How much does an energy audit cost?

The price of the audit is dependent on the type and size of your home. Please contact us for your free quote.

How long does it take to have my home audited?

It will take between 1-2 hours depending on the size and condition of your home. We offer night and weekend appointments to fit your  schedule.

Do I need to be home for the audit?

No, you do not need to be home, but we will need some information on your home and energy usage to deliver you with an accurate plan.

How much will I save?

The average homeowner will save 25% on their monthly bills by implementing the recommendations in your plan. Your home will also be more comfortable and have cleaner air.

What if I have questions about my plan?

Although we do everything we can to make your plan easy to understand and follow, we welcome your questions. We want to make sure you are doing more than just getting information. Send your questions to service@sdheat.net and we will be happy to answer them.

Where do you get your data for recommendations?

We use calculations from the Department of Energy (DOE) and recommendations from ENERGY STAR and Building America Best Practices. Some of the standards used are: ISO 9972, ASTM E779-03, ATTMA TS-1, ENERGY STAR Building Upgrade Manual (2008) and EPA-430-B-98-004B.

Why don't you do HERS rating?

A HERS rating is a great tool for new construction, which we highly recommend. By having a home rated, you can easily compare different homes energy efficiency with a simple numerical value. Our goal is to lower your bills, not give your home a "rating". If you compared it to when you buy or sell a home; a HERS rating is like getting your home appraised, whereas our service is like getting a home inspection: You learn what needs to be repaired or upgraded and how to fix it.

Do you offer any discounts?

Yes. We offer a 10% discount for military and seniors.  We also offer multi-unit discounts for building owners, managers and home owner associations. Please let us know when scheduling your service.

I live in a newer home, can an energy audit help me?

Yes. Even in newer homes we find places where the contractors failed to put insulation where it was needed or seal important areas of the home. Unless you built the home yourself, you really can't be sure of the work that was (or was not) done. We've found less than perfect work done on homes made by the #1 home builder in the US, chances are you're home can make some improvements too!

I've heard of this in colder climates, why here ?

Energy Audits have been around for years in the mid-west and north-east due to the high cost of heating oil. Today, we are all paying more for electricity and the prices are not going down. Because we use electricity to COOL our homes and offices, an energy audit makes even more sense here in San Diego where the typical cost for cooling can be much higher than our heating bills. Plus, our energy audit covers much more than your gas and electric use and will lead to lower bills.

How do I know if the upgrades I made are effective?

You'll know they are are working as your gas and electric bills get lower and the level of comfort in your home rises. The best way to be sure is to have us come back and do a quick re-inspection of the upgrades you've made. We offer this service at a very reasonable rate and only to our past clients. Contact us for pricing or to schedule your appointment.

The thermal pictures showed a lot of problems. Why does the amount I'll save in my plan I seem to be low?

The savings we list in your plan are calculated using DOE data which can only account for information put into the system. There are no calculations available to factor in what's found on a thermal image. An example would be, if you have 6" of insulation in your attic rated at R-19, the program will say that your attic is properly insulated to the recommended level for this area. Whereas when we take a thermal image of your insulation, we can "see" that the insulation is not working properly or that it's installed incorrectly.  So although the thermal image will give you a much more accurate representation of the insulations working R-factor, for calculations we have to go off the "numbers".

What is Infraspection Institute?

Literally writing the standard for infrared inspections for almost 30-years, Infraspection is the oldest and most respected name in the industry. They provide training and certification for thermographers. Anyone can buy a thermal camera and take pictures. Make sure you only hire the best. Our certificates are available for review, or you may contact Infraspection directly for a reference.

Where can I find a list of all the terms you use?

We have an extensive list of terms on our Energy Terms page. If there are any other terms you would like to see, please contact us and we'll add it the list.