Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® is designed to reduce home energy costs while improving comfort, durability, and health and safety.
- Reduced Energy Costs - up to 30% decrease in annual energy costs
- Comfort -more evenly-heated and cooled rooms, less dry air and reduced cold drafts in winter
- Durability -reduced risk of damage from mold, moisture and ice dams
- Health & Safety -improved air quality due to proper ventilation, reduced excess moisture and related mold. Reduced chance of the release of hazardous gasses from combustion appliances
| How does a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR energy audit work? |
A certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor will come to your house to identify ways to improve energy efficiency and solve building problems.
Read how Home Performance with ENERGY STAR helped the Ryan family.
During the audit the contractor will:
- Take a whole-house, comprehensive approach to solving building problems
- Use diagnostic equipment to assess air leakage and identify indoor air quality problems such as carbon monoxide and gas leaks
- Provide you with a proposal for making recommended improvements
- Help prioritize cost-effective energy efficiency improvements
- Bring expertise that comes with Building Performance Institute certification
| What does the energy audit cost? |
The cost of an energy audit typically ranges from $250 to $500, and may cost more depending on the size of the home and the complexity of diagnostic testing required. Some contractors may rebate some or all of the fee if you hire them to perform recommended home improvements. Different contractors handle it in different ways, so it may be worth taking the time to talk with several contractors to find the approach that's best for you. In 2009, Green Mountain Power customers may be eligible for a rebate of the audit fee if they choose to install the comprehensive energy efficiency improvements recommended during the audit. Contact Efficiency Vermont to learn more.Tips for Hiring a Contractor |
| What home improvements will the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor suggest? |
Typical energy efficiency home improvements include:
- Reducing drafts with air-sealing
- Adding and improving insulation
- Upgrading heating systems
- Improving indoor air quality through ventilation
- Installing carbon monoxide detectors
| What is the typical cost for these energy efficient home improvements? |
The cost depends on the work being done, but can range from a thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars or more. This is a substantial financial investment, but can reduce heating costs by as much as 30%. If your household is spending $3,000 on energy each year, energy efficiency improvements may reduce that cost by $1,000 a year. These projects also generate average returns on investment of 10 to 30%.
| What if I can't afford it? Can I have the work done piece meal? |
We strongly encourage completing all the work at the same time, as the project will produce greater energy-saving benefits if done all at once, and will generally cost less too. Incentives and financing options are available, to enable you to take advantage of the benefits of having the job done all at once. Before beginning your project, contact Efficiency Vermont to see if you may qualify. If you must break the project into phases, your contractor can help you prioritize the work.
Incentives and financing options
| Is this the kind of work I could do myself? |
While some of these improvements could be completed by a handy do-it-yourselfer, Efficiency Vermont recommends using a certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor to ensure that root causes, not just symptoms, are addressed. These contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute to use appropriate diagnostic equipment and techniques to optimize the energy efficiency of your home. They are also trained to identify and remedy potentially hazardous and unhealthy situations by providing adequate ventilation and ensuring that combustion appliance byproducts aren't being released into the living space.
Learn more about how to make your home energy efficient on your own.
| How do I get started? |
The first step is to call an Efficiency Vermont specialist. They will walk you through the process and determine whether you may qualify for available incentives.
