A licensed professional contractor can help you assess your energy efficiency needs and provide remodeling projects that will improves your homes energy efficiency.Before remodeling a home, especially an older one, an energy assessment (home energy audit) should be performed by an experienced, licensed contractor. A home energy audit determines how much energy your home is currently consuming and recommends energy efficiency improvements.

When remodeling a home, those projects that improve energy-efficiency should be considered high priority.  Over the long-term, these improvements not only pay for themselves with reduced utility bills, but they make the house more comfortable and healthier to live in.  Most notably, projects that deal with energy efficiency also impact indoor air quality.  Indoor air quality can’t be taken for granted and can have a major impact on a family’s health.  For example, hidden mold spores in the home can trigger a variety of illnesses from asthma to a host of mycotoxin-related illnesses.

Before remodeling a home, especially an older one, an energy assessment (home energy audit) should be performed by an experienced, licensed contractor.  A home energy audit determines how much energy your home is currently consuming and recommends energy efficiency improvements.

While there are a variety of projects that improve energy efficiency, none are more important than the interrelated elements of air sealing, insulation, moisture control and ventilation. Although not as noticeable as many other remodeling projects, at the end of the day, the proper balance of these elements is what really counts. A home with good air quality and efficient temperature regulation is a home that is comfortable and healthy to live in. Always make sure to use a licensed and insured home remodeling contractor.

Air Sealing

Air sealing is one of the most significant energy efficiency improvements you can make. When air sealing an existing home, you must detect air leaks as well as assess ventilation needs for indoor air quality. A good professional contractor looks at airflow not as an uncontrolled phenomenon to be avoided, but at a critical and essential function to be managed. The objective in proper air sealing is to improve comfort, reduce heating bills, and most importantly, make the indoor air healthier and safer. The traditional air sealing techniques of weather stripping and caulking is used much less extensively today as contractors become more skilled in finding better options. More air can be stopped elsewhere for less money and air moving through doors and windows is less harmful that air traveling through cavities depositing condensation. The best opportunities for reducing air leakage are at the top and bottom of the house.

Insulation

Once your home is properly sealed, the next improvement to reduce your energy bills is by adding more insulation. A qualified home energy auditor will include an insulation check as a routine part of a whole-house energy assessment to find out where your home is, isn’t and should be insulated, the type of insulation, its R-value (the insulation’s resistance to heat flow) and depth of existing insulation. To improve the thermal resistance of exterior walls, there are variety of insulation materials including blanket insulation such as rolls or batts which are pre-cut insulation panels, foam board or rigid foam, and loose fill or sprayed insulation. Your contractor can help you decide those insulation materials that would work best for your home.

Moisture and Ventilation Control

The best strategy for moisture control depends on your climate and how your home is constructed. Here, in New Jersey with high relative humidity, moisture control is a serious issue. High humidity levels can lead to mold growth and structural damage to your home. Proper ventilation, the exchange of indoor air with outdoor air, is an integral component of a moisture control strategy. Proper ventilation reduces indoor pollutants, moisture, and odors. Excess moisture and inadequate ventilation can create a health hazard for your family. These factors can cause toxins, pollutants and gages to accumulate and nurture mold and dust mites making you and your family sick. There are now mechanical ventilation systems that measure the moisture content of outdoor and crawlspace air and only provides ventilation when the outdoor air is drier than crawlspace air.

HVAC Sizing

Older space conditioning systems are often unreliable and much less efficient that a modern system. When it’s time for a new replacement, choosing the correct size is critical to getting the best efficiency, comfort, and lowest maintenance and operating costs. Some national surveys have determined that well over half of all HVAC installations are not sized correctly. Most commonly, oversized equipment is installed.

Oversized equipment forces the system to operate inefficiently. It breaks down more often and costs more to operate not to mention the new system costing more to begin with. Oversized heating equipment often creates uncomfortable and large temperature swings in the house while oversized air conditioners do not run long enough to dehumidify the air resulting in that “clammy” feeling and unhealthy mold growth in many air conditioned houses.

High-efficiency Toilets

Designed for water conservation, HE toilets use an average of 20% less water per flush than the industry standard of 1.6 gallons saving close to 9000 gallons of water annually for a family of four

Energy-Efficient Windows, Doors, and Skylights

Installing energy-efficient windows, door and highlights can go a long way toward lowering a home’s heating, cooling, and lighting costs. Window technology has evolved over the years. Your home remodeling contractor can determine the best windows for energy efficiency based on your home’s design such as window orientation.

Solar Hot Water

Solar water heating systems generate hot water for your home with free solar fuel. Solar water heaters can be active or passive. Active systems have pumps and controls. The two types of active heating systems are direct circulation systems used in moderate climates and indirect circulation systems for harsher climates. Indirect systems circulate a non-freezing heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. Heat exchanges transfer solar energy absorbed in the solar collectors to the liquid or air used to heat water or a space. The two basic passive systems are integral collector-storage passive systems and thermosyhon systems. Passive systems are typically less expensive, but not as efficient. Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are three types of residential solar collectors: flat-plate collectors. Integral collector-storage (ICS) or batch systems, and evacuated-tube solar collectors, Solar systems generally have back-up water heating for cloudy days and times of increased demand.

Recycled/Renewable Flooring

Eco-friendly flooring that lead the market are recycled flooring from old structures. Old wood can be given new life as recycled wood flooring made from salvaged boards or trees that have been re-milled. Since this wood came from old growth forests, it is often harder, denser, and more attractive in appearance than new wood growth. Specialty recyclers glean reusable hardwoods such as chestnut, hickory, cherry, and oak from old houses and other structures slated for demolition. Another attractive alternative is renewable flooring from fast-growing trees such as bamboo.

Tubular Skylights

Many homeowners enjoy the natural lighting that skylights provide. However, skylights often do not distribute light evenly, are a significant source of energy loss, and can cause UV damage to carpets and furniture. Tubular skylights use the sun for lighting interiors without the drawbacks associated with conventional skylights. They are generally easier to install than typical skylights and, from the home’s interior, resemble conventional lighting fixtures.

Home Energy Audits  - Handyman Services  - Aging in Place Upgrades

With a thorough Home Energy Audit of your home the Home Maintenance Club wants to help you take advantage of the many incentives now available from the state through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

Email or call today to schedule your HOME ENERGY AUDIT

INFO@HomeMaintenanceClub.com – 732-263-9890

Presently we are offering these HOME ENERGY AUDITS (a $300 value) for only a $125 fee.

The State of New Jersey is offering:

• $1,000 of FREE air gap sealing*
• a refund of your audit fee*
• cash rebates for work performed, up to $10,000*
• unsecured loans available at 0% – 5.99%, up to $10,000*

* with approved energy efficient upgrades (some restrictions do apply)

www.HomeMaintenanceClub.com

Mark T. Elia, CGR, CGP

Schedule your Home Energy Audit today:

732-263-9890

INFO@HomeMaintenanceClub.com

Using the NJ Clean Energy program as well as Energy Star, the Home Maintenance Club is offering home energy audits. These audits provide excellent incentives and rebates when families evaluate and work on improving the energy efficient of their home. Audits are conducted by technicians that are trained and certified and include taking inventory of the efficiency of heating and cooling systems, safety and health checks, lighting, insulation levels, the overall level of comfort, and more.

Home Energy Audits from Mark of Excellence Remodeling

Air sealing of the home is offered free, up to the amount of $1,000 of sealing. A special comprehensive package is also offered, which includes other measures including insulation, domestic hot water, HVAC upgrades, more air sealing, and other measures that are recommended and eligible. The cost of this package can vary, but includes various incentives that provide excellent savings to consumers.

Handyman services are also offered through the Home Maintenance club. Labor for small projects and simple home repairs is provided at hourly rates by the club. Services available include trim work, repairs, flooring, stairs, masonry, doors, carpentry, decks, drywall, windows, tile repair, caulking, and more. All estimates on handyman services are totally free.

Another benefit offered by the new Home Maintenance Club is their aging in place aid for seniors. Both tips and advice are offered on improving accessibility throughout a home by remodeling to avoid accidents. Various remodeling services are available as a part of the aging in place program, including bigger bathrooms, eliminating steps at the entrance, non-slip floors, elevators, wider hallways, emergency call buttons, easy open windows, and more.

Building on their superior reputation for customer service excellence, Mark of Excellence Remodeling is taking this one step further with this new club. Consumers can benefit from all the excellent programs offered as a part of the Home Maintenance Club, enjoying better safety and comfort in their homes.

To learn more about the new Home Maintenance Club and how you can become a part of this club, visit http://www.homemaintenanceclub.com/ for more information.

Contact:

Name: Neil Parsons (VP of Sales & Marketing)

Company: Mark of Excellence Remodeling, Inc.

Address: 952 Broadway, West Long Branch, NJ 07764

Phone: 732-263-9890

Website: http://www.homemaintenanceclub.com

Email: INFO@HomeMaintenanceClub.com

Mark of Excellence Remodeling, Inc., located at 952 Broadway, West Long Branch in Monmouth County, New Jersey specializes in Design + Build remodeling projects. Projects range from whole-house renovations and additions to kitchen, bathroom and exterior remodels. The company also has a division that provides Home Energy Audits through the state Energy Star Home Performance program, Professional Handyman Services, and Aging in Place Upgrades through its Home Maintenance Club.

Mark of Excellence Remodeling has received numerous local and national awards and was named the 2009 Northeast U.S. Remodeler of the Year by Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence. Other accolades include the Asbury Park Press “Best of the Best”, QR 2008 Master Design Awards, Innovation in Construction Awards, “Best Design + Build Addition Project” and “Best Marketing Program.” The company has been featured in Remodeling News, Qualified Remodeler, Design NJ, Remodeling Magazine and the Asbury Park Press. Mark of Excellence Remodeling was also selected to “The BIG 50” among the nation’s premier remodeling contractors for its business acumen.

Mark of Excellence Remodeling has been lauded both locally and nationally for its dedication to client satisfaction. The company has several programs in place, most notably its On-Time Project Completion Guarantee. Mark of Excellence Remodeling is prepared to pay a client $500 for each day that the completion of the remodeling project extends past the targeted date.

Company President Mark T. Elia, CGR, CGP settles for nothing less than complete customer satisfaction, especially with his name on every Mark of Excellence Remodeling sign. Making people happy is merely the start. The goal is a dynamic transformation that leaves the clients with great value for their investment plus a renovation project that they will enjoy and rave about for decades.