Vilas County Home Energy Audits

Scheduling an energy audit is a great idea when building a new home in Vilas County, or if you are planning renovations. The benefits of an energy assessment far outweigh the expense of hiring an energy auditor for a thorough inspection. With the help of energy assessment tools, an energy auditor can measure the efficiency of your homes heating and cooling systems, appliances, water fixtures, doors, windows and insulation.

“Energy Audit – inspection, survey, and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce energy input into the system without negatively affecting the outputs” –Wikipedia

The Benefits of Energy Audits

• Lower your energy bills
• Qualify for energy rebate programs, like Focus On Energy
• Increase the comfort of your home by controlling indoor temperatures and moisture levels
• Find hidden issues with your home that can lead to things like ice dams
• Protect the environment by reducing your energy consumption
• Increase your home’s value – decreasing your annual energy cost by $1.00 increases the market value of your home by $20.00!

When to Schedule an Energy Audit

When you are building a new home, hiring an energy auditor can be valuable in determining if your contractor built the home to be energy-efficient. A quality home builder will apply building science techniques throughout the process to ensure your new home performs to the best of its ability. Although some construction companies in Vilas County, like North Twin Builders, have energy assessment tools, it is often a good idea to get an unbiased report from a professional energy auditor.

If you are considering a home renovation project to improve your homes comfort and energy-efficiency, you may want to consider scheduling two appointments with an energy auditor. The first would be conducted prior to the start of remodeling to see how your home currently rates. Then, when your renovation contractor finishes the project, a second energy assessment can reassure you that the desired improvements were successful.

Even if you aren’t undergoing a major project, an energy audit can let you know about existing problems in your home that are often easy and cheap to repair.

What to Expect from a Home Energy Audit

A professional energy auditor will do a thorough examination of your homes air tightness, ventilation, and systems. A blower door test can measure how air tight your home is through the use of a sealing door with a built in fan. Infrared cameras can detect air infiltration and identify hard to notice ‘cold spots’, or areas where cold air is leaking in and insulation is not working properly or not installed. Following the tests and inspections, the energy auditor will present you with a summary of findings, as well as suggestions on how the home’s energy performance could be improved.

Watch the short YouTube video from Energy Savers to learn more!

A good energy auditor has experience with construction and knowledge of heating and cooling systems. They should also be aware of green building practices and the costs and savings of becoming more energy-efficient. Most importantly, your energy auditor needs to be able to easily explain their findings to you in a way that anyone can understand.

North Twin Builders recommends calling Rich Urban (715-369-7390) to schedule your home energy assessment. Or check the Focus On Energy website for a list of local energy auditors. For more information about energy-efficiency and energy assessments, check out www.energy.gov.

North Twin Builders is your quality energy-efficient home builder in Vilas County;

Contact us today to schedule your home improvement project!