How do I find a firm that is qualified to do an energy audit on my home?

Excellent question with two key parts: “find” and “qualified.” Let’s look at “qualified” first.

The majority of states have licensing requirements and/or conflict-of-interest laws for home inspectors, and we may see similar requirements for energy auditors in the coming years as energy efficiency becomes more important and auditors more in demand. However, state licensing has most likely not occurred to date because of national quality standards and certification by an organization called RESNET, the Residential Energy Services Network. Another emerging organization is the Building Performance Institute, and the two organizations together are developing a new national standard for home energy audits for new and existing homes. RESNET certifies HERS (Home Energy Rating System) raters to do energy auditing. BPI has several designations with a focus on auditing, performing weatherization or other services, and then re-testing to ensure the work was successful. So look for a certified HERS rater or a BPI Building Analyst or, in the future, a Home Performance Auditor (joint certification).

Why? What you want to avoid is someone coming out to perform an “energy audit” and then, 15 minutes into the audit, concluding that you need a new AC unit … which they just happen to sell.

Now, let’s look at “find.” This is not always as easy since most HERS raters tend to focus on new home testing (vs. existing homes) and since BPI is not yet established across the country.

My first suggestion is to start with your local utility. The reason is that they may perform an energy audit for a reduced fee, or for free, and/or may pay for energy performance improvements that are verified through re-testing. Not a bad deal. I know one of the utilities in your area does just this, using demand-side management fees built into everyone’s utility bills to fund the program. The utility may have in-house auditors or may have a referral list of outside approved contractors.

A second resource is a local or state government or non-profit weatherization program. Such programs tend to have a mission of assisting low-income families or seniors in getting energy costs under control, sometimes funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The weatherization programs have energy auditor resources or contacts.

Check local low-income housing organizations, as well, as many of them seek to minimize the ongoing operating costs of homes.

You can also always go onto the RESNET or BPI Web sites and use their directory search tools.

There are not enough certified energy auditors out there, but as we are likely to see a change in national energy policy and a focus on green-collar jobs in Congress, we will see a rising demand for and supply of energy auditors in coming years. A thorough energy audit for an average existing home costs somewhere in the the $300-$500 range, which has been a psychological hurdle to average consumers in a world of cheap energy, even though it can pay for itself quickly. So most HERS raters have focused to date on new production homes seeking ENERGY STAR or other certification, where they can get the fees down substantially through standardized, volume work in fewer trips. Utility, state and federal incentives will change the picture as utilities recognize that it is less expensive to save energy than to build new power plants and as public policy officials recognize that energy efficiency is less expensive than increasing our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign-supplied energy.