What is Home Performance With Energy Star?

You have the option of visiting a federal web site concerning home improvements in order to gain insight into the Energy Star program. We also urge you to research the following links to federal and state tax incentives which are available for current tax year projects. Federal incentives can be found here. Wyoming incentives can be found elsewhere and for Montana, elsewhere. Other programs such as the federal Homestar program are of interest.

Rather than focusing on a single problem - an old heating or cooling system, not enough insulation in the attic, or leaky windows, for example - HPwES, along with equipment such as ours looks at how improvements throughout a home can work together to give you the best overall results.

Benefits of HPwES:

Utility bill savings of 20 percent or more
Fewer drafts and more comfortable rooms
Work performed by specially trained contractors
Third-party quality assurance
High quality/low-maintenance products
Reduced greenhouse gases

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HPwES:

A COMPREHENSIVE HOME ENERGY AUDIT

The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR process starts with an interview with you, the homeowner, to help your contractor understand your concerns regarding your home's energy use and comfort. After the interview, the contractor will inspect your home to determine where improvements are needed. This includes inspection of the interior and exterior, heating and cooling equipment, duct systems and even lighting and appliances. Your contractor will also inspect the home's attic, basement or crawlspace. The inspection also includes diagnostic tests to check the home's envelope and duct leakage and/or use of an infrared camera to find the trouble spots. Your contractor will also review your utility bills to compare them to similar homes, determining how energy is potentially being wasted in your home.

GETTING THE WORK DONE

After the assessment, your contractor will prepare a detailed work proposal outlining recommended improvements and can also show you how they may qualify for special financing or other incentives, where available. Once you decide which improvements to make, your Home Performance contractor will help you get the job done right. When work is completed, your contractor may run another set of tests to show the difference the improvements have made. Your Home Performance contractor's work is also spot-checked by independent third-parties, so you can have the added confidence that your job will be done correctly.

TYPICAL RESULTS

The comprehensive approach offered by Home Performance with ENERGY STAR will make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. Depending on the improvements you choose, you may be able to save 20 percent or more on your annual utility bill - and because you're using less energy, you'll also be helping the environment.