5 Reasons Your Home Needs an EnerGuide Home Evaluation

Published on October 08, 2018

If you already know about the EnerGuide Home Evaluation, this will help you to understand more of the benefits. If you’re new to EnerGuide, it’s an opportunity to understand the program and how it can benefit you. Whatever the case, if you haven’t had a professional home evaluation - it’s time to reconsider.

1. An EnerGuide Home Evaluation assesses your home’s energy efficiency

When you have a comprehensive home energy evaluation, the assessment will bring to light all types of energy inefficiencies – even some that weren’t obvious. Your Energy Advisor will evaluate both the exterior of the home and the interior. The home is fully assessed, including everything energy related.

  • your home’s airtightness (using a mechanical blower door test)
  • insulation integrity and performance in walls, attic, ceilings, and basement
  • assessment of windows and exterior doors (type and location)
  • performance efficiencies of heating, cooling, and water heating
  • overall efficiency assessment of home appliances (gas/electric)
  • inspection and appraisal of all mechanical ventilation equipment

2. The EnerGuide Home Evaluation sets you up for positive improvements

Once your home evaluation is complete, your Energy Advisor will review all the data and explain how energy efficiency can be improved throughout your home. In addition to enhanced home comfort, the bottom line with home energy improvements is to save money on heating and cooling bills annually.

For homeowners, the benefits are wide ranging. After a home evaluation, and after making upgrades, home energy ratings are dramatically improved. Better still, heating bills during the winter and cooling bills during the summer are substantially reduced – in some cases up to half of the previous season.

Beyond the savings, homeowners enjoy much enhanced indoor comfort. There are fewer indoor drafts; the HVAC system is better balanced; and there are no indoor temperature extremes. Room to room, the comfort levels are improved compared to the ongoing complaints from previous winters and summers. 

3. After evaluation, energy improvements can help increase house value

An energy efficient home, retrofitted to meet modern standards of comfort and energy consumption, has improved salability. From air tightness, to insulation, to HVAC, energy efficient homes have added selling features. And for a real estate agent, home energy performance is an added value in today’s competitive real estate market.

For a prospective homebuyer, an energy-efficient home means more seasonal comfort, less energy use, and lower heating/cooling bills. When an EnerGuide Home Evaluation has been completed, a seller and buyer can both refer to the official EnerGuide Report for a complete overview of the home’s status. In other words, a potential homebuyer knows that they are buying a home that will cost less to heat and stay comfortable.

4. A home energy evaluation helps you maximize your energy efficiency

Once you’ve had your home energy evaluation, you’ll be presented with a performance overview and a rating assessment. Professionally calculated, this information breaks down energy consumption, areas of inefficiency, and potential fixes to remedy the problem areas. Essentially, you’ll have a personalized action plan to show how upgrades and retrofits provide significant benefits over existing scenarios.

With a professional home energy advisor on board, you’ll be presented with a comprehensive list of energy efficiency upgrades designed to make a difference. From boosting insulation performance, to ensuring complete air tightness, to improving air circulation and ventilation, you notice big differences from season to season. And the long-term utility savings can often offset the upfront retrofitting costs.

5. Keeping up with the new building code that comes into effect in 2020

Because energy consumption has such great impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, building codes are being revised and updated (for potential implementation in 2020). Revisions and updates will include new requirements for insulation, exterior windows, and air leakage. For the average homeowner, it would be wise to make energy efficiency improvements based on current needs, but also in view of a potential home sale in future. Bottom line, energy efficiency upgrades provide excellent cost return.

If you’re ready for your EnerGuide Home Evaluation contact Barrier Sciences Group for an expert approach to assessment and retrofitting. Talk to one of the professionals at BSG by calling 1-866-333-3920 or filling out a contact form on the site.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant offers home efficiency renovation grants up to $5,000.

Homeowners Canada-wide are eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant, announced on May 27, 2021. This new incentive offers up to $5,000 in grants for home efficiency retrofit renovations, plus a $600 reimbursement for pre- and post-work EnerGuide evaluations. Eligible retrofit scopes include home insulation, heating, doors, windows, photovoltaic solar panels, resiliency measures, and thermostats.

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