FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What do I need to do to prepare for the home performance assessment?

• Stop all wood burning in fireplaces a minimum of 24 hours before our arrival.
• Secure all pets as our building analyst will require access to all areas of the home to ensure a thorough assessment.
• Remove all ashes and clean the fireplace to ensure ashes do not become airborne during the blower door test.
• Close the damper above the fireplace.
• Compile 12 months of electric and natural gas utility bills.
• Ensure the attic and every room of the home is easily accessible.
• Secure all exterior doors and windows in a closed / latched position.
• Open curtains, shutters and mini blinds to all windows.
• Maintain the air conditioning or heating at normal levels 2 hours before our arrival
• Remove picture frames and move furniture away from all exterior walls to be thermally imaged in order to obtain accurate readings.
• Be prepared to turn on major systems including bathroom fans, clothes dryers, kitchen stove exhaust hoods, HVAC, etc.

Do I need to be home during the home performance assessment?

YES. An adult at least 18 years of age must be present during the entire time our building analyst is conducting the energy assessment. We suggest being fully present and engaged when your home is being assessed. We are in the business of empowering you with information about your home's performance. We look forward to answering questions and providing information to you during our visit.

Who is BPI?

The Building Performance Institute (BPI), develops standards for energy efficiency retrofit work using an open, transparent, consensus-based process built on sound building science. From these standards, they develop professional certifications for individuals, company wide credentials for BPI Gold Star Contractors, home energy rating systems and quality assurance services that help raise the bar in home performance contracting. BPI tests and certifies individuals to verify that they meet the need for a highly trained, skilled home performance workforce. Certification is based on testing protocols set by the American National Standards Institute.

Who will perform the home performance assessment?

One of our certified building analysts will perform your home performance assessment. Our analyst is an expert in building science and holds certifications as a BPI "Building Analyst Professional", BPI "Envelope Professional", CalCerts Inc. "Whole House Rater", Mainstream Engineering Corporation "EPA Certified", NEST "Certified Installer" and ITC Certified "TH30 IR Thermography".

How long should I expect the building analyst to be in my home?

The average home energy assessment will take between three to five hours to complete. We do not want to rush our testing and analysis during our visit to your home. Please ensure you plan accordingly.

What areas of my home will be accessed?

It is vital to provide a thorough and accurate home performance assessment to the homeowner. We will need to gain access to every area of your home including all rooms in the living space, attic and garage. If you have an area of your home that you do not want us to access please provide advance notice as this may affect the accuracy of your home's performance assessment.

How much does the home performance assessment cost?

The cost of the home performance assessment will vary due to the size of the home and selected performance assessment package. Please review the "service package" web page for additional information. Please provide an accurate estimate of the square footage of your home when inquiring about pricing.

Do you guarantee results?

Although we will provide you with a detailed home performance assessment we DO NOT make a guarantee or warranty that you will save money as a result of our Home Performance Assessment. Saving money, increasing comfort, improving indoor air quality, etc. is dependant on many variables, most importantly the behavior of the occupant. We provide detailed building science based test results and information so you may make educated decisions about your own home's performance and energy conservation goals.