There are three key points made in the document: 1. It is important to thoroughly understand how a home is currently performing and wasting energy through a home check-up and use of diagnostic tools before making retrofit decisions. 2. An independent, unbiased third party should perform the home energy audit to avoid contractor bias and ensure all systems are considered holistically. 3. A quality energy audit focuses on optimizing existing systems and addressing air leakage and airflow issues, which can provide the greatest benefits and cost savings over replacing components.

1. Reducing Home Energy Costs
There is more to it than adding insulation or windows

2. Your Presenter
• RESNET Member
• Certified HVAC Balancing
& Diagnostics
• Certified Indoor
Environmental Consultant
• Certified Combustion
Analyst
• LEED AP (EB O&M and
Homes)
• Certified Commissioning
Process Management
Professional
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

3. Understanding Your Home
• The first step in
reducing energy costs
in any home is
gaining a thorough
understanding of how
the home is wasting
energy.
• This begins with
giving your home a
check-up.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

4. Home Check-Up…Why?
• You would not allow your doctor to operate
on you without first diagnosing the
problem.
• Your home is the same. In order to gain
the greatest benefit from your retrofit
dollars, you must first understand the
problems.
• How is your home currently performing?
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

5. Diagnostic Tools
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

6. Where to Begin
• It is important to
understand how your
home currently
performs. This allows
technicians to
evaluate the most
cost effective retrofits.
• Current performance
can be measured and
weaknesses
evaluated.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

7. Measure, Don’t Guess
• A thorough
understanding of a
building requires an
understanding of ALL
integrated systems
that make up the
building.
• Changes made to any
system can affect the
performance of other
systems.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

8. Watch Out for This Guy!!
• Unscrupulous energy
inspectors can cause
more harm than good. In
some cases, these under
qualified energy
inspectors can
unknowingly put the
home and/or occupants
at risk.
• Experience, experience,
experience!!!
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

9. Contractor Bias = Poor
Diagnostics
• HVAC contractor makes more money selling
new system than correcting airflow.
• Insulation contractor makes more money
insulating a home than sealing air leaks.
• Window contractor makes more money selling
new windows than properly sealing rough
opening around existing windows.
• Sometimes, the most cost effective retrofits
are the least costly to implement.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

10. Buyer Beware!!
Below is from Cleveland Area Contractor Website
A Home Energy Audit will determine where your
home is leaking hundreds of energy dollars in
the summer as well as the winter. Our
Registered Insulation Specialists will identify
your home's leaks and suggest how to stop
them. We can help you with attic or wall
insulation, new energy efficient replacement
windows and doors.
Conflict of Interest?? You Decide.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

11. C.L.I. Group Audit Options
Integrated Energy
Systems
Insulation
Building Shell
Controls
& Windows
Home Energy
Usage
Indoor Air Lighting &
Quality Electrical
Combustion
Safety
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

12. An Independent Third Party
Approach
• No financial interest
• Not selling products
and/or services
• Trained &
experienced in all
systems
• Building Science
training (knowing how
integrated systems
affect each other)
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

13. Energy Loss = Other Issues
• Construction defects
such as ice dams are
directly related to
energy loss.
However, these
deficiencies can
damage other
components of the
building.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

14. Unseen Deficiencies
• Poorly designed or
misunderstood
building retrofits can
create hidden
hazards (e.g. poor
ventilation, moisture
problems, mold).
• This is the danger
when biased
contractors perform
energy audits.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

15. Energy Efficiency v IAQ
• A poorly designed
energy efficiency
strategy can
compromise indoor
air quality.
• Good air quality and
energy efficiency are
possible if your
energy contractor
understands both.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

16. Misdiagnosis Can Be Costly
• Improperly sized
mechanical systems
• Condensation and
other moisture issues
• Indoor Air Quality Saving a few
issues dollars on a quality
energy audit can
• Premature wear on get you into Hot
Water later!!
building systems
• Added cost to owner
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

17. Efficient Heat Requires Good
Airflow
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C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

18. Duct Leakage
• Duct leakage may be
stealing your heating
system efficiency and
your money.
• Many heating contractors
will install new systems
and never look at duct
leakage.
• Duct leakage is
responsible for numerous
building problems (e.g.
ice dams, IAQ, etc.)
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

19. Poor Airflow
• An air handler cannot
function as intended
without proper airflow.
• Proper airflow can
only be determined by
measuring.
• There are many
causes for poor
airflow (e.g. dirty filter,
improperly sized
ducts, etc.)
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

20. Insulation Benefits?
• Installing more
insulation without
sealing air leakage
will do little in
correcting heat loss
issues.
• Most insulation allows
for airflow. This
airflow can rob the
insulation of R-Value.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

21. Proper Installation
• Proper installation is
often more important
than additional
materials or larger
sizes.
• This drawing shows
properly installed
baffles and sheathing
preventing airflow
through insulation.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

22. Improper Installation
• Cold (outdoor) air flowing
through insulation
reduces R-value and
allows for convective heat
losses.
• This is a common
problem, even in new
insulation installations.
• Unqualified installers do
not understand this issue
or the consequences.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

23. Condensation Problems
• This home had a larger
cooling system installed
to correct comfort issues.
• The pressure
differentials, air leakage
and insulation issues
created a much worse
problem.
• A proper assessment of
the building would have
prevented these
problems which later
caused thousands in
damages.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

24. Unqualified Installers
• Installers insulated
directly over this
recessed light. This not
only created heat loss, it
helped to fuel
condensation in attic,
aided in creation of ice
dams and was a potential
fire hazard.
• Infrared image helps to
uncover these issues
before problems occur.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

25. Profit First!!
• Many window problems
are the result of poor
installation and not the
actual window.
Replacement windows
will do little good if they
are again installed
improperly.
• Many homeowners could
save more by properly
insulating existing
window openings.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

26. Holistic Approach is Key
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

27. Common Oversights in Audits
• HVAC system airflows are often ignored
and/or misunderstood by home energy
auditors.
• Indoor Air Quality can be adversely
affected by energy retrofits. Your home
energy auditor should understand both.
• Changes to any system in the home
typically affects other systems. This is why
a holistic approach is important.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

28. A New Day in Energy Performance
OA CH!!!!!
AP P R
TED
INT EGRA
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

29. Trained Specialists
• Measure existing
performance
• Get the most out of
existing framework
• Reduced energy
costs & improved
performance
• From systems already
in place in many
cases
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

30. Independent Third-Party
• Remember Joe and avoid
him. An independent
assessment of your home
will give you all of the
fact, unbiased.
• When contractors
perform free or
discounted assessments,
you are almost
guaranteed a faulty
energy audit biased
toward their interests.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010

31. Call Us 440-946-7191
• Learn how our independent and integrated
approach to energy audits can save you money
and help to assure that you get the most out of
your home.
C.L.I. Group, LLC 2010