Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How soon can I get my Home Energy Assessment?

A:

 Your inspection appointment will typically be scheduled within one or two weeks of your phone call to 1-888-MaGrann (1-888-624-7226).  Appointments are scheduled weekday mornings and afternoons, and we will do our best to accommodate urgent requests and requests for specific days or times.
Q2: How long will the inspection take?

A:

 A home energy assessment should take 3-4 hours (1/2 day), but may take more depending on the size of your home. When you call to schedule your appointment we will ask you some questions that will help estimate the amount of time that will be needed.
Q3: Do I need to be at home for the inspection?

A:

 Yes. It is essential for our Analyst to be able to talk with you about the performance and operation of your home while in your home. During the inspection, the Analyst will conduct a brief interview with you, explain the inspection process and then proceed to conduct tests and collect data. There may be instances where you will need to provide access or assistance during the inspection. Upon completion our Analyst will again touch base with you regarding any particularly significant or urgent findings.
Q4: When and how will I receive my Green Home Plan?

A:

 Data analysis and preparation of your report takes about one week.  You will receive your Green Home Plan within 10 business days after the inspection.  You can receive your report by email as a color Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file, as a spiral bound color hard copy, or both.
Q5: What if I live in New Jersey?

A:

 In New Jersey we work with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® under the New Jersey Clean Energy Program™. Through this program we can offer their standard assessment at a price of $250, which is less than the actual cost of the audit. (It is subsidized by the program.) If recommended work is completed by a participating New Jersey Home Performance contractor, the program will refund the $250 so that the net cost of the assessment at the end of the process is $0! Note that the New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessment that we will perform for you, and the report generated from that inspection, does not include the full range of topics and information contained in My Green Home Plan.
Q6: Are there different levels of assessments offered?

A:

 Please see Plan Options for detailed descriptions of what is included in My Green Home Plan.
Q7: What do I do to prepare my home?

A:

 There are a number of steps to properly prepare for your home energy assessment.  The most important of these is acquiring your utility usage records which we will review in our analysis.  Please see "How It Works" for step by step guidelines on how to get that information and get your home ready.
Q8: What is a blower door test? Will it damage my home?

A:

 A “blower door” is simply a large fan mounted with a curtain and frame into a standard (non-sliding) external doorway of your home.  It does not require your door to be removed.  The fan is used to induce a slight positive (“push”) or negative (“pull”) air pressure through the house to exaggerate air leaks for easier detection and to locate hidden air pathways through the structure.  It also helps quantify the overall tightness of your home, and may be used in conjunction with other diagnostic equipment, such as a thermal imaging (infrared) camera.  If you use any open fireplaces, please remove loose ashes before the inspection so they are not disturbed by air from the chimney during operation of the blower door.  As a note of clarification to explanations that may appear elsewhere, the blower door is not used to simulate weather conditions – it is a diagnostic tool for professionals trained in interpreting the results.
Q9: What is a Duct Blaster?

A:

 Duct Blaster™ is the trade name of an instrument developed by the Energy Conservatory (www.energyconservatory.com) that resembles a miniature blower door used to test the tightness and integrity of forced air duct systems.  It is not a standard test appropriate for all homes, but we may use a Duct Blaster to diagnose specific problems with a duct system when indicated during an inspection.
Q10: What is an Infared Camera and when is it used?

A:

 An infrared (“IR” or “thermal imaging”) camera provides a false-color representation of surface temperature, so that hot and cold spots, warm and cool air leaks, and other energy related anomalies become “visible”.  An IR camera will often be used in conjunction with a blower door to exaggerate temperature differences in problem areas.  We use these pictures in our report to help explain our findings and recommendations.  However, please note that successful thermal imaging requires a strong temperature difference between the inside and outside of the house – ideally during cold winter weather (with the heat on inside) or hot summer weather (with air conditioning on inside).  Though we will not be able to use this particular instrument at all times, our other testing methods are not affected.
Q11: Can I get a Home Energy Assessment or Diagnostic Survey online?

A:

 No.  By definition a home energy assessment or diagnostic survey require an intensive in-home inspection with testing and analysis.  The findings and recommendations are customized to your home and your  specific energy and comfort performance issues.  There are several websites that provide a simple analysis of your energy use and standardized recommendations based on data you enter about your home and from your utility bills.  A popular example is the “Energy Yardstick” that can be found at www.energystar.gov.  However, most of these on-line tools conclude with a recommendation to get a home energy assessment before proceeding with energy and comfort upgrades, so that you can be sure you are doing the right thing.  Only an on-site inspection, testing and analysis by a certified energy professional can provide you with the detailed guidance you need for your home.
Q12: Shouldn’t I be getting this evaluation from my energy company? Don’t they do it for free?

A:

 Free home energy audits were popular in the 80s and 90s when utilities in many states were mandated to provide energy efficiency services.  A home energy assessment is substantially deeper than those audits, which were typically “walk-through” inspections without combustion safety or diagnostic testing, and lacked the standards of programs such as Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.  In New Jersey, program support is currently available through New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program™ sponsored by the NJ Board of Public Utilities.  While no longer free, we can help you tap into the subsidies and the trained contractor network available through this program.  In Pennsylvania, support for homeowners is available in the form of low interest financing for energy improvements, and the cost of our assessment can be included in the loan.  In addition, legislation was recently passed requiring PA utilities to develop new energy efficiency programs in 2009.  We are waiting to see if and how these programs may offer support for homeowners.  Note: Income qualified residents can get fully subsidized services through the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program which serves thousands of qualified customers each year.  If you think you may be eligible, contact us and we will direct you to this program in your state.
Q13: Are tax credits available for installing more energy efficient systems?

A:

 Yes, federal energy efficiency tax credits have been extended for another year (2009).  These tax credits allow you to deduct a percentage of the value of specific measures such as insulation and heater/air conditioner replacement.  For more information visit the Tax Incentives Assistance Project at http://www.energytaxincentives.org/consumers/insulation_etc.php or the Energy Star website on this topic at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.  A home energy assessment will help you decide which eligible improvements will have the greatest impact for your home.
Q14: Are cash incentives available for installing more energy efficient systems?

A:

 It depends.  Incentives for high efficiency products and systems are often available from manufacturers, utilities and state programs – but tend to vary over time or apply to specific periods.  We will help guide you to incentives that we are aware of at the time of your assessment.
Q15: Will a home energy assessment save me money? Energy?

A:

 My Green Home Plan will show you what actions you can take to ensure you are maximizing your opportunities to increase comfort, save energy and save money.  These recommendations will range from simple things you can do yourself, to strategically installing or replacing equipment, to more extensive home improvements that address major home performance issues.  Most of the actions we recommend will result in real savings, many will improve the comfort, safety and durability of your home.  But remember, without taking action your report is just information!
Q16: What if I’m more interested in alternative energy?

A:

 Clean energy is imperative for the future of our nation and our planet.  But when it comes to your home, the first priority should be the conservation and efficiency improvements you can make without sacrificing comfort or convenience.  Why?  Let’s say you and your home are currently wasting 30% of the energy you use every day.  If you pay for installing a renewable energy system or buy renewable energy through the grid at a premium price, 30% of that wonderful (and expensive) energy is simply going to waste.  In fact, you’ll be wasting money twice, because you will paying for a system that is larger than it needs to be.  A home energy assessment is a small but an essential first step in making a plan for a greener home.
Q17: Should I get new windows first?

A:

 Only an energy assessment can determine if replacing windows will significantly impact your energy usage, or whether it should be your first priority.  We have often found that the expense of replacing windows does not provide the increase in comfort or energy savings that homeowners expect.  There are typically other less expensive or higher impact ways to accomplish this goal.  My Green Home Plan will help you determine where on your action list replacing windows should fall.
Q18: How tight is too tight?

A:

 The goal of tightening up a house is to balance natural air exchange with controlled ventilation to ensure an optimal level of efficiency and indoor air quality.  Most older homes can benefit from significant air sealing before approaching the point where tightness becomes a concern.  Many newer homes have specific air leakage problems that can be strategically targeted.  In either case, the most important first step before embarking on any air sealing improvements is to check whether combustion equipment in the home (such as furnaces and water heaters) are operating and venting safely, without generating and releasing carbon monoxide into the home.  These tests are required by the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program and are included in My Green Home Plan by MaGrann.  We also recommend you perform a radon test if you have not already done this.  Secondly, our “blower door” air tightness test will determine just how tight your home is at the time of inspection, and we will look at your current ventilation systems as well.  Finally, these tests should be repeated after the completion of any significant energy upgrades in your home.  This “test out” procedure is required by the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program and will be included in the price of the home energy assessment when you use a contractor referred by My Green Home Plan (or we can provide this service separately for a fee).
Q19: Can I pick and choose the changes that will be made?

A:

 My Green Home Plan will clearly identify actions you can take to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable.  You will be able to make some of these changes yourself.  Others may require the assistance of a professional contractor.  It is up to you do determine which improvements you implement, but it’s important to remember that you will only approach the total energy savings predicted by My Green Home Plan report if improvements made are part of a “whole house” strategy.
Q20: What’s with all the logos and acronyms?

A:

 Technical integrity and quality service are important to us at MaGrann Associates.  We want you to know that the procedures we follow and the recommendations we make are based on nationally recognized standards.  Our company and our technical staff submit to extensive training, certification and documentation requirements in order to bring you the highest skill level possible.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (www.energystar.gov) is a program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) so that homeowners can recognize home energy assessment and retrofit services that meet the program’s standards for whole house energy treatment.

RESNET (www.resnet.us):  The Residential Energy Services Network sets the standards for rating the energy performance of a new or existing home using the national Home Energy Rating System (HERS®) – your Home Energy Rating.  The HERS standard is the basis of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Homes program for certifying new homes, federal energy tax credits for new construction, and Energy Efficient Mortgages.  MaGrann Associates is accredited by RESNET as a Home Energy Rating System Provider, and complies with its quality control protocols and reporting requirements.

BPI (www.bpi.org):  The Building Performance Institute sets the standards for “whole house” building diagnostics and combustion safety testing.  Our technical staff for My Green Home Plan are both certified Home Energy Raters and BPI Certified Professional Building Analysts.

PA Home Energy (www.pahomeenergy.com) is a program sponsored by the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund to bring Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR New Homes training, infrastructure development and quality standards to Pennsylvania.