Fort Collins Utilities Home Efficiency Audit Program

Home Efficiency AuditFort Collins Utilities, Residential Environmental Program SeriesFebruary 17, 2010John Fassler, EnergyLogic, john.fassler@nrglogic.com

www.nrglogic.com

What is a Home Efficiency Audit? Home analysis from a building science perspective. Start with data utility bills, size of home, age of home,

number of occupants. Interview homeowner. Perform complete visual inspection of home. Blower door depressurization and infrared scan. Combustion safety testing. Brief summary of findings emphasizing safety issues. Report

Utility Bill AnalysisElectricity

High use

How many people in household? 2…9,000kWh/person•YearRange = 1,000-11,000.

Electric History

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Feb2009

Mar2009

Apr2009

May2009

Jun2009

Jul2009

Aug2009

Sep2009

Oct2009

Nov2009

Dec2009

Jan2010

Elec

tric

Con

sum

ptio

n (k

Wh)

Utility Bill Analysis Electricity

Low use

How many people in household? 4…935kWh/person•YearRange = 1,000-11,000.

Electric History

0

100

200

300

400

500

Jan(2009)

Feb(2009)

Mar(2009)

Apr(2009)

May(2009)

Jun(2009)

Jul(2009)

Aug(2009)

Sep(2009)

Oct(2009)

Nov(2009)

Dec(2009)

Elec

tric

Con

sum

ptio

n (k

Wh)

Utility Bill AnalysisNatural Gas

High use

Square footage? 1,70070,000 BTU/SF•YearRange = 20,000 – 70,000

Gas History

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Jan2010

Dec2009

Nov2009

Oct2009

Sep2009

Aug2009

Jul2009

Jun2009

May2009

Apr2009

Mar2009

Feb2009

Gas

Con

sum

ptio

n (T

herm

s)

Utility Bill AnalysisNatural Gas

Low use

Square footage? 3,40020,500 BTU/SF•YearRange = 20,000 – 70,000

Gas History

020406080

100120140

Jan2009

Feb2009

Mar2009

Apr2009

May2009

Jun2009

Jul2009

Aug2009

Sep2009

Oct2009

Nov2009

Dec2009

Gas

Con

sum

ptio

n (T

herm

s)

Utility Bill AnalysisWater

High use

Winter Quarter Average per person • day. 61 gpcd Fort Collins Average is 60 gpcd.26,000 gallons/month peak.Landscape Irrigation beyond scope of audit.Recommend Sprinkler Audit.

Water History

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

Feb2009

Mar2009

Apr2009

May2009

Jun2009

Jul2009

Aug2009

Sep2009

Oct2009

Nov2009

Dec2009

Jan2010

Wat

er C

onsu

mpt

ion

(Gal

lons

)

Utility Bill AnalysisWater

Low use

Winter Quarter Average per person • day. 25 gpcd Fort Collins Average is 60 gpcd.13,000 gallons/month peak.

Water History

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,000

Jan(2009)

Feb(2009)

Mar(2009)

Apr(2009)

May(2009)

Jun(2009)

Jul(2009)

Aug(2009)

Sep(2009)

Oct(2009)

Nov(2009)

Dec(2009)

Wat

er C

onsu

mpt

ion

(gal

.)

Homeowner Interview

Reasons for Audit? Comfort Issues in Home? How Many People Live Here? What Improvements Have Been Made to the

Home? Keep Adding Information for Analysis.

Visual Inspection

Walk Exterior Attic Crawl Space Mechanical Room

Blower Door and IR

Sometimes confirms what has already been found in visual inspection.

Surprise! The ceiling is cold below the attic area with no insulation.

Blower Door and IR

Gives clues. ACH50 from 3 to 11. If 3 there is not a

leakage problem. Above 5, find the hole in the house.

IR can detect problems hidden from visual inspection.

Furnace Performance

Heat rise External static pressure, ESP. Fan motor horse power.

Additional Audit Procedures

Check toilet gpf and shower gpm. Look for plug loads Refrigerators. How many and how old?

Combustion Safety Check Is carbon monoxide going out the flue or into your home? Why?

Sample Audit Report

Reasons for audit. Home description. Summary of recommendations. Details of recommendations with pictures. Utility bill analysis.

What Have We Found?

Why is my electrical use so high?

Knee Walls

Fan to Nowhere

.

Unvented Exhaust Fans

.

Heated Attics?

.

All-to-common “Hole in the Attic”

.