Home energy audit is one way to save resources, give Earth Day 2010 more meaning

FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio - Mark Rumunno, of Fairview Park, said he knew his home need better insulation when he purchased the house three years ago, but he didn't know where to start.

Mark decided to contact Pro Energy Consultants of Cleveland, and the company brought in it's equipment to figure out what needed to be done to make Mark's home more effcient.

Pro Energy Consultants owner Matthew Pickston used a blower door to lower the air pressure in Mark's home, and then used a "smoke stick" to find leaks in windows, doors, walls and heating ducts.

The home energy audit takes about two hours to perform, and on average, costs about $400. The audit includes a full written report and pictures generated by a heat sensitive infrared camera, to let home owners know where they need additional insulation.

Mark said based on projected energy saving generated by the audit, he expects the audit to pay for itself within eight months.

Below are frequently asked questions information provided to NewsChannel5 from Pro Energy Consultants.

1. Q: What does Pro Energy consultants do?
A: Pro Energy Consultants provides customized, comprehensive and diagnostic energy audits designed to maximize a home’s comfort and energy efficiency while reducing energy costs.

2. Q: I’m sure there are many ways homeowners can save money on energy costs. Why would homeowners be interested in a home energy audit?
A: Simple because of all the choices out there for home owners to reduce their energy costs, a home energy audit is the easiest and fastest way for home owners to not only learn how they canreduce their home energy costs, but to also support the “going green” movement.
 

3. Q: What do Earth Day and home energy audits have in common?
 A: Having an energy audit is one of the easiest and quickest ways to have an immediate and long-lasting impact upon the environment because it shows homeowners how to make their homes more energy efficient, thus reducing energy usage.

During the entire week of Earth Day, Pro Energy Consultants is helping homeowners make and even bigger impact at reducing the carbon footprint in their community by donating an additional energy audit of equal of lesser value to a neighbor, relative or friend for each energy audit performed.

4. Q: Are there any signs a homeowner can look for that would indicate a home energy audit may be necessary?
A: Sure, in fact there are three signs, and they all have to do with what we call “home performance” issues. The  signs are: comfort issues, excessive energy bills, and poor indoor air quality.