On February 16, 2024, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association invited Torrance Kramer, President of Accurate-Airtight Exteriors to perform an energy audit on the MREA’s campus in Custer, Wis. To encourage other home and business owners to do the same, here is Torrance’s advice and expertise on energy audits to improve efficiency and save money.
Why would an organization like the MREA participate in an energy audit?
Establishing baseline energy consumption and building functionality is a key instrument in making informed decisions on what projects to pursue. Any building that has not previously completed an energy audit could benefit from completing an energy audit. Not all energy audits are created equal. Working with an experienced auditor will help ensure the correct diagnostic equipment is used and that the building is evaluated correctly.
What are the benefits?
By having an experienced energy auditor review your building for waste, you have the opportunity to remedy energy waste and know what practical solutions are common. An energy audit will often review building integrity concepts as well. Deteriorating structures cause waste through the need to produce the materials that need to be replaced due to poor construction, ill-performed maintenance, or neglect.
Who does it benefit?
The audit will benefit existing and any future occupants of the building. Through reduced energy consumption, it will benefit future occupants of this planet through reduced carbon production (even on a solar building through the reduction of material replacement). An analysis of exhaust and indoor ventilation can benefit indoor occupants by ensuring adequate indoor air quality. This could make for a higher quality work experience and even a more productive employee. If completing a solar project, a reduced sized system could be installed due to a more energy efficient home.
Would you recommend an energy audit for an old home homeowner?
Older homes often have some of the highest potential for energy savings. These homes can often have significant building integrity issues related to energy problems such as ice dams. These homes will often have empty or near empty wall cavities, lacking in any functional insulation. Doing improvements without having the whole picture can be detrimental to the building. Ensuring that the right processes are followed is key creating the highest energy saving potential while having the lowest cost install. A comprehensive project on an older home could see substantial reduction in energy while significantly increasing comfort.
Newer home homeowner?
Even some of the lowest energy consumers such as ENERGY STAR homes often have opportunity for energy savings. If the new home is of standard construction, they homes can be major energy offenders. Air sealing and ventilation are still often overlooked in these homes. With the unique designs of many modern homes, especially when energy efficiency was not part of the design, these homes can still be drafty and use significant amounts of energy.
Business owner?
Commercial buildings are severely overlooked in the energy efficiency community. The waste within the commercial building market is staggering. Often energy efficiency is not on the radar of the business owner due to its lower expense compared to other expenses. In return, energy waste is rampant. Within residential market as well as the commercial market, not all energy audits are created equal. Audit prices can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars depending upon size of the building, use, and what level of depth or analysis the energy audit is completed to.
Who would you recommend energy audits to?
Of the thousands of energy audits performed, I have found very few (count on one hand) buildings that could not benefit from an audit. While energy is the focus, building integrity and indoor air quality are often also part of the review.
If someone were interested in getting an energy audit, what would you recommend as first steps?
Do a little research on a what an energy audit is and what it entails so you can have a more informed decision to vet your energy auditor. Call a local energy auditor to review what is all entailed in their energy audit. Not all audits or energy auditors are created equal. Residential, often called home performance, and commercial energy audits are different and may require different experience or training. Ensure your auditor is equipped to provide you the information you are looking for.
Are there other resources you recommend to property owners to take part in energy efficiency audits and best practices?