Q. I’m retired and I moved out of state but my son and his sweetheart now live in my house in Vermont and I’d like to give them an energy audit for a holiday gift. Is it possible to do an audit in the winter? How do I find a good auditor for them? All the best to the Home Team from the sunny south!
A. Thanks for the warm greetings! An energy audit can be done at any time of year. In fact, there are advantages to having the audit done in the colder season; the auditor may be able to see snow- and ice-melt patterns on a roof (indicators of heat retention or loss). Plus, the cool temperatures make it easier to see where heat is escaping when the house is viewed through an infrared-imaging device.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractors are trained and certified to conduct energy audits, to make recommendations, and to do home improvements that lower energy use by up to 30%. Efficiency Vermont offers rebates of up to $2,500 toward the cost of home improvements that have been completed by one of these contractors. You can learn more about these rebates and find a list of Vermont contractors at EfficiencyVermont.com. Thanks for a great gift idea!
Bob for The Home Team