Energy Audits are Similar to a Colonoscopy

A couple of friends have asked me recently if I actually write these emails or plagiarize them from other sources. I do write them myself. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not but energy efficiency and related topics excite me. I read several articles this weekend that got me thinking about today’s topic. The first article was in Fortune magazine. It talked about how casket sales are down during this recession because fewer people are dying. It seems that during tough economic times people are forced to make smarter decisions regarding their lifestyles. The #1 factor in rising healthcare costs is bad lifestyle decisions. Smoking, obesity, and inactivity are the three main contributors to chronic illness. In an effort to cut health care costs, I am interested in how Congress will motivate the American public to make healthier choices. Hopefully, I will be able to use that same information to motivate some of you to invest in my services.

The second article I read gave a brief summary of a recent consumer survey. It was found that most consumers would rather spend money on their kitchen, master bath, or hardwood floors than on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, comfort, etc. The few people that actually do what I do for a living jokingly refer to energy audits as the “colonoscopy” of the building industry. Everyone knows they need it but few ever have the procedure done.

Energy audits are relatively inexpensive. They range from several hundred dollars to rarely over $500 in the largest of homes. The information an energy audit provides is invaluable. If you are thinking of adding insulation to your home, you should first have an audit performed. Adding attic insulation without proper air sealing is most often a complete waste of money. Thinking of adding floor insulation? Call us for better ideas on how to handle your crawlspace. Does your fireplace need servicing? Call us to make sure you have no combustion issues!