The $99 in-home energy audit (Arizona Home Performance with Energy Star), funded by APS is well underway in the valley.  This guide will shed some light on aspects of the program that homeowners should be aware of if they are even thinking about having an APS energy audit done on their.

Rebates:

Rebates include 75% off the cost of air sealing, duct sealing, insulation and shade screens up to $250.  An important issue to be aware of is that the duct sealing rebate is per unit, so you can receive the sealing rebate multiple times if you have more than one furnace or AC unit.  Air sealing on the other hand, is only a one-time rebate regardless of the size of the home.  The rebates are submitted after the post test is complete and take about 6 weeks to come back to you in the mail.

Quality Assurance:

The APS energy audit is a very well-put-together program.  APS has built-in a quality assurance for all homeowners participating in the program.  That quality assurance comes in several forms.  To qualify for the rebates an APS Home Performance with Energy Star Certified Contractor must perform the work.  This ensures that the contractor has been trained and certified in building performance and uses the house-as-a-system approach.   Quality assurance also comes in the form of a free post-audit test after air sealing or duct sealing is performed.  The APS post audit will verify that the work was performed to APS Home Performance with Energy Star standards and that real results were achieved i.e. post air leakage numbers are lower than initial results.  There is also a post-post audit performed on a random selection of houses by the agency that oversees the APS Home Performance program itself, the Foundation for Senior Living.  These energy efficiency experts will perform a modified APS energy audit on your home again to verify the contractors’ results.  Whew!  And then if you have a refrigerator in the garage there may be another post-post-post audit done on your home… just kidding on that one.

The Program Itself:

The Arizona Home Performance with Energy Star program has a prescribed set of test that the energy auditor will perform.  A blower door will be set up to measure air leakage and duct leakage.  An attic inspection is done to check your insulation levels and see how it was installed.  Building measurements, HVAC information and water heater specifications are taken and entered into the building model done for each home.  Your home is also tested for combustion safety and check for potential back-drafting of gas appliances.  Those test listed above are required by the program.  What is not required but may be performed depending on your reasons for the audit and on the energy auditor you use is a utility bills analysis, renewable energy consultation (from a third party), an in-home discussion, a customized report, or additional energy modeling.  Some homeowners are looking for reasons why their utility bills have increased and a utility bill analysis is essential.  Other clients find valuable a general discussion on how to reduce their bills immediately after the audit is complete.  A customized report may also be created for the homeowner and can vary on levels of quality.
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Duct sealing is always the first upgrade to perform because the driving force of heat gain through conduction is pressure differences.  The greater the pressure differences, the greater the heat gain and vice-versa.  Where are the greatest pressure differences in your home?  That’s right, the air handler.  In fact that fan that blows cool air through the ductwork operates a pressure of around 350 pascals, much greater than the pressure a blower door runs at.  When contractors perform duct sealing their priority is to seal around the air handler first, then work their way out all the way to the supply registers.Air sealing is next on the list and is critical if additional insulation is also on your punch list.  Once insulation is added it is very difficult to air seal simply because it is difficult to locate electrical penetrations and even recessed lights if they are buried under the insulation.  Air sealing should occur around all plumbing penetrations in bathrooms and in the attic, electrical penetrations and open wall chases, around leaky windows and doors should be weatherstipped.Fixing insulation misalignments should be next.  Just a 5% gap in insulation will cause the R-value (it’s effectiveness at blocking heat gain) to decrease by 50%.  If your home is like mine and has fiberglass batts across the ceiling floor, chances are that it was installed incorrectly.  There are two ways to correct that issue.  The hard way and frankly very difficult way to try to realign the batts correctly to fit in-between the 2"x6" studs.  The more effective method is to remove all batts, use blown-in cellulose insulation to reach crevices and under walking studs, and then place the batts on top of the newly installed insulation.Other Big Hitters

Pool pump:

Replacing a single –speed pool pump with a variable speed motor is very highly recommended and has a payback of less than two years.

Refrigerator:

Energy efficiency standards have come a long way in the last 15 years and replacing that old model with a new unit will start saving you money immediately.

Windows:

Upgrading your windows can also have a big impact on your comfort and utility bills.  Whether to replace, add sunscreens, install storm windows or add window film should be discussed with your energy auditor.

Hybrid Water Heater:

Hot water usage is one of the top three energy users at home.  Using a heat pump to heat the water is much more efficient than traditional heating elements, in-fact the estimated energy usage is around $200 per year compared to the $500 with a standard water heater.  The cost of hybrid water heaters is also attractive when compared to solar hot water heaters and the pa

The hierarchy listed here is very general and is based on the $99 APS Home Performance with Energy Star, in-home energy audit.  Each home is different so results may vary.
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