Why a Home Energy Audit is a Good Idea
Filed under: Home Energy Audits, Homeowner Information, Remodeling Industry
What is a home energy audit, and how does it work? A home energy audit tests your home energy efficiency in a number of ways. What happens is a qualified auditor comes in. They are licensed by the government and have been professionally trained to study your home, and not only assess your energy efficiency, but also give you tips and important information on how you can improve, and where.
In order to get the most comprehensive audit you can, it is important to hire a certified contractor for your home energy audit. They will come and do a thorough inspection of your residence. On the outside he will assess its size, how many doors and windows there are, and if you have a basement, or a crawl space. They will have various kinds of equipment with them; surface thermometers, infrared cameras, and furnace and hot water efficiency meters just to name a few.
Before the contractor shows up for your home energy audit, there are some things you need to do. You will need to do a walk through of your house, and write down any drafts, or cold spots, or where ever condensation forms. You will have to have a copy of the year’s power bills, and write down things like what you set the temperature at during the different times of the year. There will be other questions and each contractor will have some of their own.
What home energy efficiency is, how well your home is insulated, what kinds of appliances are installed, and if they need to be upgraded. He will look at things like how thick the insulation is in the ceiling and walls. They will also look for cracks and leaks, both in the structure, the pipes and wiring, as well as the appliances. Refrigerators, ranges and water heaters can be outdated and wasting energy. Heating and air conditioning systems may need to be upgraded or replaced.
However, that is not all a home energy audit does. Not only does the technician come out and assess the problem, they tell you exactly what you can do to improve your home energy efficiency. It may be a matter of air gap sealing holes with foam sealant in the attic and basement where heated or cooled air is escaping, or adding additional insulation in the walls and attic. It may be also as simple as keeping up on maintenance for the heating or cooling appliances.
Home Maintenance Club
A home energy audit can be a big wake up call for many homeowners, especially older residences. You may be surprised at how much energy loss these homes may be. It is important not only to save you money on utility bills, but these improvements can greatly raise the property values of these homes.
There are many advantages of having an audit as well. Not only can you get tax breaks for these kinds of improvements, you can also get financial help from local government agencies that will help pay some or all of these costs, depending on what you qualify for. It is a good idea to take advantage of all of these opportunities.
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Mark T. Elia |
BBB Assists Law Enforcement in Identifying Unfair Business Practices
Filed under: Homeowner Information, Remodeling Industry
For many years, consumers have relied on the Better Business Bureau as referral resource prior to making a purchase. Mark of Excellence Remodeling of Monmouth County, New Jersey has been appreciating homes since 1987 and is a proud member of the BBB and boasts an A+ rating with no complaints. There are two groups of people that use the BBB as a resource. Those that search the BBB before their final decision and those that contact the BBB after their decision because of a problem. Be wise with your investment dollars and be a part of the first group.
Click the link below to review the Mark of Excellence Remodeling BBB review.
Mark of Excellence Remodeling: A+ rating!
As another of our services to the community, your BBB serving New Jersey plays a crucial role in helping law enforcement find, indict and prosecute businesses which run afoul of the law.
Working extensively with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and local law enforcement authorities, your BBB is often called upon to provide information to these offices which may help lead to the apprehension of persons involved in anything from identity theft to white collar crimes.
Within the past year, BBB supplied information to the Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs that was instrumental in helping those offices file complaints against Dreamworks Vacation Club/Bentley Travel/Five Points Travel Company as well as United Credit Adjusters.
Another service that your BBB provides is investigating and providing the public with patterns of complaints. When BBB becomes aware of a pattern of complaints over a period of time by a business, this will be listed on that company’s Reliability Report™ helping to ensure that consumers know to beware.
“While our primary mission is to help resolve differences between consumers and businesses, we strive to be proactive and assist authorities and consumers by staying abreast of any patterns and new scams that we see developing,†said Melissa Companick, President of BBB serving New Jersey. “If we can help the community at large by informing them of any unscrupulous business practice then we feel we have helped foster a sense of trust in the marketplace.â€