How to Schedule a Home Energy Assessment
You probably land in one of two camps: rejoicing the start of fall and cooler temps, or mourning the end of summer and warmer days. Whatever your seasonal inclination, now is the perfect time to prepare your home or building for Chicago winter.
While there are many free, small things you can do today to save energy, some measures will require more planning and upfront investment. The easiest way to kick things off before cold temperatures settle in is to schedule an energy assessment of your home or building. As your advocate, Elevate Energy will help you find the best person for the job.
Start here: Call us at 1-855-372-8377 or email us at buildings@ElevateNP.org.
A certified analyst will use tools to measure energy loss and appliance efficiency and determine the most cost-effective measures for your home or building. A common recommendation for Chicago buildings is attic air sealing and insulation.
What exactly is air sealing and insulation? How long will it take?
We like this description from an earlier blog post:
What would happen if all the gaps and penetrations into the attic were sealed up so that warm air had a harder time escaping out of the house? There would be less of a vacuum created in our living areas and less cold air drawn in from windows and doors, right? Different products, like spray foam, are used to seal up the air leaks. In a typical house, a certified contractor can finish this air sealing work in less than a day with little disruption in the house. Now imagine a continuous blanket of fluffy stuff is added on top of the tightly air sealed attic floor, like a big down comforter on a bed. That is insulation. Most effective insulation now-a-days is blown in using a hose from a truck and takes just a couple hours to do a typical attic. As with the air sealing, the process is hardly disruptive to the house and is inexpensive.
Other recommended measures may include heating system controls or replacements, pipe insulation, and low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.
How will I pay for the improvements?
When deciding whether to invest in recommended measures, be sure to consider energy savings along with other benefits like decreased maintenance costs, improved comfort, and better reliability. We’ll provide guidance every step of the way and connect you to all available financing options to help offset the costs. In fact – here’s how we helped building owner Josh reduce the cost by 31 percent in his two-story Logan Square building! Some single-family homeowners may qualify for forgivable loans of up to $8000 to cover the cost of recommended home improvements. Click here to see if you’re eligible.
What if I rent?
Reside in an apartment? You’re in popular company – did you know that three out of four Chicagoans live in a multifamily building? If you’re not in control of some of the measures at your building but are interested in making your unit cozier this winter, please pass our name on to your property manager or building owner. They can reach out to us anytime to learn more about reducing energy costs in their rental properties to help keep housing affordable in our neighborhoods.
Call us at 1-855-372-8377 or email us at buildings@ElevateNP.org. Click here to download an info sheet.
