New breed of inspector goes after energy leaks
Green upgrades can be costly, but savings might make them worthwhile
 Helen Kaiao Chang Eco-inspector Chris Trujillo shows homeowner Robert Deane how poorly sealed air vents cause energy leaks in the home. The inspector recommended $10,000 worth of upgrades to the home. |
When Robert Deane reviewed his energy bills for this year, he was shocked. The propane gas bill hit $583 in February, and the electricity bill reached $418 in September.
Deane, a retired marketing executive, was “real surprised,” about the high cost of heating and cooling the home he and his wife, Chizuko, bought last year in Temecula, Calif. “We’ve lived in larger homes and we’d never seen bills like that.”
Deane hired eco-inspector Chris Trujillo, one of a growing number of specialists who recommend upgrades that can save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year.
Traditional home inspectors check to see if everything works in a house, with an emphasis on safety. But eco-inspectors check energy efficiency and provide reports on how much cost savings upgrades will offer. “The report is rating your energy usage, not your lifestyle,” said Trujillo.
The number of eco-inspectors is rising nationwide, as homeowners search for ways to save.
“There is an increased consumer awareness taking place regarding environmental issues and rising energy costs,” said Jana Maddux, a manager at the California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Service, which certifies these "green" specialists. Inspectors can "diagnose the home and help the consumer make sound decisions on how to make their home more energy efficient.”
In addition to saving money, homeowners can use the results of an inspection to qualify for "green" mortgages, which roll the cost of upgrades into the loan.
A basic inspection typically costs $250 to $600, a fee that can rise as high as $1,000 with additional tests. But inspections can save homeowners thousands of dollars.
If the Deanes implemented all the recommendations in Trujillo’s report, their energy bills would fall about 24 percent, saving about $844 a year.
The recommended upgrades would cost about $10,000, so the investment would pay off in 11 years. Some upgrade costs can be defrayed by utility company rebates for installing energy efficient appliances and other upgrades.
Deane was pleased with the result, saying, ‘If we’re making returns on investments in a reasonable timeframe, it’s something we’re interested in."
Trujillo started his inspection of the five-bedroom home with the ventilation system, or HVAC.
“The main vein of the house is the HVAC,” he said. “People have more problems with air and heat than anything else in the house.”
By sealing the air vents and blowing smoke into the system, Trujillo could literally see where the system was leaking energy. The home’s two HVAC systems had a capacity of four tons, and the test showed a leakage of three tons, or a startling 75 percent energy loss.
Trujillo’s recommendation: Upgrade the HVAC system. Cost: $7,500. Annual savings: $549.
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