A home energy audit is a useful tool to evaluate the energy efficiency of a home.  This audit typically includes a general inspection of your home’s structure and HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning) systems, an inventory of appliances, utility bill analysis, a blower door test and an evaluation of insulation levels in attics, crawl spaces and walls.  Pressure diagnostics can also be performed to identify the causes of hot or cold spots in your home or other comfort issues.  An Audit Report is provided which summarizes the auditor’s findings and makes prioritized recommendations for improvements, including a cost:benefit analysis.

Step Ahead works with you, the homeowner, to evaluate your home’s energy efficiency and to identify improvements that will help you reach your goals. Our audits begin with an interview and an agreement between Step Ahead and the homeowner about expectations.  In many cases, homeowners are interested in participating in or observing the audit, and we welcome this partnership. In other cases, homeowners are interested in learning about their home’s performance via the Audit Report that summarizes findings and offers recommendations for improvements when needed.

Step Ahead offers a variety of audit packages which can be tailored to your needs:

• Complete Home Energy Audit: Complete Home Energy Audit includes: interview; basic visual inspection of house structure and HVAC system; utility bill analysis; appliance and electronics inventory; evaluation of insulation levels; blower door test; infrared camera scan; Audit Report summarizing findings and prioritized recommendations. Fee: $259.
  
• Blower Door Audit: Step Ahead conducts a complete blower door audit for the homeowner, including:  interview; basic house structure and HVAC systems inspection; utility bill analysis; appliance and electronics inventory and analysis; blower door test; evaluation of insulation levels; and Audit Report summarizing findings and prioritized recommendations.  Fee: $139.
  
• Walk-Through Audit: Step Ahead conducts a complete Walk-Through Audit, including: interview; basic house structure and HVAC systems inspection; utility bill analysis; appliance and electronics inventory and analysis; evaluation of insulation levels; and Audit Report summarizing findings and prioritized recommendations. Fee: $79.
  
• Wholesome Home Program: This program includes a Complete Home Energy Audit as the starting point to a whole house approach to energy efficiency, waste management and sustainable living. The Wholesome Home Program involves household goal-setting, a schedule, specific steps for reaching those goals, and assistance from Step Ahead in the design and implementation of selected solutions. Click here for a more thorough description of this program.
• Realtor Audit Services: Step Ahead works with Realtors to provide their clients (buyers or sellers) with useful information about the energy efficiency of a house.  Realtors can request either a Complete Home Energy Audit or simply a Blower Door Test to locate air leakages in the home, or can customize services for their purposes. Prices are negotiated depending on the services requested and the number of audits the Realtor requests.

Or choose which individual services you need:

• Blower Door service only: For DIYers or others who just want to know where air infiltration is occurring and/or their home’s air exchange rate.  Step Ahead will bring, set-up and operate the blower door equipment and work with the homeowner  to locate areas of infiltration. The blower door test can usually be completed in 1 – 2 hours. Fee: $60/hour.
• Utility Bill analysis only: Client provides copies of bills. Fee: $50. Step Ahead arranges to get information from utility company. Fee: $60.
• Appliance and Electronics Inventory/Analysis of Energy Usage: Fee: $60
• Insulation check/evaluation: Fee: $45
• Audit Report with Recommendations: Fee: $60