Due to rising energy costs as well as homeowners’ desire to support both “living green” and national energy independence, there has been a surge of interest in home energy efficiency. You need to take action to control these costs but what do you do beyond lowering the thermostat to unbearable levels?

Part of the answer is to start with a comprehensive Energy Audit by National Property Inspections.

The photos to the left show two views of the same fireplace. Only with the benefit of an NPI energy audit using a Calibrated Blower Door and Infrared Technology can we see the tremendous cold air infiltration shown in blue. These are the tools recommended by the U. S. Department of Energy for a professional energy audit and used by NPI. As a highly regarding inspection company, NPI is well equipped to identify specific air leaks and other energy wasters that most homeowners can fix themselves for greater comfort and immediate savings. We prepare detailed summary reports, with photos, and practical solutions that many homeowners can do themselves to save money. NPI sells you advice that benefits you without a sales pitch. Be wary of companies that claim to perform energy audits only to try and sell you expensive products that may take years to recover the initial cost. We are trained and certified in Infrared Thermography and Basic Building Science and have been inspecting residential and commercial properties on the Eastern Shore and the Annapolis, Maryland area for over six years.

How will NPI perform the Energy Audit?

• Prior to starting the audit, your NPI inspector will ask you some basic questions about your concerns and goals for energy savings and comfort. You will provide some basic information about your energy “lifestyle” as well as recent energy bills. This allows your inspector to enter specific information into the report relative to your needs.
• NPI will begin by conducting a general review of your existing home’s “building envelope”, that part of your home that keeps the weather out and the heated and cooled air in. This includes levels of insulation, windows, basic ventilation, etc. From this information, NPI may make recommendations on how improvements can make a significant difference in you homes energy consumption.
• NPI then goes further by incorporating sophisticated tools not used by many home energy auditors. Both Blower Door technology and Infrared Themography are utilized together to give you a clearer picture of exactly where your energy loss is occurring. The Infrared Camera allows you to actually see this heat transfer by converting the otherwise invisible infrared heat to visible light while the blower door sets up the conditions to simulate air loss commonly found during the slightest windy days. In the hands of trained inspectors, these can give you valuable, quantitative information about your home.

What will I learn from my Energy Audit?

• NPI will provide a detailed report with both digital and infrared photos showing areas of excessive warm or cold entering your home, directing you to the best places to stop these energy leaks.
• You will be given suggestions for practical repairs and upgrades, most simple to correct, that will potentially save hundreds of dollars in future energy costs.
• Your report will also include specific data regarding the volume of air leaks noted in your home which can serve as a base for comparison to other homes or to compare to some future follow-up test to see the improvement gained.
• While NPI prides itself in having nothing else to sell, we will make general recommendations about the kinds of action to take on your home to make it more comfortable and affordable.

The cost of an energy audit starts at $325 but varies based on the square footage of the home. The energy audit/assessment takes about three hours, and may by your first step to substantial energy savings.

For more information, please contact
National Property Inspections

410-673-2050
or
inspectnpi@comcast.net

We serve the Mid Eastern Shore of Maryland and Broadneck area with Energy Audits and Assessments in the following areas: