A senior energy consultant’s main duties include conducting energy audits, creating energy management plans, suggesting energy-saving methods, evaluating energy data, and offering clients training and education. They assess a building’s energy efficiency using a variety of methods and instruments, including blower door testing, thermal imaging, and energy modeling software.
It can be difficult to increase the energy efficiency of an older home, but it is doable with the correct techniques and tools. The following are some of the best techniques to increase an ancient home’s energy efficiency: 1. Insulating the basement, attic, and walls to stop heat gain and loss. 2. Replacing the old windows and doors with low-e coatings, weatherstripping, and double or triple glazing energy-efficient models. 3. Setting up a programmable thermostat to regulate the heating and cooling system and cut down on energy wastage. 4. Changing the lights to LED bulbs, which consume less energy and have a longer lifespan than conventional bulbs. 5. Fixing air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings to stop draughts and enhance the quality of the air within the home.
A widely recognized benchmark for evaluating the energy effectiveness of dwellings is the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). On a scale from 0 to 150, the HERS rating is predicated, with a lower number signifying greater energy efficiency. The Energy Star program is a voluntary initiative that establishes requirements for items and structures in terms of energy efficiency. A house with an Energy Star rating satisfies or exceeds the program’s requirements for energy efficiency.
A trained HERS rater determines the HERS rating by testing and measuring many aspects of a home’s energy efficiency. In order to compare the results to a typical reference home, the rater evaluates the insulation, air leakage, HVAC system, lighting, and appliances of the home. The energy consumption of the rated home in comparison to the reference home is then used to determine the HERS rating.
The price of an energy audit in Ontario varies according to the building’s size and complexity as well as the audit’s scope. An energy audit can cost up to $1,500 or more, although a simple audit normally costs between $300 and $500. Nevertheless, a lot of utilities and government initiatives provide incentives and refunds for energy audits, which can help to defray the cost and make them more accessible to households and businesses.