What Is A Home Performance Contractor?

Many of us have plans for home improvement projects that will improve the energy-efficiency of our homes. If we are lucky, we will find time to bring a few of these ideas to completion each year. The simplest energy-saving measures, such as installing a few compact fluorescent lamps or wrapping a water heater, make good weekend projects. But the big tasks, such as adding attic insulation or installing a high-efficiency furnace, require professional training and tools. A home performance specialist can help turn these larger tasks into reality.
 Home performance contractors specialize in analyzing and improving existing homes, with a focus on comfort, efficiency, and durability. In performing home assessments, they use specialized tools and procedures to identify energy waste and prioritize remodel tasks. Most follow established national standards to assure that the procedures they offer follow accepted best practices. If you plan to hire a home performance contractor, be sure to ask if the following procedures will be included in their services:
• A blower-door test to measure air leakage through the building shell
• A duct-blower test to measure duct leakage
• A combustion safety test to assess the function of heating equipment and chimneys
• An efficiency assessment of heating and cooling equipment to determine if an upgrade would be cost-effective
• An inspection of attic and wall insulation to determine if more insulation is needed
• An assessment of ventilation levels can sense excess moisture which could result in the growth of mold or mildew.
 The Home Performance with Energy Star program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, provides important national standards for home performance contracting. You can learn more about the program and locate qualified contractors at their Web site: www.energystar.gov/homeperformance
Chris Dorsi is a nationally recognized expert on energy-efficiency.