

DIY energy audits are cheaper.

On 6/15/2013 1:00 PM, HeyBub wrote:
I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results appeared in my
inbox.

I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was that my
average electrical usage was slightly below that of similar-sized homes.

Mostly, this audit was a summary of what should have been blindingly
obvious. For example:
* What direction the building faced.
* Who manufactured the two A/C compressor units. One was listed as
"unknown," in spite of the letters "RUUD" six-inches tall on the side of the
unit.
* The building is a "detached single family". ("Detached" from what?)
* Primary heating fuel is natural gas.
* Home has accessible attic.

What I DIDN'T find out:
* Do any of the windows need re-caulking?
* Would insulating the attic folding stair (via an "attic tent" or
equivalent) produce a discernible difference? If so, how much?
* Where, in the attic, does the insulation need to be improved?


If he was registered auditor I would be reporting him.

I had an audit done last year about this time. He did a blower door
test, infrared image scan throughout the house, told me where I need to
insulate, caulk, etc. He sent a report with the scanned images. Using
his info, we decided on some major work of foam insulation on roof deck
and rim joist. Then added a new furnace and central AC system including
duct work (from a boiler/radiant heat system). After all was complete,
we recalled the auditor to conclude the difference and he was
flabbergasted at the drop of over 50%. We received rebates for the
audit, the furnace/AC and the insulation totaling close to $4000.

According to our energy company, we are now top 3 in efficient homes
within our area.

Auditing can be very favorable.

On Saturday, June 15, 2013 10:00:35 AM UTC-7, HeyBub wrote:
I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results appeared in my

inbox.



I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was that my

average electrical usage was slightly below that of similar-sized homes.



Mostly, this audit was a summary of what should have been blindingly

obvious. For example:

* What direction the building faced.

* Who manufactured the two A/C compressor units. One was listed as

"unknown," in spite of the letters "RUUD" six-inches tall on the side of the

unit.

* The building is a "detached single family". ("Detached" from what?)

* Primary heating fuel is natural gas.

* Home has accessible attic.



What I DIDN'T find out:

* Do any of the windows need re-caulking?

* Would insulating the attic folding stair (via an "attic tent" or

equivalent) produce a discernible difference? If so, how much?

* Where, in the attic, does the insulation need to be improved?

I’m guessing that this was a free energy audit sponsored by your tax dollars am I right?

passerby wrote:
replying to HeyBub , passerby wrote:
heybub wrote:

I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results
appeared in my inbox.
I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was
that my average electrical usage was slightly below that of
similar-sized homes.

No thermal imaging was used? I thought this would be the only reason
to hire someone else to look at it. Other than things that you can
only see in infrared, like you say, you pretty much know about your
house and its deficiencies more than anyone (no matter how
experienced) who just showed up ten minutes ago.

Did you actually have to pay or was it a freebie?

Free. From Reliant, my electricity provider.

wrote:

I’m guessing that this was a free energy audit sponsored by your tax
dollars am I right?

It was free, but paid for, I assume, by my power company. At least the dude
who did the deed was employed by Reliant.

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
passerby wrote:
replying to HeyBub , passerby wrote:
heybub wrote:

I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results
appeared in my inbox.
I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was
that my average electrical usage was slightly below that of
similar-sized homes.

No thermal imaging was used? I thought this would be the only reason
to hire someone else to look at it. Other than things that you can
only see in infrared, like you say, you pretty much know about your
house and its deficiencies more than anyone (no matter how
experienced) who just showed up ten minutes ago.

Did you actually have to pay or was it a freebie?

Free. From Reliant, my electricity provider.

Contact Reliant, be polite, speak to someone in management and let them know
how p*ss poor the survey was. We did and the second time they sent someone
out the job was done right.

Push come to shove contact one of the TV stations that do 'live on your
side' sections.

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
passerby wrote:
replying to HeyBub , passerby wrote:
heybub wrote:

I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results
appeared in my inbox.
I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was
that my average electrical usage was slightly below that of
similar-sized homes.

No thermal imaging was used? I thought this would be the only reason
to hire someone else to look at it. Other than things that you can
only see in infrared, like you say, you pretty much know about your
house and its deficiencies more than anyone (no matter how
experienced) who just showed up ten minutes ago.

Did you actually have to pay or was it a freebie?

Free. From Reliant, my electricity provider.

Your utility regulators will be interested in your story since the utility
charges a so-called "public benefits fund" and/or its ratepayers directly
for such services. They, and you, didn't get your money's worth.

Tomsic

On 6/16/2013 7:51 PM, HeyBub wrote:
passerby wrote:
replying to HeyBub , passerby wrote:
heybub wrote:

I had an energy audit done for my home. Yesterday the results
appeared in my inbox.
I could have learned more in a cave. The only thing I learned was
that my average electrical usage was slightly below that of
similar-sized homes.

No thermal imaging was used? I thought this would be the only reason
to hire someone else to look at it. Other than things that you can
only see in infrared, like you say, you pretty much know about your
house and its deficiencies more than anyone (no matter how
experienced) who just showed up ten minutes ago.

Did you actually have to pay or was it a freebie?

Free. From Reliant, my electricity provider.

If your utility is like mine, they have a tiered system of energy
audits. The free one is just a walk through/eyeball assessment, and
it's worth what you paid for it. For a fee, you get the walk through
and a blower test. Pay still more, and you get a thermal test as well.

Moe DeLoughan wrote:

If your utility is like mine, they have a tiered system of energy
audits. The free one is just a walk through/eyeball assessment, and
it's worth what you paid for it. For a fee, you get the walk through
and a blower test. Pay still more, and you get a thermal test as well.

You raise an obvious point.

Still, if I were going to offer a free "energy audit," I'd make it a good,
professional, and comprehensive one so I wouldn't get complaints about the
paucity of the results.

As things stand, the power company is held up to scorn and ridicule, surely
the reverse of what they intended!