Home Energy TuneUp
American Infrared Consultants are Certified as Home Energy Tune-uP inspectors.
Using our exclusing Thermo-Scan technology, our inspection is more advanced and
more precise than any other.
What is a Home Energy Tune-uP®
Home Energy Tune-uP® is a service that helps people lower their energy bills
by identifying cost-effective technology upgrades. Tune-uP is the most detailed
and accurate energy inspection available.
- A certified Tune-uP Inspector performs an energy audit or inspection and
checks the insulation, windows, heating and cooling systems, the water heater
and appliances, and looks for cracks and gaps where air may be entering.
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The information gathered is analyzed using CMC's specialized software, and a Tune-uP
Report is generated that lists recommended energy improvements with savings and
cost estimates. It explains each recommendation, and discusses low and no-cost
energy savings suggestions that will make a home feel more comfortable.
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The Report provides a link for obtaining contractors and a number to call
for technical help or financing sources.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades Pay For Themselves
In most cases, energy efficiency upgrades pay for themselves in a few years through energy savings.
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Customers with no money to invest can still afford to invest in energy improvements by financing those items whose monthly energy savings are greater than their costs.
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Customers who want to make a wise investment can implement all recommended upgrades to increase home comfort and value further, and to obtain a good non-taxable return.
Energy raters provide the independent
verification that a house meets applicable energy standards. They
assess a home's energy usage, determine what improvements could
increase energy efficiency further, and compute the savings and payback
period of various options. Some energy raters work for small local
providers, while others are associated with nationwide energy-rating
networks such as the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) and
Energy Rated Homes of America
(ERHA). Local utility companies also conduct energy audits. The
Residential Energy Services Network
(RESNET) accredits providers of energy audits and offers training for
lenders and real estate professionals in energy efficiency. Its Web
site www.natresnet.org
has directories of lenders and energy raters by state.
Energy Rating Systems
Energy Rated Homes of America. ERHA is a national home energy rating
system with member programs in 16 states. Its ratings are recognized
by Fannie Mae, Freddie
Mac, FHA, and
VA. It has partnerships with Chase Manhattan Mortgage, GMAC Mortgage,
and other national primary lenders to offer preferred financing for
homes that are certified by ERHA to be energy efficient. www.erha.org
Home Energy Rating System.
As part of the 1992 Energy Policy Act, Congress mandated the U.S.
Department of Energy, HUD, and the mortgage industry to develop a
nationally recognized system for measuring the energy performance of
new and existing dwellings. The result was HERS. This system is based
on the Model Energy Code and is one of the most widely used methods of
rating energy efficiency in homes. www.hers.org
National Energy Raters Association. Members are professional home energy
raters and consultants. www.energyraters.org
Residential Energy Services Network.
(RESNET) A partnership between the national mortgage industry, Energy Rated
Homes of America, and the National Association of State Energy
Officials. RESNET's mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the
nation's housing stock by expanding the availability of mortgage
financing options and home energy ratings. It is a national network of
mortgage companies, real estate brokerages, builders, appraisers, and utilities. www.natresnet.org
Energy and Environmental Building Association. A national membership organization that includes architects, builders, developers, manufacturers,
engineers, utilities, code officials, researchers, educators, and environmentalists. www.eeba.org
U.S. Green Building Council.
Representing all segments of the building industry, USGBC is working to
change the way buildings are designed, constructed, and maintained. It
has developed a voluntary green building rating system called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This system evaluates
not just energy efficiency, but also site development practices, water
management, materials selection, indoor air quality and other issues.
The LEED rating was designed for commercial buildings and was recently
expanded to the residential sector. Some states and government agencies
have mandated that all new taxpayer-funded buildings meet LEED
standards. www.usgbc.org
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Energy Surveys
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