Frequently Asked Questions

What is a blower door test? 

The blower door is a door insert with a large fan. After closing all windows in the home, the fan is used to create pressure in the home that is about equal to 20 mph wind.  During the test, you can actually feel with your hand where your home is losing heat in places such as electrical outlets and around windows.  With the home under pressure, the technician can determine the leakage rate of your home and compare this rate to industry standards. Typically, older homes have very high leakage rates, but occasionally a home may have a leakage rate that is considered to be too low, and the home may require the assistance of mechanical ventilation to maintain acceptable moisture levels. If you have asbestos present in your home, you should not have a blower door test performed as it may cause asbestos particles to disperse throughout your home. Your contractor should be able to advise you on the proper procedure. 

When should the blower door test be done? 

The blower door must be performed before and after any air sealing or building cavity insulation work. 

Is the blower door test included in the home assessment? 

Yes in most cases. 

What are health and safety issues? 

The Building Performance Institute has identified several issues that are required to be addressed prior to the contractor implementing energy saving measures. These issues are related to presence of potentially hazardous insulation materials, excess moisture, and combustion by-products. 

Why do I have to fix health and safety issues before air sealing or other work is performed? 

Health and safety issues have negative impacts on the indoor air quality or your home.  They can also pose a risk to the durability of your home and/or the health of the occupants. 

Why is health and safety testing important when conducting home energy improvements? 

BPI contractors have been trained to inspect and test combustion appliances, such as heating equipment, ovens, and water heaters for proper performance to help ensure safe operation. This evaluation includes measurement of carbon monoxide produced by the appliance and testing to ensure that potentially dangerous combustion gases are not introduced into the home. BPI accredited contractors test for combustion safety problems before and after performing any energy improvements to your home.  Learn more about health and safety issues. 

What is air sealing and why is it important? 

Insulation alone is not always enough to make sure your home is energy efficient. Stopping air leaks, combined with proper insulation and ventilation, are three major components required to ensure a home is tight while providing a sufficient supply of fresh air. 

What indicates that a heating system is running inefficiently and unsafely? 

The telltale signs of an improperly functioning heating system include varying temperatures from room to room, the house feeling too hot or too cold, and the heating unit cycling on and off excessively. Homes with forced air heating systems use a duct system to distribute air. Most ducts, whether old or new, have cracks, gaps and holes that waste about 25 percent of the treated air. In addition, it is important to have fuel-burning equipment like fireplaces, water heaters, dryers, and furnaces checked for proper venting to avoid harmful gases, including carbon monoxide, from entering the home. 

What are the benefits to installing a Smart Thermostat? 

Smart thermostats can help homeowners and families save money each month. These thermostats are efficient and allow you to use less energy, all while helping the environment. On average, smart thermostats such as the Nest Learning Thermostat provide average savings of $131 to $145 a year. These Wi-Fi thermostats contain sensors which control the heating and cooling systems in a home and work in conjunction with your HVAC system. This means that you have the ability to control your home’s temperature even when you are not home by logging in from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and making corrections to your thermostat. They have very useful features such as maintenance reminders and the ability to monitor energy consumption. A smart thermostat has dirty filter detection so it can notify you when it is time to replace your air filter. You can monitor energy consumption every week to know if your energy use has gone up or down and to become smarter about how you program your thermostat. 

Why is insulation important? 

Whether a home is old or new, inadequate or improperly installed insulation can lead to high energy costs, uncomfortable rooms and structural problems. Heat moves from warmer areas to cooler areas. Proper insulation levels slow the movement of heat through the walls, floors and ceilings, keeping heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer. A BPI trained contractor will check insulation levels and make sure it is installed properly, and ensure that all the holes, cracks and gaps in the home are sealed for air leakage. 

Why is ventilation important? 

Ventilation is a vital component to every house. Ventilation systems are important for healthy, safe and comfortable living spaces. These systems help remove moisture from the air to help avoid mold, mildew and condensation problems. Ventilation also helps eliminate potential indoor air pollutants, cooking odors or stale, stuffy air. A house has to “breathe” and proper ventilation can help ensure your home has a steady, healthy amount of fresh air. 

Why do homes develop mildew and mold? 

Mold and mildew can occur when warm, moist air condenses on a cold surface. Many building products will support mold growth, especially wood-based products. Mold in a home can often go undetected since it tends to occur on the coldest surfaces, such as closets on outside walls (especially when the walls are improperly insulated), behind furniture and in attics and basements. The presence of mold in homes is typically a sign of insufficient ventilation, uncontrolled air movement or excessive humidity levels. A BPI contractor can perform diagnostic testing that indicates air leakage paths and insulation conditions to determine the home’s particular needs. Since mold is usually caused by a combination of problems, a home performance assessment is recommended to effectively develop a plan of action to help remedy the problem. 

What is meant by correctly sized furnace and air conditioning equipment and why is it important?  

Installing the right size equipment for your home is essential to getting the best performance for your heating and cooling equipment and maintaining the comfort you deserve. Some believe that bigger is better when buying new equipment, but a system actually operates best when each component is properly sized. Oversized equipment may cycle on and off more frequently, which can make the home less comfortable and shorten the equipment life. In the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, contractors will take measurements of your home then do calculations to determine the appropriate size for your air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump. 

Is the condition of the doors and windows important? 

Though windows and doors are not eligible measures for HPwES incentives, it’s important to have well-insulated, high-performance windows and doors. Homeowners will see and feel the difference through improved comfort, reduced condensation and lower utility costs. Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol to identify the most efficient windows, skylights, and sliding glass doors. 

When buying new windows, consider the U-value and Low-E coatings. U-value is the measure of the window’s ability to insulate. Lower U-value means less heat flows through the windows. Low-E (low emissivity) window coatings are thin and transparent, permitting visible light to pass through, while effectively reflecting radiation – keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. 

Note: Windows and doors are not eligible measures for Home Performance incentives. 

How can a homeowner improve the efficiency of a water heater? 

Typical recommendations for water heaters include insulating an existing tank, replacing the existing tank with a more efficient model using the same fuel, or replacing the existing tank with another fuel source, usually natural gas or a heat pump water heater. If the hot water pipes are not insulated in a cold basement, insulating the first six feet of pipe may be a recommended resolution. 

How can consumers improve the lighting in their homes? 

Although lighting is not an eligible measure for HPwES incentives, you will save money by choosing ENERGY STAR qualified lighting when replacing light bulbs or installing new light fixtures. For more information on how to select an ENERGY STAR certified bulb for each application in your home, view the ENERGY STAR Light Bulb Purchasing Guide. 

According to the DOE, today’s ENERGY STAR qualified LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs/lamps have a lifespan and electrical efficiency that is several time better than incandescent lamps, and significantly better than most fluorescent lamps, with some chips able to emit more than 100 lumens per watt. Like incandescent lamps and unlike most CFLs, LEDs come to full brightness without need for a warm-up time; the life of fluorescent lighting is also reduced by frequent switching on and off. Degradation of LED dye and packaging materials reduces light output to some extent over time. 

Note: Lighting is not an eligible measure for Home Performance incentives.