Home Energy Audit

[sluggy]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a company/person that does home energy audits in the Mississauga area? People have pointed me the following companies, but I'm not sure if they are any good:

http://www.energuy.ca/
http://www.greensaver.org/

[SIR_jeff]

i am planning to use Sears or Direct Energy since i had good service from both in the past... not sure about their audit though....

[Mr Nobody]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a company/person that does home energy audits in the Mississauga area? People have pointed me the following companies, but I'm not sure if they are any good:

http://www.energuy.ca/
http://www.greensaver.org/

Most people have commented that its not so much the company (both of those are good), but rather which actual inspector you get. And since you don't have a choice of inspectors, its a crap shoot. For me, I will be using one of those two as well. Most likely energuy.

I am pretty sure that Sears and Direct Energy do not do gov't home energy audits.

[Pete_Coach]

I have pretty strong personal opinions about the energy audit industry (yes, it has turned into an industry) so, I need to ask, why are you thinking of one?
If it is for the rebate aspect, then anyone will do. If it is for your own personal information, to make your house more energy efficient, then look closely at what they offer, the tools they have and, the history and qualifications of the company as well as the inspectors.

[sluggy]

I have pretty strong personal opinions about the energy audit industry (yes, it has turned into an industry) so, I need to ask, why are you thinking of one?
If it is for the rebate aspect, then anyone will do. If it is for your own personal information, to make your house more energy efficient, then look closely at what they offer, the tools they have and, the history and qualifications of the company as well as the inspectors.

Pete_Coach, I also have my own opinions, but they're probably not as strong as yours . I was hoping that some fellow RFD'ers could help out in weeding out the bad ones.

I am interested in both. I am really interested in learning ways to make my home more energy efficient without being "sold" on a particular thing. I know that I need to do some insulation work, where I can take advantage of the rebates.

I was thinking that greensaver would be good since they are supposed to be a non-profit organization. In asking questions, what should I look for regarding the type of tools that they use?

[Pete_Coach]

At a minimum, they should be able to pressure check your house and have a thermal camera that can provide you images.

[Lord Denning]

I did not do an audit and now in the process of my lengthy renovations have done a lot of work which would have more than paid for the auditors visit.

Anyone know of a good auditor who would do a retroactive inspection?

Serves me right for just "wanting to do a little bit" when I started

[anh2003]

i am planning to use Sears or Direct Energy since i had good service from both in the past... not sure about their audit though....

Sear outsource their services to Amerispec...don't use them as I found out recently that the first and second audit are both done by same firm however different rep. So this becomes the crap shoot that is mention and so depending on whatever the 2nd auditor decides then you are pretty much stuck with it. I was short change about $1200 since the 2nd auditor refuse to consider my basement insulation and attic insulation. Long story. But would not recommend them and also stay away from Brand Insulation Inc. as well they warped most of my drywall during their foam insulation spray.
Good luck with your reno.

[creamsoda]

At a minimum, they should be able to pressure check your house and have a thermal camera that can provide you images.

Our guy from Energuy didn't have a thermal camera.

What exactly are they supposed to be imaging? Heat transfer? Hot spots / cool spots? We didn't get anything like that.

[Pete_Coach]

I did not do an audit and now in the process of my lengthy renovations have done a lot of work which would have more than paid for the auditors visit.

Anyone know of a good auditor who would do a retroactive inspection?

Serves me right for just "wanting to do a little bit" when I started

Retroactive as in do it now and pretend he did it before so you can claim rebates? I don't think there is a reputable audit er (oxymoron) that will do that.
If you want an audit to see how your house is now, then any one will do.

Our guy from Energuy didn't have a thermal camera.
What exactly are they supposed to be imaging? Heat transfer? Hot spots / cool spots? We didn't get anything like that.

Your home. yes, cool spots, hot spots, thermal breaks, cold ingress. Walls corners etc. It is to identify where you are losing energy (hot air or air conditioned cool air).
I suspect your guy put the device on the door, checked for air infiltration on the outlets doors and windows. Told you you had an equivalent leakage to a hole the size of your front window. I also suspect he did not block off the range hood vent, the bathroom fans or the air inlet in the basement for the furnace (or fireplace if you have one)?
He then gave you a report that had a photo of your house, a whole bunch of cut and paste stuff from various websites (without giving them credit), a bunch of graphs (also from the internet)that said if you buy a new fridge you will save $XX and if you insulate your basement you will save $X, a few savings in other areas, tells you your house is a 70 and if you do everything on the list it will be a 76 and, charged you $450 for the privilege but to make you feel good, told you to fill out a form and get $150 back.
Oh sorry, sour grapes are showing.

[Maymybonneliveforever]

Sear outsource their services to Amerispec...don't use them as I found out recently that the first and second audit are both done by same firm however different rep. So this becomes the crap shoot that is mention and so depending on whatever the 2nd auditor decides then you are pretty much stuck with it. I was short change about $1200 since the 2nd auditor refuse to consider my basement insulation and attic insulation. Long story

I went with Amerispec direct and found the auditor very helpfull. That actual audit takes about 1-1/12 hrs and I asked so many questioned that he stayed for over 2 hrs. I also didn't realize that the person on the home title had to sign so that he could request the $150.00 rebate from the governt so he offered to drive to her work to get her to sign. He also mentioned that we could schedule the follow up so that he would drive up again to her work to get her to sign again. I asked if he was going to do the follow up and was told "unless I will the jackpot lottery, you can be sure of it". I then recomended him to my neighbour and they have him scheduled for Nov. 11th.

EDIT:
The reason I got the audit was to get the rebates for the; Furnace, A/C and windows which I already knew I as going to get. That alone would give me around $3000.00 in rebates not including the HRTC, but I figured since I was paying for the audit I might as well take advantage of it and learned quite a bit in regards to air gaps, attic insulation, toilets, as well as the rebate for the ERV which I'm considering. If I took advantage of those rebates that would be and additional $2000.00 +. It was a win win for me.

[Pete_Coach]

I went with Amerispec direct and found the auditor very helpfull. That actual audit takes about 1-1/12 hrs and I asked so many questioned that he stayed for over 2 hrs. I also didn't realize that the person on the home title had to sign so that he could request the $150.00 rebate from the governt so he offered to drive to her work to get her to sign. He also mentioned that we could schedule the follow up so that he would drive up again to her work to get her to sign again. I asked if he was going to do the follow up and was told "unless I will the jackpot lottery, you can be sure of it". I then recomended him to my neighbour and they have him scheduled for Nov. 11th.

EDIT:
The reason I got the audit was to get the rebates for the; Furnace, A/C and windows which I already knew I as going to get. That alone would give me around $3000.00 in rebates not including the HRTC, but I figured since I was paying for the audit I might as well take advantage of it and learned quite a bit in regards to air gaps, attic insulation, toilets, as well as the rebate for the ERV which I'm considering. If I took advantage of those rebates that would be and additional $2000.00 +. It was a win win for me.

Well, goes to show ya, the auditor is the key. I also had Amerispec and they sucked. Outside of the pressure test, I could have pulled all the info in the 12 or so page report off the internet.
If you took advantage of all those rebates to save 2000, you would have to spend 10,000 plus. This is false economy. There is also a value added aspect. Is it really worth it to spend all that money for a percentage point or two of improvement?

[Maymybonneliveforever]

Outside of the pressure test, I could have pulled all the info in the 12 or so page report off the internet.
If you took advantage of all those rebates to save 2000, you would have to spend 10,000 plus. This is false economy. There is also a value added aspect. Is it really worth it to spend all that money for a percentage point or two of improvement?

What you are saying is true, I could have also gotten the basic same information except for the actual readings of the blower test but the bottom line is you have to go through the motions in order to get your rebates. It's also true that by the time I install a new furnace, a/c, toilets, windows, attic insulations, air sealing, ERV etc...etc. I'll have spend approximatly $25,000.00 to get $5000.00 back (eco energy related only) but I planed on those reno's regardless. I had to spend $350.00 to get $5000.00, I consider that a good return.

To answer your comment "Is it really worth it to spend all that money for a percentage point or two of improvement" For eg. I wouldn't pay $4500.00 to replace a 70% efficient furnace with a 95% to only save possible 25% on natural gas related to furnace consumption. But I would pay $2500.00 which was $400.00 more than the high end mid efficiency furnace which was rated at 88% not only for resale value but the extra savings in the long run. Another eg. is not even including the HRTC, the government will give you up to $235.00 per toilet when you install the energy efficient models listed, I consider that also a good return. I could go on but I hope most get the picture.